Safety Profile of Thread Lifts on the Face and Neck: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review

BACKGROUND “Thread lifting” has quickly gained popularity as a minimally invasive treatment for facial rejuvenation. However, the effectiveness is questionable, and the safety and adverse effects are often not discussed. OBJECTIVE To identify and discuss the adverse effects associated with various types of threads. MATERIALS AND METHODS Studies describing the use of thread lifts were identified using a PubMed search. Inclusion criteria included studies in which barbed and nonbarbed threads were used for the face and neck. RESULTS Fifty-nine articles consisting of 14,222 patients (14,134 barbed, 81 nonbarbed, and 7 combined cases) were included. The most common side effects overall were facial asymmetry (n = 6,143), edema/tumefaction (n = 453), and ecchymosis (n = 407). Serious adverse effects were rare and consisted of paresthesias, alopecia, and injuries to vessels/glands. Most adverse effects were transient and self-resolving, with the exception of contour irregularities, injuries to vessels/glands, infections, and inflammatory reactions. CONCLUSION Most side effects associated with threads were self-resolving, whereas more serious cases subsided with treatment. Future studies are critical to further determine whether thread lifting provides long-lasting, safe, and satisfying results.