Thread lift is a 30–45 minute minimally invasive procedure that lifts and tightens sagging skin using fine, dissolvable threads placed beneath the skin under local anaesthesia performed at Apollo Hospitals by Dr. Rajesh Vasu, an APTOS-Certified Trainer.
30 minutes
Local only
7 to 10 days
3 MONTHS
Thread lift sits in the gap between non-invasive treatments like Botox and filler, which can refresh but cannot lift — and a surgical facelift, which lifts powerfully but requires general anaesthesia, weeks of recovery, and a 10-year commitment to a major operation. The procedure uses fine, dissolvable, barbed threads inserted via a small needle or cannula. Once placed, the threads are gently tightened along pre-planned vectors, mechanically lifting the soft tissue underneath.
There is a second effect, often more important than the first. The body recognises the threads as a foreign material and responds by producing collagen around them. Over the weeks and months that follow, the skin progressively tightens and improves in quality — beyond the initial mechanical lift. By the time the threads dissolve (6–12 months), the collagen response is what’s holding the result. Most patients see meaningful improvement for 2–3 years from a single session.
Dr. Vasu examines your face — areas of laxity, skin quality, bone structure — and explains where the threads will be placed, how many, and what kind of lift you'll see. Marking is done with you upright. 20–30 min
A small anaesthetic injection numbs only the entry points of the threads. No general anaesthesia. You're awake throughout.
Using a fine cannula or needle, [BRACKET: APTOS / PDO / mixed — Dr. Vasu to confirm primary thread type] threads are inserted along pre-marked vectors. The barbed threads grip the soft tissue underneath, then are gently tightened to lift the area. 20–30 min
The lift is visible the moment the threads are tightened. You walk out the same day with the result already in place — refined by the body's collagen response over the following weeks. Same day
Some bruising and a feeling of tightness at the thread entry points. Easily managed with simple painkillers. Most patients describe it as ‘a face that's been pulled tight' — which it has.
The thread entry points are protected. No washing, no makeup, no rubbing for the first 12 hours.
Most patients return to work the next day. Some bruising may need light makeup coverage. Vigorous facial expressions and high-intensity exercise are paused for the first week.
The body recognises the threads as a foreign material and triggers collagen production around them. The skin progressively tightens beyond the initial mechanical lift. This is the second wave of the result.
Mechanical lift from the threads + collagen-driven skin quality improvement. Threads gradually dissolve over 6–12 months but the collagen effect persists. Most patients see 2–3 years of visible improvement.
” Most surgeons offering thread lift are trained on the technique. A small subset globally aretrained to teach it. Where you place the threads, what vectors you choose, how you anchor them — that’s where the result is decided.”
Thread lift is one of those procedures where technique determines outcome more than equipment does. The same threads in two different hands produce two different faces. APTOS-certified Trainer status is one of the highest credentials available in this field globally — granted to a small subset of practitioners who not only perform the procedure but teach it to other surgeons. For a procedure that depends almost entirely on placement and vector planning, the depth of training is the most legitimate proxy a patient has for outcome quality.
Performed in a fully accredited tertiary care hospital — sterile theatre, advanced infection control, hospital-grade safety standards. Not a clinic room.
Performed personally by Dr. Vasu. No technicians, no junior staff, no routing through general practice. Plastic surgery technique applied to every repair, however small.
30+ years of clinical experience. 5,000+ procedures performed. Internationally trained in aesthetic surgery at one of Europe’s most respected institutes.
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I don’t aim to change who you are. I work to enhance what is already there.
Real patients. Real repairs. All photographs published with written consent.
Patient 1 · Male, 43 3 months post
Patient 2 · Female, 34 3 months post
Patient 3 · Female, 34 3 months post
Individual results vary. Photographs are representative, not guaranteed outcomes. Consultation required to assess suitability.
Most surgeons offering thread lift are trained on the technique. Dr. Vasu is APTOS-certified as a Trainer — meaning he doesn’t just perform thread lifts; he teaches other surgeons how to perform them, internationally. APTOS (Anti-Ptosis) is one of the most recognised thread-lift systems globally, and trainer status is a small subset of practitioners worldwide. For a procedure where technique determines everything from how the lift looks to how long it lasts, the depth of training matters.
No. Performed under local anaesthesia, only the thread entry points are numbed. You’ll feel a small pinch from the numbing injection, then a sensation of pressure or pulling during placement — not pain. Mild tenderness and bruising for 2–3 days afterwards is easily managed with simple painkillers.
Results are not permanent. The mechanical lift from the threads lasts 1–3 years; the threads dissolve gradually over 6–12 months. But the secondary collagen response — triggered by the body recognising the threads — produces lasting skin quality improvement that continues to show 2–3 years after the procedure. Most patients return for a refresh in that window if they want to maintain the lift.
A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure with no incisions, performed in 30–45 minutes under local anaesthesia, with same-day recovery and results that last 2–3 years. A surgical facelift is a major operation under general anaesthesia, with visible incisions, weeks of recovery, and results that last 10+ years. Thread lift is the right choice when you want a refresh, not a reset — and when you can’t (or don’t want to) take weeks of downtime.
The mechanical lift is visible immediately — you’ll see it the moment the threads are tightened. Bruising and mild swelling may obscure it slightly in the first few days. By week 2, the lift is clearly visible. By 6–8 weeks, the secondary collagen response begins refining the result, and by 3 months you see the full effect.
They solve different problems. Thread lift addresses sagging — sagging cheeks, jowls, neck. Filler addresses volume loss — hollow cheeks, thinning lips, sunken under-eyes. Botox addresses dynamic wrinkles — frown lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines. Many patients benefit from a combination. The consultation determines what you actually need; sometimes that’s just one of these, sometimes a layered plan.
First 12 hours: no washing, no touching the area. First 3 weeks: no scrubbing or vigorous massage of the face. First week: no saunas, high-intensity workouts, or sleeping on your side. Most patients are advised to sleep with the head propped up for the first few nights to avoid rolling onto the thread entry points.
Common and short-lived: bruising, swelling, mild bleeding at thread entry points, and tenderness — all typically resolve in 2–3 days. Rare: infection at the entry points, visible dimpling or pulling where threads sit, suture migration causing lumpy or uneven skin, or persistent discomfort from a thread placed too tight. Choosing an experienced surgeon — especially one trained at the trainer level — substantially reduces the rate of these issues.
It depends entirely on what’s being treated. A targeted lift of one area (e.g., jowls only) may use 3–6 threads. A full-face rejuvenation can use 10–16 or more. Dr. Vasu plans the number and placement based on your specific anatomy and goals — not a standard package — and explains the rationale at consultation.
Cost depends on the area being treated and the number of threads required. Pricing is discussed transparently during your consultation, with a written treatment plan provided before the procedure is scheduled. No hidden charges. Most patients find it costs a fraction of a surgical facelift while delivering meaningful, visible rejuvenation.
If the question is whether a thread lift is right for you, the answer is almost always: depends on your skin, your goals, and your timeline. A 15–20 minute consultation with Dr. Vasu — in person at Apollo Hospitals or virtual — is the simplest way to find out. He’ll examine the areas of concern, tell you whether thread lift, filler, or a combination is right for you, and explain exactly what the procedure would involve. No pressure to proceed.