Feather lift surgery is just one name for a type of minimally invasive surgical facelift procedure. It has been around for a while, however, recently it has become a much more popular method of facial rejuvenation. It is also known as APTOS lift, APTOS thread lifting as well as a suture suspension face-lift. The general outcome achieved by the feather lift process is a more youthful appearance without noticeable scarring or considerable pain or discomfort.
It would seem that a significant amount of the appeal of feather lift surgery is that it is such a quick procedure to undergo. It is commonly referred to as a “lunch break facelift” as the procedure typically only takes between one and two hours and no lengthy hospital stay is required. An additional factor that is often seen as a bonus to this type of surgery is that it is considerably less invasive than the more established, conventional face and brow lifts.
Comparatively speaking, it is also less painful and quicker than traditional routes of facial reconstruction. A further advantage to feather lift surgery over a typical face or brow lift is the cost. A feather lift is often significantly cheaper than a traditional facelift and you tend to pay the surgeon per thread. This gives you some extent of control over the amount you end up paying. Also, the recovery process occurs over a matter of days and you can often see the results immediately.
A final advantage of feather lift surgery is one that may be seen as a little controversial by some. This is that the procedure does not require a general anaesthesia and therefore you can be awake throughout. This allows you to be able to look in a mirror whilst the surgeon is working and give more direction to them as to where you would like the skin to be pulled tighter or less so. This ensures that you get what you pay for and know you are getting your individually desired results. However, this may not be an option in some clinics, as the surgeon feels that they know best and will perform the surgery how he or she sees fit.
As we get older, the tissues in our face get weaker and our fat and other structural components dissipate. This can cause the face to become saggy and less structured in appearance. In general, the areas typically affected are the brows, neck, cheeks and eyes, which can generate an appearance older than your years. This often triggers the want for surgery and the feather lift procedure may just be ideal for this. However, it is only recommended for those who are suffering from mild to moderate facial sagging, as opposed to heavy sagging. This is primarily due to the changes generated by the surgery being relatively subtle. Therefore, if you are suffering from a relatively modest form of sagging and wish to undergo a method of rejuvenation that is fairly quick and mess-free, then a feather lift may just be the ideal process for you.
The threads that are used to tighten the skin during the feather lift procedure have barbs (or cogs) attached. These lie in a particular uniform direction so when the thread is inserted and pulled, it catches on the fat and tissue under the skin and pulls it into position. The thread is inserted into the skin using a hollow needle to minimize post-operative scarring. It tends to be put in around the cheekbones and from here it can be tugged to have effects on the neck, eyes, cheeks or brow.
Over time, the results continue to improve to maintain the lifted appearance. This is because new collagen is produced, which gathers and settles around the threads causing them to be encapsulated. For this procedure to be effective in the first place, a minimum of four threads should be inserted.
