Silhouette Soft – Tighten Skin Without Surgery
I am excited to announce that I am expanding my practice in Munich and now offering Silhouette Soft thread lifting. This technique, also known as “Soft lifting,” provides a genuine alternative to surgical facelifts. To provide competent advice and treatment to my patients, I recently completed an extensive training in Silhouette Soft under the guidance of surgeon Dr. Sandra Moritz. Now, I am ready to assist my patients with expertise and support!
Silhouette Soft is an excellent addition to my program. Even demanding facelifts are no longer a problem, and the results are known for their long-lasting effects. In this post, I would like to provide you with a detailed insight into Soft lifting with Silhouette Soft.
Here are the topics I will cover:
When Silhouette Soft?
With advancing age, the skin loses its elasticity, muscles and fatty tissues diminish, and even the bones undergo changes. In the face, this leads to noticeable sagging: the once youthful “V” shape transforms into a distinct “O” shape. This visual change often has a negative impact, leaving many patients unhappy with the development and seeking a solution.
For a long time, surgical facelifts were the only option. The skin was tightened using a scalpel, and excess tissue was removed. However, facelift surgery is a complex procedure with associated risks. It is also costly, making it an impractical solution for everyone.
Soft lifting with Silhouette Soft provides a compelling alternative. In numerous cases, it can deliver results comparable to a facelift but with significantly reduced risks. Moreover, it generally offers a more cost-effective option.
Silhouette Soft vs. PDO Threads
PDO threads are a preliminary step towards a non-surgical facelift. Whether used as a standalone solution or in combination with Botox and hyaluronic acid, PDO threads can yield good results in many cases. All of this without the need for a scalpel and with minimal downtime, making it a cost-effective option. Therefore, PDO threads are often the preferred choice for various applications.
However, PDO threads do have limitations. Firstly, their range of applications is limited. Even the strongest threads may not provide sufficient lifting effects. Secondly, the longevity of results is also limited. After 9–12 months, the lifting effects tend to diminish. While PDO threads do stimulate collagen production and offer some tissue tightening, it is often not enough to maintain rejuvenating effects in the long term.
Silhouette Soft: Almost A Real Facelift without Surgery
Soft lifting with Silhouette Soft threads takes it a step further. Since its introduction in 2006, these threads made of poly lactic acid (PLA) have proven to be a true alternative to facelifts in numerous instances. Similar to PDO threads, Silhouette Soft threads gradually dissolve and are completely absorbed by the body over time. However, they differ in two main aspects:
While PDO threads are anchored in the tissue using barbs, Silhouette Soft threads have freely moving, cone-shaped resistance bodies. This allows for precise and secure placement of the threads in the tissue, providing precise control over the tension and lifting effect during Soft lifting.
PDO threads are typically inserted in one direction only, limiting their use in facelifts requiring multi-directional placement. In contrast, Silhouette Soft threads are inserted using a double needle, allowing for placement in various directions and enabling complex applications for Soft lifting.
Another advantage of Silhouette Soft is its long-lasting results. Often, the effects remain visible even after 2 years.
Applications of Silhouette Soft
Silhouette Soft is suitable for various applications, including eyebrow ptosis, cheek ptosis, sagging chin and mouth corners, and loose skin on the neck.
Soft lifting is therefore suitable for all applications where PDO threads are used. However, since Silhouette Soft is priced higher than PDO thread lifting, the choice of technique also depends on cost considerations. I recommend Silhouette Soft to my patients in Munich when the achievable results justify the additional cost.
For example, achieving a “Bella Hadid Brow lift” is optimally possible only with Silhouette Soft threads. Even the strongest PDO threads can only provide subtle effects, and typically, that is only when combined with prior Botox treatment. With Silhouette Soft, impressive results with individualized looks are possible, along with long-lasting effects.
How Do Silhouette Soft Threads Work?
Soft lifting with Silhouette Soft has a dual effect:
The threads stimulate the production of new collagen in the skin, which has a lasting effect. Even after the threads have been absorbed, the newly formed collagen remains, providing ongoing firmness.
Silhouette Soft threads feature small cones that anchor them in the tissue, similar to barbed PDO threads. However, the tissue resistance is significantly greater, resulting in a much firmer anchoring.
Both the cones and threads integrate into the tissue, creating the lifting effect. Over the course of several months, they gradually dissolve and are absorbed by the body. Thanks to the newly formed collagen bridges, the tightening effect lasts for several more months, even after the threads and cones have been fully dissolved.
What is the Process?
