The Silhouette-Lift is a new, minimally invasive procedure for reversing some of the early signs of facial aging. Until recently, the next step to rejuvenate the face after using injectable fillers was a facelift due to limitations on the extent of improvement possible with the addition of volume alone. The Silhouette-Lift provides a very effective bridge between injectables and surgery. It is a minimally invasive technique, usually performed under local anesthesia, that enables a lifting of the sagging facial tissues away from the mouth and jawline and restores a youthful fullness to the cheek. The Silhouette Lift utilizes specially modified polypropylene sutures with bioabsorbable cones approved by the FDA.
The Silhouette sutures are introduced through a small incision within the hair of the temporal scalp. Four sutures on each side of the face are passed through the superficial tissue under the skin. The specialized needle used to direct the position of each suture then exits in a pre-determined location adjacent to the nasolabial fold and above the jawline. The sutures are deployed into the tissue by pulling backwards through the temporal area to engage the cones. The facial tissue is mobilized until the desired lift is achieved. The unique threads grasp and elevate sagging facial tissue with multiple fixation points provided by the cones. The fibrous tissue formed by the body around each cone provides a point of stability that maintains the lift following absorption of the suture cones after 6-12 months. The sutures are anchored with a series of knots to a strong layer known as the temporal fascia, deep to the scalp incision. The small incision is then closed with special scalp staples, which are removed in 1 week. The procedure can be used in conjunction with other minimally invasive techniques such as injectable fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic, and Fraxel® re:store laser to enhance the results.
