Surgical breast lift is invasive, requiring general anaesthesia and some downtime. To avoid that, many people look for non-surgical alternatives like breast thread lift.
It’s just like a thread lift for the face, but the target area is much different, and so are the results. In fact, you might not notice any difference at all.
Seeing the noticeable results of thread lifts on the face, many believe that thread lifts will do the same for the breasts. After all, it’s just pulling the skin upward with a thread, like altering a garment.
However, the truth is, the procedure works differently for the breasts because there are several other factors at play. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the procedure.
What Is A Breast Thread Lift?
Breast thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure in which barbed sutures are inserted into the skin to lift it. It uses PDO (polydioxanone) threads that latch onto the skin and provides support to the underlying structures.
Additionally, it can stimulate the production of collagen, which is believed to further improve the results. The threads are eventually absorbed by the body, so its results (if any) are temporary.
Breast Feather Lift
One particular type of thread breast lift is known as Aptos threading or breast feather lift. Unlike PDO, it uses threads made from PLACL (poly-L-lactic acid).
The procedure, however, is the same: barbed thread goes into the skin, which is then pulled up towards the collarbone. This, too, will only give you temporary results, although some say that Aptos threads last longer than PDO threads.
What’s The Procedure For Breast Thread Lift?
Once you arrive at the clinic, the provider will begin by administering local anaesthesia. That way, you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
Tiny incisions will be made around your breasts and nipples through which the threads will be inserted and then pulled up. So, you’ll notice an immediate change.
Just keep in mind that, unlike a thread facelift, far more threads will be used to lift the breasts because of the size of the treatment area. And that also means that you’ll have more incision lines, albeit small ones.
Some patients also like to combine PRP (vampire breast lift) with a breast thread lift. In this case, your provider may first prepare the PRP using your blood and inject it into your breast tissue before starting the thread lift.
How Long Does Breast Thread Lift Take To Heal?
Breast thread lift usually takes an hour or so, and you can resume normal daily activities afterwards. Still, it’s not exactly a lunchtime procedure because you might experience some post-op side effects like:
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Pain
- Redness
Your breasts might also be taped vertically all the way to the shoulders. Moreover, you might have to wear a support bra for a couple of weeks. You may also be advised against any strenuous activity for a few weeks.
Here, keep in mind that you can also experience certain complications after the treatment, such as:
- Scarring
- Infection
- Contour irregularity
- Asymmetry
- Muscle discomfort
- Threads slipping out of place
Scarring inside the breast tissue can also be picked up by a mammogram, so make sure to inform the mammographer about the thread lift beforehand.
Is A Breast Thread Lift Worth It?
The results and cost of a breast thread lift are the main reasons why this procedure is not worth it. Let’s take a look at it in more detail.
Minimal Results
Unlike traditional breast lift surgery, no excess skin is removed in a non-surgical thread lift. So, if you have large, sagging breasts, this procedure will give you results that are barely noticeable.
This procedure cannot move the lower half of your breasts upwards, and it cannot reposition your nipple either, at least not significantly.
The threads alone won’t be enough to hold the weight of the breasts. And since no skin is removed, the heavier the breasts, the greater the force of gravity.
Therefore, sooner rather than later, your breasts will start to look their original shape.
Very Temporary Results
Immediately after the procedure, you might notice your breasts looking fuller and lifted. But it’s not just because of the threads.
Swelling can make your breasts look a bit more lifted. However, it’s just a temporary side effect of the procedure. And once the swelling subsides, the perkiness will go away too.
Even if you don’t see a big change from that, the results of a breast thread lift usually last for 3 to 4 months. Collagen stimulation doesn’t make much of a difference when it comes to breasts.
It’s Relatively Costly
In the UK, a breast thread lift can cost you anywhere between £2,500 to £3,000. Compared to the average cost of a surgical breast lift in the UK, which is around £6,000, it’s almost twice as cheap.
Surgical breast lift is, however, permanent. So, there’s no recurring cost. With breast thread lifts, on the other hand, you’ll have to get multiple treatments (if that’s possible) in your life for minimal results. That makes this procedure far more expensive.
Here, you should also know that in Turkey, a surgical breast lift costs around £2,000 due to differences in the cost of living. That is even cheaper than a breast thread lift in the UK.
Who’s A Good Candidate For Breast Thread Lift?
A breast thread lift is most suitable for those people who have small breasts and don’t have (much) sagging skin. It can also be helpful in fixing minor concerns regarding asymmetry.
In addition, it can be used by women who want to temporarily make their breasts appear perkier during special occasions.
If your breasts are, however, quite heavy with significantly sagging skin, you need to consider a surgical breast lift.
Breast Thread Lift vs Surgical Breast Lift: What’s The Difference?
Following is a summary of the differences between a surgical and non-surgical breast lift:
| Breast Thread Lift | Surgical Breast Lift | |
| Procedure | Barbed threads are inserted into the skin and pulled upwards | Excess skin tissue is removed, and the remaining skin is tightened |
| Anaesthesia | Local | General |
| Recovery | Few days | 2 weeks |
| Results | Immediately noticeable change, but final results will be visible after swelling goes away (which may take days to weeks) | An immediate change will be noticeable, but final results will be visible after a year |
| Longevity | Temporary | Permanent |
| Side Effects | Swelling, redness, pain, and bleeding | Swelling, bruising, scars, soreness |
| Complications | Infection, scarring, displacement of thread, discomfort, asymmetry, skin irregularity (dimpling) | Infection, hematoma, seroma, DVT, keloid scars, asymmetry |
| Cost | £2,500-£3,000 | £6,000 (in the UK) £2,000 (in Turkey) |
Before deciding on any treatment, make sure to consult a board-certified medical professional.
They need to examine your breasts and understand your needs and expectations to prepare the right treatment plan for you.
Conclusion
While there are many non-surgical alternatives to a surgical breast lift, you need to take all the claims about them with a grain of salt. Non-surgical procedures won’t remove the excess skin which is causing droopiness, so you can’t expect dramatic results from them.
Thread lifts work for the face, but that’s certainly not the case when it comes to breast tissue. It’s far heavier, and threads alone cannot support the tissue for a long time. Eventually, your breasts will droop to their original position.
For this reason, make sure to do your research and find a surgeon that you can trust. That way, you’ll be satisfied with the results of your procedure.
Reviewed and approved by Prof. Fuat Yuksel.
