Nose Thread / Hiko
A minimally invasive technique using bio-absorbable sutures to raise the bridge and tip of the nose
The nose lies centrally on the face and influences how we view the face – a sharp, well proportioned nose can create the image of a sharper, more well proportioned face.
Used as an alternative or adjunct to nose fillers, nose thread lifting is a safe and viable technique at sculpting the nose. Done using bio-absorbable sutures, these sutures break down naturally over the course of a year.
What is done during a nose thread lift?
Surgical suture threads are layered along to nose bridge or nose tip to straighten, increase the height of the nose, or increase the projection of the nose tip.
Inserted through small holes created by a small needle, the procedure is minimally invasive and results in a minimal downtime of several days to a week.
Considered a safer alternative to nose fillers, nose thread lifts have quickly become the go-to for non-surgical nose enhancement.
Am I A Candidate?
The nose thread lift is versatile and can help with:
- Increasing the projection of an already proportionately long nose
- Straightening out any dorsal humps
- Increasing nasal tip projection
- Giving some height to moderately short noses
There are instances where fillers still play an important, and more fitting, role. These include patients who have a severely deficient nasal bridge.
Unlike fillers, sutures used for nose augmentation have extremely little to no risk of sideward spread, reducing the chance of over-broadening the nose. Furthermore, severe consequences, such as vascular occlusion from fillers resulting in blindness (though extremely rare with fillers), do not occur with the use of nose threads.
FAQs
1. What does the procedure involve?
The procedure involves the placement of suture threads into the skin via a blunt cannula. The tissue is repositioned to a desired or optimal position and the cannula is removed. The thread is left in the skin and breaks down over several months to a year.
2. Is the procedure painful?
The procedure requires the use of numbing cream and injectable local anaesthesia to several areas. After this local anaesthesia, the procedure is minimally uncomfortable.
3. How long does each session take?
The procedure typically takes between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on what area is treated.
4. Is there any downtime?
As this procedure is minimally invasive in nature, downtime is significantly less than that of surgical face lifts.
You can expect some swelling and bruising after the procedure, which can take several days to a week to settle.
5. Are there any possible side effects?
Common side effects include a sensation of tightness after the procedure. These typically resolve over several days to a week.
Other less common side effects can occur, and are best discussed during consultation.
6. Are the results permanent?
As the sutures used are broken down over time in the body, results are not permanent.
However, as collagen is deposited in place of the resorbed threads, some residual effect remains after the threads are broken down.
Natural results are seen after 2 weeks and, depending on the suture material, a touch-up is advised typically after 9 months to a year.