Silhouette InstaLift Portland
The Newest Non-Surgical Procedure to Lift Sagging Facial Skin
What does this new minimally-invasive technique mean to you?
It means an immediate actual LIFT that does not require surgery. In one simple, short office procedure of about 45 minutes, you can walk out looking like you did years ago.
InstaLift Simplified
Very fine biodegradable sutures are placed deep into the skin. The suture design allows Dr. Chan to reposition sagging tissue in the mid face to a higher, more youthful position. The results are immediate. The treatment is not painful. Your lift should last up to 18 months.
At this time, the FDA has approved InstaLift for the mid face, so you can expect improvements for both cheek area and jowl.
What are the sutures made of and are they safe?
Silhouette InstaLift is made from Polyglycolide/L-lactide (PLGA), which has a long history of use as a well-tolerated, resorbable suture. The suture design was developed by scientists in the USA using reconstructive and aesthetic surgical expertise.
What do the cones do?
The suture acts as scaffolding under the surface of the skin to lift sagging soft tissues. The cones both hold the threads in place, and in time stimulate the body’s production of collagen to replace depleted facial volume which diminishes with age.
Why Silhouette InstaLift?
• Immediate lifting effect
• Progressive restoration of the body’s own lost collagen
• Entirely re-absorbable material
• Non-surgical technique
• Minimally invasive procedure
• Minimal recovery time
• Natural looking
How much lift can I expect?
Your level of lift will be determined by your level of skin laxity, and the number and location of sutures placed.
Sagging skin is one of the major contributors to an aged and tired appearance. Silhouette InstaLift is a simple in-office procedure to re-contour your face by lifting the deeper layers of your skin for a more youthful appearance.
Dr. Chan has received comprehensive training on this breakthrough anti-aging treatment and can answer all your questions about the procedure during your consultation. Ask for your InstaLift consultation.
What happens during an InstaLift treatment?
Dr. Chan will insert the patented Silhouette InstaLift sutures to lift the deeper layers of the skin in your mid-face or cheek area. The treatment does not require general anesthesia or stitches. Localized numbing is all that is needed for a comfortable procedure.
No cutting??
Only a single needle entry point is required for each thin filament. There is no cutting or stitches. You will see results right away and the recovery time is minimal.
The unique Silhouette InstaLift sutures will naturally be absorbed by your body. There is also a production of collagen to aid in healthy skin renewal for natural-looking, longer lasting results.
How long will the InstaLift last?
You can reasonably expect improvements to last about 18 months. The sutures do eventually dissolve and natural aging continues, just as it would if you had no treatment or had a surgical lift.
UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT THREAD LIFT PROCEDURES: THE SILHOUETTE INSTALIFT VS. NOVA THREADS
Nova threads and Silhouette Instalift threads have both been approved by the FDA for the purpose of lifting facial tissue. However, while these procedures rely on a similar mechanism of action and both produce excellent results, there are some key differences between them that patients need to be aware of. Below, we’ll explore how these two procedures compare to one another.
NOVA THREADS
Nova threads are sutures that are made from a biocompatible material called PDO, which has been specially designed for safe re-absorption by the body. Nova threads remain in place for about four to six months, after which point they slowly dissolve. Patients can, however, expect to keep seeing the results of their Nova thread lift for a year or more after their treatment. This long-lasting effect arises from the lingering improvement in skin condition that results from collagen infusion.
Nova threads come in several different varieties: Barbed sutures, which are ideal for gathering skin (and therefore producing more lifting action) and straight or curved smooth sutures. Smooth sutures produce less of a lift, but they are excellent for collagen stimulation. Patients often have smooth sutures placed in strategic locations around their face (such as the corner of the mouth or along the brows) in order to target common problem areas where the signs of aging become particularly apparent. Barbed sutures, on the other hand, are placed near the hairline in order to gently pull back the skin and lift the cheeks and jowls.
Having Nova threads placed is relatively quick and easy for the patient. First, local anesthesia will be used to numb the areas that are going to be treated, then a small instrument (a thin cannula or needle) will be used to insert the threads below the skin. This entire process usually takes just 30 to 45 minutes, and the patient is free to return to work afterwards.
THE SILHOUETTE INSTALIFT
Like Nova threading, the Silhouette Instalift relies on the use of biocompatible temporary sutures to lift the face. The Silhouette Instalift is more focused on lifting the skin than stimulating collagen production (though it will accomplish both objectives, of course), so the threads used during this procedure are designed somewhat differently. Rather than being smooth or barbed, they contain a number of sutures interspersed with tiny “cones” that are adept at grabbing tissue. This allows the threads to gather more skin, producing a more noticeable lift to the cheeks and jowls. Silhouette Instalift threads are designed to create fairly long-lasting results as well; patients can expect to enjoy the impact of their Silhouette Instalift for one to three years.
Having a Silhouette Instalift takes about 45 minutes on average and can be performed under local anesthesia. A specially designed thin needle is used to insert the threads into the skin, minimizing patient discomfort. Patients sometimes experience mild soreness and swelling for a few days after having this procedure, but it can usually be managed with over the counter pain relievers. As such, if you have a Silhouette Instalift, you will probably be able to return to your normal activities within 24 hours.
