Sagging skin is one of the major contributors to an aged and tired appearance. Silhouette InstaLift™ is a simple, in-office procedure to recontour your face by lifting the deeper layers of your skin for a more youthful appearance. During a short in-office procedure, Silhouette InstaLift sutures are inserted to lift the deeper layers of the skin in the mid-face or cheek area. The treatment does not require general anesthesia, and typically takes 45 minutes. The outcome is immediate. Patients see results right away and recovery time is minimal.
The sutures are naturally absorbed by your body over time while stimulating the production of collagen to aid in healthy skin renewal for natural-looking, long lasting results.
Naomi Lawrence, MD, Head of the Section of Procedural Dermatology, is performing this new procedure, Silhouette InstaLift, in her Marlton office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Silhouette InstaLift™ FDA cleared?
The product earned FDA clearance in April 2015.
Q. Who is a good candidate to have a Silhouette InstaLift procedure?
Silhouette InstaLift is the ideal minimally invasive solution for many men and women who are interested in refreshing their appearance without major surgery, injections, or lasers. It offers a new and unique technology to lift sagging facial skin. Suitable candidates have good skin quality, with moderate sagging of the skin in the mid-face.
Q. What are Silhouette InstaLift sutures made of?
Silhouette InstaLift sutures are made from glycolide /L-lactide (PLGA), a polymer that is frequently used in medical devices and is well tolerated by the body. The fully resorbable sutures have bi-directional cones; the sutures lift and reposition the tissue while the bi-directional cones hold the suture and facial skin in an elevated position.
Q. What can Silhouette InstaLift do to improve my appearance?
Sagging facial skin is one of the major contributors to an aged and tired appearance. Silhouette InstaLift is a minimally invasive procedure that redefines the contours of the mid-face by lifting the deeper layers of skin for a more youthful look.
Q. What areas of the face does Silhouette InstaLift treat?
The procedure lifts and restores contours to the mid-face and cheek area.
Q. How is the Silhouette InstaLift procedure performed?
During the in-office procedure, our specially trained dermatologic surgeon will begin by marking the areas of desired lift on the patient. She will then gently insert a needle to a depth of 5mm and guide it through the subcutaneous tissue and extract at each bi-directional exit point. The sutures have bi-directional absorbable cones that hold them in place. The treatment is generally well tolerated by patients and typically takes 45 minutes.
Q. Is general anesthesia required?
No. Your physician will only use a local anesthetic to numb the area before inserting the sutures.
Q. How is Silhouette InstaLift different from Thread Lifts?
Silhouette InstaLift is an entirely new technology and procedure. Rather than just repositioning the skin, Silhouette InstaLift focuses on the underlying layers of the skin, because that is what really causes sagging. Another important advance is that the sutures are not permanent; they are absorbed by the body over time. As they are absorbed, they stimulate collagen renewal, which helps achieve a lasting, natural look.
Q. Where can I have Silhouette InstaLift™ performed?
Silhouette InstaLift is only performed by qualified physicians who have undergone special, comprehensive training and are familiar with the techniques required.
Q. Who is a non-ideal patient?
The Silhouette InstaLift device should not be used in patients with any known allergy or foreign-body sensitivities to plastic biomaterial or in situations where internal fixation is otherwise contraindicated (for example, infection). The device should also not be used in patients appearing to have very thin soft tissue of the face in which the implant may be palpable.
Q. What are the side effects that might happen with this procedure?
After placement, patients may experience a minimal acute inflammatory tissue reaction. Symptoms may include minor pain, swelling, and bruising. Material sensitivity/allergic reactions should be reported to Silhouette Lift Inc. Implantation of foreign materials in tissue can result in histologic reactions. Other potential side effects include sensory nerve injury, asymmetry, or banding.