Silhouette Soft: One treatment, two actions.

Silhouette Soft: One treatment, two actions.

By Emily Ruse,  Deputy Registered Manager

Medical treatments offered by aesthetic doctors are becoming increasingly similar to the types of treatments which once upon a time, were only offered by plastic surgeons. The technology, technique and level of skill that we now possess today, has allowed us to push the boundaries further outwards in medical aesthetics and every single year, we continue to push the limits of what was before thought to be impossible. These days, aesthetic doctors are able to offer less invasive anti-aging and skin lifting treatments with minimal downtime.

The thread lift procedure was initially introduced in the late 90s, however, it didn’t attract much popularity back then because it caused too much trauma and pain for the patient. At the time, most people were not receptive of the non-invasive thread lift and were not confident of the results. It fell out of favour, that is until Sinclair Pharma PLC renewed the public’s interest of the non-invasive thread lift in more recent years. New technology and the convenience of non-invasive thread lift treatments are some of the reasons why the procedure, Silhouette Soft, is rapidly gaining popularity as an alternative to facelift surgery.

Although not as radical as a surgical facelift, Silhouette Soft works to lift sagging skin, giving a more defined, V-shaped facial contour. The technology in the threads uses a double-action effect to restore smoother and more toned skin, but also a shapelier face. To meet this requirement, Silhouette Soft combines two effects: An immediate repositioning of the tissue and a gradual regeneration of collagen.

Silhouette Soft is a minimally invasive treatment, which is usually performed with local anaesthesia. Using absorbable sutures made from Poly L-Lactic acid, a biodegradable material, the doctor places these threads under the skin to lift and contour the face.

Each thread is inserted under the skin at precise points using a fine needle. Attached to the threads are tiny cones which are responsible for lifting and tightening the sagging tissues under the skin. It effectively raises lax skin in areas such as the cheeks, jowls, mouth and neck. After insertion, the suture cones initiate the build-up of new collagen formation which continues over

time, helping to increase volume and restore the shape of the face gradually over a period of six weeks to three months. After this time the full effects of the single treatment last on average for eighteen months.

The best candidates are young to middle-aged people with mild to moderate sagging skin who want to soften their wrinkles and mild folds. The anti-ageing treatment is best suited to those who have apparent sagging skin with weak facial contours but still have sufficient collagen deposits to stimulate production.

Dr Fatima, an aesthetic doctor at rtwskin, explains more about collagen production “The skin is predominantly made up of two types of collagen – type 1 and type 3 – which account for approximately 85% and 15% respectively. The polylactic acid, from which the Silhouette Soft sutures and cones are made, stimulate the body’s production of type 1 collagen. This is a more elastic and stronger form than the type 3 collagen which is produced by PDO threads. Type 3 collagen is more like repair tissue, stiffer and less elastic. It is protective collagen and may produce thicker skin, which may not be a desirable look in the long term. The results with Silhouette Soft are therefore softer and more nuanced.”

Book a no-obligation consultation to discuss Silhouette Soft treatment and other dermatology procedures with Dr Fatima Ahmed

Call 01892 22 22 22

Meet the Expert

Dr Fatima Ahmed is a speciality doctor in dermatology and aesthetics, with special interests in acne, mole and skin lesion diagnosis.  With medical qualifications from Pakistan, Canada, the UK and USA, she achieved academic distinction at Cardiff University and received the Chancellor International Scholarship award at the University of Hertfordshire.  She has worked in South Asia, the Middle East and the UK.

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