CHIN UP, folks!

Silhouette Soft® is a unique facial rejuvenation procedure that elevates sagging facial skin without the need for surgery, scars, or general anesthesia. It is a simple, in-office procedure to re-contour the face by elevating the deeper layers of their skin. It is a re-absorbable suture based on the molded cone technology. It uses dissolving sutures to lift sagging tissue in areas of the face including the brow, cheek, jawline, and neck.

Silhouette Soft® uses a double action effect to restore smoother and more toned skin, along with a more shapely face by a combination of two effects. It brings about an immediate repositioning of the tissue and a gradual regeneration of collagen. The regenerating effect is due to Poly L-lactic acid (PLLA), its principal component. The small cones on the Suture provide traction and fixation points, a natural foreign body reaction which ensues following their placement then reinforces them, by the build-up of new collagen formation.

The procedure has been reportedly done by TV show judge Simon Cowell and actress Gillian Taylforth and Meg Matthews. The cost of the treatment depends on the number of threads used and the areas addressed. The treatments can cost about an average of Rs 1,25,000.

Typically, the procedure is performed in a doctor’s office with local anesthetic. The threads are inserted into the facial adipose tissue using fine needles following which the facial tissue is contoured over the threads by pulling them. The ends of the threads are buried beneath the skin. The procedure takes less than an hour depending on the number of areas that need to be addressed and the number of threads to be inserted.

It is recommended for men and women who are trying to combat sagging skin or loss of volume on the face but don’t want invasive treatments (like surgical lifts). Patient selection is extremely important. The patient must have a good skin quality; not too thin neither too thick. The ideal indications are mid-face, jawline, brow, and neck moderate sagging or visible marionette lines and nasolabial folds. Patients with excessive skin in the jaw region associated with thick skin, excessive skin due to advanced aging or excessively thin skin in a face that is lacking fat tissue are not candidates for the procedure.

Do’s and Don’ts

• After the treatment, a slight edema or bruising may occur. Sometimes, a slight depression or skin irregularity may appear at the entry points. These inconveniences disappear a few days after treatment. Following the procedure, cold packs and analgesics are prescribed for two days. Patients are advised to wash and dry without rubbing their faces. They need to sleep face up for five to six days. Exposure to sunlight is best avoided for about two weeks with excessive movement of the face and neck. Face massages and aesthetic treatments are to be avoided for at least four weeks.
• Like several threads before this one, the company claims the results last for 15-18 months. Non-invasive treatments have several and severe limitations when it comes to producing long-lasting results. They cannot be compared to their surgical counterparts like the SMAS facelifts which produce long-term results lasting for over seven to 10 years.

— The writer is a Mumbai-based dermatologist.

Disclaimer: Always check with a dermatogist/cosmetic surgeon before going ahead with this procedure.