A Silhouette Soft Lifting lasts incl. Preparation 90–120 minutes. The procedure takes place under local anesthesia and is largely painless.
The laying of the threads is done to the millimeter. Therefore, the treatment starts with the exact marking of the entry and exit points. After thorough cleaning and disinfection, the sutures are placed in the subcutaneous fat tissue using thin needles. At a depth of about 5 mm.
In Silhouette Soft lifting, the needle is passed under the skin from the point of insertion to the point of exit. The thread is aligned, cut behind the exit point, and the end is placed invisibly under the skin.
The other end of the thread is then inserted and laid with the second needle. The cones strung on Silhouette Soft threads point in opposite directions. This allows a strong tightening. Patients can examine the result during the treatment and influence it according to their wishes.
At the end, the entry, and exit holes are sealed through wound plasters (so-called “Steristrips”) and the sutures are fixed. The patches must be worn for 3 days.
What Should be Observed After Silhouette Soft?
The aftercare of a Silhouette soft lift is as follows:
- After completing the treatment, the treated areas should be cooled with ice packs for approximately 10 minutes.
- The entry and exit points of the threads should be treated with antibiotic ointment for 5 days to prevent infections.
- Feelings of tension, similar to muscle soreness, are common in the first few days after the treatment. Over-the-counter pain relievers like Ibuprofen 400 or 600 mg are effective in alleviating discomfort. The pain may persist for one week, and in rare cases, up to two weeks.
- In the first 2 weeks following the treatment, it is recommended to avoid massages, direct sunlight, and tanning beds. Additionally, if possible, sleep on your back.
- For 3 weeks, it is important to avoid activities such as sports, saunas, steam baths, massages, and making exaggerated facial expressions. Dental visits that require wide mouth opening should also be avoided.
While a Silhouette thread lifting does not involve downtime, it’s essential to note that you may not immediately return to your regular social activities. These restrictions are necessary to promote healing and ensure the success of the treatment. Additionally, wearing the wound dressings is crucial to secure the newly placed threads. Ideally, plan the treatment in a way that does not coincide with important appointments or events.
When will the results be visible?
After the treatment with Silhouette Soft, an initial tightening effect is immediately visible. The final results gradually manifest and become fully visible within 3 to 6 months. The effect can be enhanced or nuanced with hyaluronic acid. The results typically last for approximately 18 to 24 months.
Are There Risks and Side Effects?
The side effect profile of Silhouette Soft is similar to that of a PDO thread lift: pulling pain and stretching sensations after treatment, as well as temporary swelling and bruising, are normal for several days, but then subside. They restrict one in everyday life, although they do not lead to a real “downtime”. Treated patients must be careful when eating and grimacing, sports and violent movements should be avoided for a few days. Dental visits should be postponed. On the one hand, this serves patient comfort, but on the other hand, it prevents sutures from slipping or tearing before they have integrated into the tissue.
Despite all caution, however, threads can wander. They then extend out of the skin at one end, or are suddenly felt in the oral cavity. Such (rare) complications sound spectacular, but they are not. Usually it is enough to cut off the ends of the thread. In more complex cases, the torn end of the suture is removed completely.
When is SILHOUETTE SOFT not recommended?
The treatment is contraindicated in case of intolerance to the materials used. In addition, in the case of acute infection or the presence of an autoimmune disease. No lifting technique is recommended when taking a blood thinning medication at the same time, not even a soft lift. If possible, the medication should be discontinued 14 days before treatment. A Silhouette soft lift will also not be successful in cases of severe excess tissue. In this case, only a surgical facelift will help.
SILHOUETTE SOFT Cost
A Silhouette soft lift is billed according to the German Medical Fee Schedule (GOÄ). The price depends on the number of threads and the circumstances of the individual case. As an approximate guide for Silhouette costs, I can mention:
- Approximately 620-800 Euro for a soft lift with 2 Silhouette Soft threads (1x per side). This would be equivalent to an eyebrow lift.
- Approximately 1800-2200 Euro for a soft lift with 6 Silhouette Soft threads (3x per side). This would be equivalent to a cheek lift with tightening of the nasolabial fold or the lower jaw contour (jawline). 6 sutures are also needed for a neck lift.
- Approximately 2900-3200 Euro for a complete soft lift of the face (10 Silhouette Soft threads)
- Approximately 3700-4000 Euro for a complete soft lift of face and neck (12 Silhouette Soft threads)
For a softlifting consultation (30 minutes) I charge a flat rate of 75 €.
