Everything You Need To Know About Nose Thread Lifts
Considering a cosmetic procedure to enhance your nose without surgery? A nose thread lift might be an option worth exploring. This minimally invasive treatment offers a temporary way to reshape and refine the nose, providing subtle changes with significantly less downtime than traditional surgery.
What is a Thread Lift?
A thread lift is a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure designed to lift and tighten sagging skin. It involves inserting medical-grade threads underneath the skin to gently pull and sculpt the treated area. Thread lifts are also referred to as “lunchtime facelifts” due to their quick procedure time and minimal downtime.
Beyond the immediate lifting effect, the threads also trigger your body’s natural healing response, stimulating the production of collagen. Collagen is a vital protein that helps create firmer, more supple skin and restores elasticity, which naturally declines with age.
What a Nose Thread Lift Does
Specifically for the nose, threads are injected to lift, straighten, or slim its appearance. This technique aims to address certain nasal imperfections without the need for surgery. It is considered a minimally invasive alternative for nasal reshaping. Some practitioners refer to this procedure as “medical nose reshaping” to distinguish it from surgical rhinoplasty.
How A Nose Thread Lift Procedure Works
A nose thread lift works by combining the physical lift from dissolvable threads and the skin’s natural healing response. The threads, which have tiny barbs, are inserted under the skin to shape and support the nose, lifting the tip, narrowing the nostrils, or adding volume where needed. As the threads settle, they stimulate collagen production, helping to maintain the results over time.
These are the two main techniques using different types of threads and insertion devices:
- Excellence Visage method: The Excellence Visage method uses threads preloaded in a blunt cannula. This method is also generally considered safer and less technically demanding.
- Sole Rhinoplasty Needle method: The Sole Rhinoplasty Needle method uses threads which have monodirectional barbs, which are inserted via a double sharp-ended needle, which offers greater potential for reshaping.
What to Expect from a Nose Thread Lift
A nose thread lift is typically performed in a clinic setting. The procedure usually takes around an hour. You will remain awake during the treatment, as the area is numbed using local anaesthesia.
After the anaesthetic takes effect, your provider will use a thin needle or cannula to insert the threads just below the skin. The number of threads and their specific placement will depend on your individual needs and the technique used. You may feel some pressure or a tightening sensation as the threads are put into place. Once the threads are inserted, the needle or cannula is removed.
Results and How Long They Last
Results from a thread lift are generally subtle, not as dramatic as surgical rhinoplasty. While some lifting might be visible immediately, the full effect, including the benefit of collagen stimulation, develops over a few months.
The results are temporary, as the threads dissolve over time and are absorbed by the body. The longevity can vary depending on the technique used. In one study focusing on nose thread lifts, results lasted 8 to 18 months when threads were inserted with a blunt cannula, and 24 to 30 months when a sharp-ended needle was used. Early fading of results might occur if barbs subside or sutures cut through soft tissue before the thread dissolves.
Even after the threads have dissolved, you might continue to see a secondary “rejuvenation” effect from the new collagen production for a longer period. If you are happy with your results and they start to fade, you can have the procedure repeated.
Recovery: Getting Back to Normal
Recovery after a thread lift is typically quick with minimal downtime. Most people can return to their normal activities, including work, immediately.
You are likely to experience some bruising and swelling in the treated area. This usually subsides within about five days. Some mild pain, discomfort, or soreness is also common and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relief. Some people might feel mild discomfort related to perceiving the threads or tension, which often resolves on its own. Stiffness or a feeling of hardness around the nose might also occur but could fade over time.
Your provider will give you specific aftercare instructions, which may include:
- Applying a cold compress or ice pack
- Avoiding washing your face or applying makeup for a few days
- Not using face moisturiser for a few weeks
- Sleeping in a propped-up position
- Taking an antibiotic to prevent infection
- Avoiding vigorous rubbing of the face
- Avoiding sleeping on your side initially
- Avoiding saunas and intense exercise for about a week or two
For more post-treatment care tips, check our guide on professional facial treatments in Malaysia.
Risks and Potential Complications
While considered a low-risk procedure, thread lifts do carry potential side effects and a risk of complications, although these are uncommon.
Common side effects include:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Slight pain or irritation at the injection site
Possible complications, which are often minor and correctable, can include:
- Allergic reactions to the thread material
- Bleeding building up behind the skin
- Visible dimpling or pulling where threads were inserted
- Migration or unintended movement of the threads, leading to lumpiness or bulges
- Pain under the skin if threads are too tight or poorly placed
- Infection at the procedure site
Infection is highlighted as a risk that requires careful monitoring. You should contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice signs of infection, such as a fever, a persistent headache, swelling lasting longer than 48 hours, or unusual discharge (green, black, brown, or red) at the treatment site.
It is also possible that the final appearance may not be exactly as you anticipated. If you are unhappy with the results, the threads can sometimes be removed, or you can wait for them to dissolve naturally.
Is a Nose Thread Lift Right for Me?
A thread lift is generally most suitable for individuals who are:
- Experiencing early signs of ageing
- Typically in their late 30s to early 50s
- Seeking subtle rather than dramatic changes
- Prefer to avoid cosmetic surgery or cannot undergo traditional surgery due to certain medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease
- May have had a previous facelift or neck lift and want to refresh their results
However, for nose thread lifts specifically, noses requiring extensive reshaping (like some Asian noses) or those with thick skin or a very stiff cartilaginous framework might be less effectively reshaped by threads and could have shorter-lasting results
Before You Visit a Clinic
Before getting a nose thread lift, it’s important to have a proper consultation to discuss your goals and see if the treatment suits you. This procedure is ideal for those looking to refine their nose shape without surgery, but expectations should be realistic, as the results are subtle and temporary.
You may be advised to avoid alcohol the night before and stop taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen a week in advance. Be sure to inform your provider about any medications you’re on.
Because this treatment involves delicate areas, experience matters. At Dr. Chong Clinic, thread lifts are performed by LCP-certified doctors trained in both basic and advanced techniques, so you can feel confident in both safety and results.
For those considering combination treatments, you may also explore other non-surgical options such as dermal fillers in Malaysia to enhance volume and contour, or facial sculpting in Malaysia for more defined features. If your concern includes enlarged pores or skin irregularities, scar and pore treatment in Malaysia can complement the results of a nose thread lift beautifully.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How long does a nose thread lift procedure last?
A nose thread lift is a fast and convenient procedure that usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes. You can expect to be in and out of the clinic within an hour.
- How long does the results last?
The results of a nose thread lift can last quite a while. If the threads are inserted using a blunt cannula, the effects typically last between 8 to 18 months. When a sharp-ended needle is used, the results may last even longer, usually around 24 to 30 months.
- Do the threads need to be removed after the procedure?
No, there’s no need to worry about removing them. The threads used in a nose thread lift are fully dissolvable and will naturally break down and be absorbed by your body over time.
- What are the threads made of, and are they safe?
The threads are made from medical-grade materials like PDO (polydioxanone) and PCL (polycaprolactone). Both are biodegradable, fully dissolvable, and safely absorbed by the body. They’ve long been used in medical sutures and are trusted for non-surgical treatments.
