Thread lift in Turkey: results, duration and risks

What lifting threads do in the face

The threads used for suspension have barbs or anchoring systems that allow the tissues to be moved slightly along a chosen path. The practitioner inserts them through entry points in the skin, then adjusts their tension. They are different from the plain smooth threads offered in some mesh treatments, whose purpose is not a comparable mechanical suspension.

A tissue reaction develops around the material. In marketing it is often presented as collagen stimulation. That biological explanation does not, however, allow anyone to deduce a precise degree of rejuvenation or a guaranteed duration of the result. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes threads as a minimally invasive approach intended for certain changes to the face and the neck.

The distinction between suspending tissue and removing skin is central. Threads do not take away excess skin and they do not reproduce everything a surgical facelift can do. If what you want involves significant sagging, a very marked correction of the neck or a lasting transformation of the lower face, the limits need to be discussed before you choose this technique.

A subtle result may be exactly what you are after. Conversely, it can look inadequate if you are expecting a substantial change. The consultation should make it possible to define an improvement you can identify: which area could be changed, how much change is plausible, and over what period it can reasonably be assessed? That kind of precision is worth more than a general promise of a rejuvenated face.

Who can this technique suit?

Limited sagging, assessed as a whole

Threads are mainly discussed when sagging remains moderate and the quality of the tissues allows a reasonable degree of suspension. The thickness of the skin, the weight of the tissues, any loss of volume and the position of the deeper structures all influence the choice. An age quoted in an advertisement is no substitute for that analysis; two people of the same age can have very different needs.

Very thin skin can allow a thread to show through or make an irregularity more visible. Heavy tissues or a large excess of skin can limit the improvement obtained. The practitioner needs to examine the face at rest and in movement, from the front as well as in profile. Portraits sent in advance help to prepare the discussion, but they are not enough to assess these features precisely.

The request may also concern the eyebrows or the neck. These areas should not be added automatically to a treatment of the face. Each one has its own limits, its own anatomy and its own risks. If several regions are proposed, ask for a separate explanation of the aim for each of them, and of how the results will be assessed.

Reasons to postpone or rule out a thread lift

A skin infection in the area, a known healing problem or a poorly controlled illness calls for a medical discussion. Treatments that affect blood clotting, allergies and any history of reacting to a device must be reported. You should not stop a prescribed medicine in order to make a cosmetic appointment possible without the agreement of the doctor who prescribed it.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding should also be mentioned, so that the appropriateness of an elective procedure and of the products involved can be weighed up. The doctor may recommend postponing the plan. A contraindication is not simply a universal list: it depends on the device, on the anaesthetic being considered and on your clinical situation.

Finally, expecting a permanent result, finding it hard to accept residual asymmetry, or asking for treatment because of an event that is very close can all justify taking more time. The option of changing your mind must remain real after the consultation, including when the trip has already been arranged. Threads do not have to be placed simply because you are there.

Absorbable threads, permanent threads and brand names

Absorbable threads are made from materials that break down gradually. The abbreviations PDO, PLLA and PCL refer to families of polymers, but on their own they do not describe the complete device. Its design, its indications, its traceability and the placement technique matter as well. Two products sold under the same abbreviation do not automatically become equivalent.

Permanent threads stay in the tissues. Their prolonged presence does not guarantee that the cosmetic correction will keep the same intensity. It can also make it harder to deal with discomfort or with an unsatisfactory result. So it is worth discussing separately how long the material stays in place, how long the visible improvement lasts and what the long-term consequences might be.

Expressions such as ‘gold threads’, ‘Russian lift’ or ‘spider web lift’ are not enough to consent to a treatment. Ask for the exact name of the product, its manufacturer, its composition and whether it is absorbable or permanent. The document you are given after the procedure should allow another doctor to identify what has been implanted.

In a 2024 safety notice, Health Canada points out that threads intended to close a wound should not be treated as devices assessed for cosmetic use. That notice concerns Canada; it does not describe Turkish regulations. It nevertheless illustrates a question that is relevant everywhere: is the product being offered actually intended for the use being planned?

How long can the results last?

The mechanical effect can be visible quickly, but swelling and the initial tension change how it looks. Photographs taken immediately after the threads are placed therefore do not necessarily show the result that will persist. Reassessing the face some time after the session makes it possible to separate the real improvement from the temporary effects of the procedure itself.

