Thread lifts, having gained significant popularity abroad for over two decades, are not the latest cosmetic procedure. But now, they are also making waves in the United States. During this treatment, tiny, dissolvable threads are inserted into the skin to lift it and the underlying tissue; the lifting effect gradually fades as the threads are broken down by the body. Initially presented as a less invasive (though temporary) alternative to facelifts, thread lifts have expanded into the body contouring field and are now being used by some doctors to lift areas such as the arms, knees, breasts, and even the buttocks. Here, everything you need to know about a thread butt lift and the enhancements it can – and cannot – provide.
What is a thread butt lift?
It's not very different from a thread face lift. “There are two types of threads employed. Larger, lifting threads are anchored in the skin and used to lift and reposition the skin. These are combined with smaller threads that stimulate collagen production, leading to smoother skin and reduced laxity,” explains Dr. Jessie Cheung, a board-certified dermatologist in Willowbrook, Illinois. The former are typically used vertically from the top of the butt, while the latter are cross-woven into a mesh pattern, as explained by Dr. Azza Halim, a physician in Boca Raton, Florida, specializing in thread lifts. Generally speaking, a thread butt lift can raise the buttocks, enhance the contour, and even reduce the appearance of cellulite to a certain degree.
Who is a good candidate for a thread butt lift?
Not everyone is suitable. “This is a modification, an adjunct therapy, not a one-size-fits-all solution,” says Dr. Halim. “It doesn't replace having good muscle tone or the effects you can obtain from fat grafting or the Brazilian butt lift.” According to her, the ideal candidate is someone in good physical condition and not overweight. While the threads come in various tensile strengths – those used in the butt are stronger than those used in the face – they have their limitations. “They can lift the skin, for sure, but they aren't capable of pulling up an extra 20 pounds of fat,” explains Dr. Halim. At the opposite end of the spectrum, someone who is underweight with a flat butt lacking volume won't be an ideal candidate either. These patients first need one of the aforementioned procedures to add fullness; the thread lift can be performed afterwards to assist in smoothing and lifting the butt, Dr. Halim points out.
What kind of results can you expect?
Not only can lifting threads lift the butt from the top, they can also be used diagonally or horizontally to address what is known as the banana roll area beneath the butt, says Dr. Cheung. Besides the actual lifting, the more superficial improvements in skin texture are also notable. The collagen-stimulating effects of the smaller threads make the skin generally appear smoother and fuller, even helping to improve the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite, she explains. The skin tone also appears better: “As the threads break down, the body naturally produces nitric oxide, a blood vessel dilator. This leads to increased blood flow, resulting in healthier, more radiant skin,” Dr. Cheung explains.
However, some doctors are more skeptical. “Any kind of butt lift is challenging,” says Dr. David Sieber, a board-certified plastic surgeon in San Francisco. “Even when you perform a traditional lift, where a piece of skin is removed, the final result tends to relax quite a bit over time.” And with threads, this is even more the case: “They simply aren't designed to support someone's butt. The improvements are at best subtle, and they have very limited use as a standalone procedure,” he says.
For this reason, thread butt lifts are often combined with other treatments for a more comprehensive solution. Dr. Cheung mentions Qwo, a new injectable targeting cellulite, as well as fillers like Sculptra; Dr. Halim says muscle-building treatments such as Emsculpt and Emsculpt Neo are good complementary choices. Dr. Sieber agrees that thread lifts will yield better results when performed in conjunction with volumizing procedures, such as Sculptra or fat grafting. Still, he points out that these procedures, in themselves, actually add some lift. “The additional volume and the way it's distributed can create a lifted effect, even when the skin isn't actually being lifted,” he says, making the thread lift somewhat less necessary.
How long do these results last?
Arguably the biggest drawback of thread lifts, regardless of where on the body they are performed, is that the results are temporary. “The lifting effect is immediate and lasts anywhere from six to nine months,” says Dr. Cheung. “The collagen-stimulating effects take about a month to kick in but can last up to a year and a half.” [Editor’s note: The extent to which threads stimulate collagen is disputed among doctors, and the research is not well-established yet.] All things considered, the maximum results of a thread butt lift are typically seen three to six months after the procedure. According to Dr. Sieber, this is an important factor for patients to consider when contemplating a thread butt lift. The results are short-lived, you get a modest improvement at best, and the procedure can quickly become very costly, he points out.
What is the procedure and downtime like?
Your doctor will first draw the vector – essentially, a diagram showing the placement of the threads based on the desired lift and projection – on your butt, explains Dr. Cheung. (If you've heard the term spider butt lift, this simply refers to a specific type of vector pattern that resembles a spider web and provides more posterior projection than a vertical lift, she says.)
General anesthesia is not involved; only topical numbing or some local anesthetic at the entry points where needles are used to puncture the skin and insert the threads, says Dr. Halim. It's worth noting that your doctor may ask you to stand up during the procedure: “Gravity changes the way things look, as do shadows and contours that vary depending on whether you're lying down or standing up,” says Dr. Cheung. The entire procedure usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour, and the downtime is relatively minimal. Walking is okay, but any intense exercise, weightlifting, or squatting is prohibited for two weeks. It takes two weeks for the threads to firmly anchor in place, and excessive activity before this can dislodge them.
What are the side effects of a thread butt lift?
Standard side effects include minor swelling and soreness as well as a feeling of skin tightness. (Dr. Sieber adds that the force exerted on the threads from sitting also increases the possibility that they may pull through the skin or break completely, more so than when they are placed in the face.)
The threads themselves are very safe, but an inexperienced provider may place the threads incorrectly, resulting in odd contours and an overall strange-looking butt, warns Dr. Cheung. A more serious potential complication is puncturing the arteries in the area. The threads aren't placed deep enough for this to be a common risk, but someone who doesn't know what they're doing could easily make this mistake, she cautions.
