What is a thread lift?
A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure in which absorbable sutures are placed beneath the skin to slightly reposition the descended tissues of the face while, at the same time, stimulating the formation of new collagen. The material is absorbed over the months; the collagen it leaves behind is what sustains part of the result.
The effect therefore has two components worth distinguishing. The first is mechanical and immediate: when the suspension threads are placed, the tissue is repositioned and a tightening is visible from the same day. The second is biological and progressive: the presence of the material triggers a body response that forms collagen around each thread, and that improvement in firmness is perceived over the following weeks. Understanding this dual action helps set correct expectations before deciding.
It is important to understand what threads are and are not. A thread lift produces a subtle tightening effect and a gradual improvement in skin quality, but it does not lift a face that has already sagged markedly, nor does it restore the volume lost over the years. When sagging is advanced, the right tool is a facelift, which repositions the deep plane. Threads occupy the middle ground: more than a cream, less than surgery.
Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano
Not all threads do the same thing, and the decision about which to use, in which areas and with which traction vectors is defined at your consultation, according to your anatomy, the degree of sagging and what you want to correct:
- Suspension threads (barbed or with cones): they carry small notches along the filament that grip the tissue and allow it to be repositioned upward. These produce the lifting effect proper, especially in the cheeks, jawline and neck.
- Smooth or monofilament threads: they do not pull the tissue; they are placed in a mesh to stimulate collagen and improve skin texture and firmness. They serve quality rather than traction.
- Absorbable materials: depending on the case, sutures of polydioxanone (PDO), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) or polycaprolactone (PCL) are used, differing in how quickly they absorb and how much they stimulate. The choice of material is part of the individual plan.
- Combination with other procedures: threads are often integrated within a broader facial rejuvenation plan, and they are not the answer to everything. When the assessment indicates that the result you want requires surgery, you will be told so honestly.
How is it performed?
The procedure is performed in the office, on an outpatient basis and under local anaesthesia, and usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the number of threads and the areas treated. First the face is marked with the patient seated, to plan the traction vectors; then the anaesthetic is infiltrated and the threads are introduced with a cannula or fine needle through very small punctures, without incisions or visible stitches.
Once the suspension threads are placed, tension is adjusted gently to reposition the tissue, the ends are trimmed below the skin and symmetry is checked. The patient sees an initial effect immediately, which settles over the following days as swelling subsides. The improvement in skin quality from new collagen is progressive and becomes apparent over the following weeks.
A practical advantage over surgery is that it requires no operating room, general anaesthesia or hospital stay: the patient walks out the same day, with simple care instructions. The honest trade-off is that the reach is smaller and the result is not permanent, so the choice between threads and surgery is not about which is «better», but about which matches the degree of sagging and what each person is looking for.
The result is temporary: the material is absorbed and the effect tends to last, as a guide, between 12 and 18 months, with significant variation from one person to another. It is not a definitive procedure and is usually framed as part of ongoing maintenance over time.
All surgery carries risk and requires a prior medical assessment. Results may vary according to each patient, their anatomy and their individual healing process.
Who is a good candidate?
The best candidate is a person with mild to moderate sagging who wants a subtle, natural improvement without going through an operating room and with little recovery time. In general terms, thread lifts work best when:
- There is early sagging of the mid-face, jawline or neck, but the skin still retains elasticity.
- The person does not want or cannot undergo surgery at this time, or prefers to start with something that recedes over time.
- Expectations are realistic: the goal is a refinement of the contour, not the transformation a facelift delivers.
- There is no active infection in the area, nor healing or clotting disorders that contraindicate the procedure; this is assessed at the consultation.
- When sagging is advanced or there is excess skin, the honest assessment is that a thread will not deliver the expected result and facial surgery should be considered.
Recommended post-procedure care
Although it is not surgery, a thread lift requires simple care to protect the result: avoid massaging or pressing the area, sleep on your back with your head elevated for the first days, avoid wide facial expressions and intense exercise for one or two weeks, and postpone aggressive dental or facial treatments until the doctor advises. Follow-up allows symmetry to be verified and any discomfort to be resolved in time.
Managing swelling, bruising and mild discomfort follows the same principles as any facial procedure. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
The cost of a thread lift is not a fixed price: it depends on the number of threads, their type and material, the areas treated and whether the treatment is combined with other procedures, so it is defined at your consultation, in writing and before anything is done. That is why this site does not publish a loose figure that might not match your case. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano. See the price list.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related guide for patients
To choose well who will put hands —or threads— on your face: How to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla — part of the series of informational guides reviewed by Dr. Arístides Arellano.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Same dayReturn to daily life almost immediately. There may be swelling, redness and a feeling of tightness in the treated areas.
- First 2–3 daysPossible bruising and mild discomfort when moving the face. Sleep on your back with the head elevated; avoid massaging the area.
- First weekAvoid wide facial expressions, intense exercise, saunas and aggressive dental or facial treatments. The tightness gradually eases.
- 2–4 weeksSwelling resolves and the result settles. Any irregularity or small puckering usually corrects on its own during this period.
- Following weeks and monthsProgressive improvement in firmness from stimulated collagen. The tightening effect lasts, as a guide, 12–18 months.
Frequently asked questions
Does a thread lift hurt?
It is usually not painful because it is done under local anaesthesia. During the procedure you feel pressure or a slight tugging, and in the following days there may be mild discomfort, tightness or tenderness when moving the face, controlled with ordinary painkillers.
How long does a thread lift last?
As a guide, between 12 and 18 months, with significant variation from person to person depending on the type of thread, the area treated and skin quality. The material is absorbed, and part of the benefit remains from the collagen it stimulated. It is not a permanent result.
Does a thread lift replace a facelift?
No. Threads improve mild to moderate sagging subtly, but they do not lift a markedly sagging face or restore volume. When sagging is advanced, the result you want requires a facelift, which repositions the deep plane. At your consultation you will be told honestly which option fits your case.
When can I return to normal life?
Most people return to their activities the same day or the next. It is recommended to avoid intense exercise, wide facial expressions and aggressive dental or facial treatments for one or two weeks to protect the placement of the threads.
What are the risks of a thread lift?
The most frequent are bruising, swelling, temporary asymmetry, small puckering of the skin, or a thread end becoming palpable or visible. Less frequently there can be infection or thread extrusion. Most are transient or correctable, and proper technique and candidate selection reduce the risk. Everything is assessed at the consultation.
Can it be combined with other treatments?
Yes. Thread lifts are often integrated within a broader facial rejuvenation plan. The sequence and compatibility with other procedures are defined at your consultation, according to what you want to correct.
From what age is a thread lift worthwhile?
There is no fixed age: the degree of sagging matters more than the number. Threads are usually indicated when mild descent of the mid-face, jawline or neck begins to show and the skin still retains elasticity. Before that they rarely add value, and when sagging is marked, they are not enough.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.