The Cleveland Clinic gives a general guide of one to three years, while describing the results as temporary and subtle. That range is neither a minimum duration nor a forecast for your own face: the effect can fade sooner. How long the benefit lasts depends in particular on the tissues, the technique and the device, while ageing carries on regardless of whether threads are present.

How long the material takes to be absorbed is not a reliable timetable for the visible effect. The pull can weaken while part of the thread is still in place; a change in the tissues can also persist after the thread has broken down. Ask the practitioner how they distinguish between these things when quoting a duration, and which observations they are relying on in your case.

Long-term data remain limited. The review by Riopelle and colleagues, published in 2025, included twelve studies on absorbable threads in the mid and lower face. Its abstract reports immediate improvement, but concludes that there is a lack of data establishing long-term efficacy. That should encourage you to look carefully at claims of several years of results, especially when they specify neither the product nor the follow-up used to support them.

A further placement can be considered in some situations, but it should not be booked in as an automatic renewal. The face, the benefit obtained, any irregularities and the other options all need to be reviewed again. The total cost over several years can be very different from the price advertised for the first session.

To judge whether the treatment is worthwhile, decide before it is carried out what you want to see change and when you will take stock. Standardised photographs make comparison easier. If the expected improvement is very small, the recovery time, the cost and the possibility of a side effect may weigh more heavily in your decision.

Comparing threads with the other options

Expression lines, a loss of volume and sagging skin do not come from the same mechanism. Botulinum toxin acts on the activity of certain muscles; fillers alter volume; threads seek to suspend tissue. A treatment presented as better than all the others without a prior diagnosis oversimplifies the problem.

Energy-based techniques, such as certain lasers, radiofrequency or ultrasound, also have distinct indications. The name of a technology tells you too little about the depth being treated, the expected benefits or the risks. Our guide to beauty care and aesthetic medicine explains how to start from what your skin needs in order to compare the approaches.

A surgical facelift can achieve a larger correction when the degree of sagging justifies it, with a different operation and a different recovery. Agreeing to surgery remains a personal choice. Your preference for avoiding an operation does not, however, turn threads into an effective solution for every anatomy. Having no treatment at all can be a consistent option if the alternatives do not match your priorities.

Combining techniques can sometimes be discussed, but each procedure must have an indication of its own. Ask in which order they would be carried out, how their effect would be assessed and what would happen if there were a complication. Stacking treatments into a single visit sometimes makes it harder to identify the cause of a problem later on.

What happens during a thread lift session?

The preliminary examination covers the face, your health and any previous cosmetic treatments. Mention older injections, even when you no longer know the brand, and any threads already implanted. A photograph or an old report can help to piece that history together. Missing information should be discussed before a new device is added.

The practitioner explains the entry points and the areas involved, then marks out the landmarks. A local anaesthetic is generally used. It aims to reduce pain, without allowing anyone to promise a completely painless session. You should know how to report an unusual sensation and be able to communicate with the team while the procedure is under way.

The threads are inserted and then adjusted according to the chosen technique. The number planned depends on the area and on the device; a higher number of threads does not necessarily mean a better result. A proposal should set out the logic of the treatment rather than a number presented as a commercial advantage that has nothing to do with your face.

Once the threads are in place, a check-up and written instructions are needed. The document should set out local care, precautions, any medicines prescribed and how to make contact. Before you leave the clinic, check that you have understood the difference between an expected change, a problem that warrants a phone call and a symptom that requires an urgent consultation.

Recovery: leave some leeway in your diary

Bruising, swelling, tenderness or a feeling of tightness can occur. Puckering or small dimples may be visible at first, and the way they change should be monitored. The ASPS devotes a page to recovery and stresses the importance of individual instructions and of follow-up appointments.

The doctor may advise you to avoid certain pressures on the face, massage or excessive movement for a while. Ask for concrete guidance about sleeping, sport, beauty treatments and dental appointments. A useful restriction should have a purpose and a suitable duration, without leading you to hold your face still on your own initiative.

Going back to a quiet job can be relatively quick, but your comfort and how visible the after-effects are both vary. If you have a talk to give, a business trip or an event that will be photographed, allow yourself some leeway. Being technically able to work is not the same as feeling ready to appear in public.

Do not try to correct a pucker yourself by rubbing the skin hard, or to cut a thread that seems to be poking out. Handling it can make the problem worse. Take photographs that will be useful to the team and ask for advice, saying when the sign appeared, whether it is changing and whether it comes with pain or redness.

