Suture lifts are a non-surgical method to eliminate mild to moderate sagging in the face. Thread-like sutures with hooks are implanted in the face in order to lift the lax skin and achieve a fresher, smoother look. Various threads may be used; mainly absorbable or non-absorbable, depending on the individual’s needs. Most superior threads are made of Policaprolactone material which, being a Poly L-lactic acid derivative, stimulates the skin’s ability to produce collagen and elastin, for longer lasting results.
Silhouette Soft® and Aptos® sutures use a double action effect to restore smoother and more toned skin, but also a shapelier face. To meet this requirement, the suture material combines two effects: An immediate repositioning of the tissue and a gradual regeneration of collagen.
The regenerating effect is gradual: Poly L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a well-known polymer that has been used for many years in several biomedical and pharmaceutical applications: suture thread, orthopedic pins, rods, screws and nails for bone fractures. It is because this polymer shows excellent biocompatability and is biodegradable that such applications have been developed.
The small cones or hooks on the suture provide traction and fixation points, a natural foreign body reaction then reinforces this, by the build-up of new collagen formation. This action is what helps restore shapeliness to the face and neck.