Thread Lifting and Microfocused Ultrasound for Face Tightening Ultrasound for Lifting and Tightening the Face

Overview

Skin aging is a continuous and inevitable presses usually starting at the age of mid-twenties, this prosses affects all facial layers including skin, subcutaneous fat, superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS), deep facia, the retaining ligaments, muscle activity, and even facial bony structure . The clinical outcome of this process causes the aging signs of the face and neck, including loose facial skin, sagging cheeks, excess skin hanging from the lower jawline and excess fat in the neck . In the last decade with the introduction of absorbable threads, thread lifting has gained interest and popularity among patients and physicians, as noninvasive technique to treat ptotic skin and reposition of ptotic soft tissue into a more anatomical direction. Histopathological studies indicated that dermal and subcutaneous foreign body reaction after inserting the threads, in forms of collagen deposition, and fibrosis , could explain the tightening effect throughout contracture and remodeling. However, some studies question efficacy especially in the aspects of durability and patient satisfaction . Another nonsurgical alternative for facial rejuvenation is high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, during the past decade, HIFU has been used as a clinical noninvasive surgical tool to treat tumors, including those of the liver, prostate, and uterus (10-12) The HIFU devices heat tissue with acoustic energy in a focused, controlled manner. The thermal injury within the tissue leads to focal necrosis and cellular damage, initiating an inflammatory cascade that culminates in tissue remodeling, similar to changes that occur after ablative or nonablative laser treatments . The Investigators hypothesis that the HIFU treatment followed immediately by thread insertion can amplify and enhance the skin fibrosis, tissue lifting capacity and might give better and longer clinical results in treating ptotic skin.