Risks, complications and removing the threads

Possible complications include infection, persistent pain, asymmetry, surface irregularities, a thread that is visible or can be felt, and extrusion of a thread through the skin. Damage to a nerve or to a salivary structure is also possible, depending on the path taken. The ASPS safety page stresses that the decision has to take into account the risk of an unfavourable result as well as the complications of the procedure.

The fact that a thread is absorbable does not remove the need to treat a complication. Waiting for it to disappear can be inappropriate where there is an infection, exposure of the device or increasing pain. A doctor has to decide whether monitoring, treatment or a corrective procedure is required. A temporary material does not automatically make every consequence of the procedure temporary.

Removal may be necessary, but it is not always straightforward. The barbs, the depth, how long the thread has been in place and the reaction of the tissues can all make extraction harder. You should not consent on the assumption that taking the threads out would immediately restore exactly how things were before. Have the real possibilities for correction explained to you before treatment.

Spreading redness, local warmth, a fever, discharge, increasing pain or weakness in the face all warrant prompt medical advice. Difficulty breathing, a major systemic reaction or sudden visual disturbance calls for urgent assessment. Your practitioner’s contact details are no substitute for access to emergency care when the symptoms demand it.

Price and staying in Turkey: what to check

A quote can be drawn up per area, per number of threads or for a package of treatments. Those formats are only comparable if you know the device, the regions being treated, the anaesthetic and the follow-up appointments included. Without that information, a difference in price may reflect two very different services rather than a saving at identical quality.

The budget should separate the treatment itself, the travel and the unexpected costs that may arise. Have the accommodation, the transfers, the medicines, any extra consultations and the terms of a possible correction spelled out. No general figure replaces a current quote drawn up after an assessment; older prices published online may be incomplete or may no longer match the protocol being offered.

Before you travel, find out which doctor will be placing the threads and ask how you can speak to them directly. A coordinator can make communication easier, but the choice of device and of indication is the practitioner’s. To see where this procedure sits among the other operations on the face, you can read our guide to aesthetic surgery.

Follow-up has to remain workable once you are home. Ask who receives your messages, how to arrange an in-person examination and which documents will be passed on to a local doctor. Keep the name of the threads, their traceability details and the date of the procedure in particular. The travel schedule should leave room for a check-up if recovery needs more attention than expected.

Frequently asked questions

Are the threads always invisible?

The aim is for them not to be visible, but that cannot be guaranteed. Thin skin, placement that is too superficial or a local reaction can bring out an irregularity. Report it to your practitioner, especially if it is getting worse or becoming painful, so that they can tell a temporary change from a problem that needs correcting.

Can you have a facelift after a thread lift?

Surgery later on can still be possible, but the surgeon needs to know which devices have already been placed and how the tissues reacted. The presence of threads, permanent ones in particular, can change both the assessment and the preparation. Keeping a precise report is useful, even when you are happy with the treatment and are not planning another procedure any time soon.

Do threads correct every fold?

A fold can depend on volume, on the skin, on facial expressions and on how the tissues have shifted. Suspension therefore does not address all of its components. Ask what change is expected in the fold that concerns you and which elements will remain visible, so that you do not confuse a partial improvement with complete disappearance.

Should the treatment be repeated as soon as the effect fades?

The benefit fading is an opportunity to take stock again of your priorities, your anatomy and your experience of the first session. You can choose another session, a different approach or no further treatment at all. A decision to repeat should take the cumulative risks and costs into account, not only the initial result.

Sources

1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (n.d.). Thread lift. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/thread-lift
2. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (n.d.). Thread lift risks and safety. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/thread-lift/safety
3. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (n.d.). Thread lift recovery. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/thread-lift/recovery
4. Health Canada. (2024, June 6). Only absorbable threads authorized for cosmetic use should be used in thread lift procedures. https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/only-absorbable-threads-authorized-cosmetic-use-should-be-used-thread-lift-procedures
5. Cleveland Clinic. (2023, January 7). Thread lift. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24581-thread-lift
6. Riopelle, A. M., Geisler, A. N., Eber, A., & Dover, J. S. (2025). Update on absorbable facial thread lifts. Dermatologic Surgery, 51(5), 509–514. https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000004521
7. Kim, J. S., Yang, E.-J., Kim, W.-R., Lee, W., Kim, H.-J., & Yi, K.-H. (2023). Ultrasound-guided thread lifting for the prevention of parotid gland and diagnosing parotid duct complications. Skin Research and Technology, 29(12), e13535. https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.13535