What is liposuction lift? Separating the volume of fat from Sagging (skin laxity)

Liposuction lift is a Treatments that combines the operation of suctioning facial fat to reduce its volume with the operation of lifting subcutaneous tissue using absorbable sutures with cogs (barbs). The lifting by sutures can address Sagging (skin laxity) up to moderate degree, and the Japanese Society for Aesthetic Surgery positions it at recommendation level 2 (weakly recommended) as a treatment to be performed after explaining the magnitude of effects and brevity of duration[1][2]。

What is this Treatments doing? — A reduction operation and a lifting operation

This Treatments addresses two separate issues: the volume of fat and the laxity of supporting tissue. Facial fullness contains both a component where excess fat appears heavy and a component where loosened support has descended, and the means differ between correcting volume and correcting descent[3]。The suture is directed toward the fixation point through a shallow subcutaneous fat layer, so it is designed to include how to provide support when the subcutaneous layer becomes thinner from suctioning[4]。

What are the limits of the lifting effect? — The society "weakly recommends"

What can be expected from suture lifting is temporary improvement, with effects that are not large and have short duration[2]。Even in early reports following 29 cases with barbed sutures, early loss of effect was recorded alongside complications[5]。There are prospective studies on the midface and nasolabial fold[6]、but within the range of materials referenced this time, prospective comparative trials combining liposuction and sutures could not be confirmed[7]。

Who is it suitable for? What are unsuitable conditions?

Suture lifting is said to be suitable for cases where Sagging (skin laxity) is moderate or less, subcutaneous tissue is not thick, skeletal support is present, and skin quality is maintained[1]。In cases where the skin is completely lax or the amount of descent is large, sutures alone cannot provide sufficient support[1]。Conversely, a state where skin has become thin and descended after facial liposuction is cited as a situation where adding a lift makes sense[3]。

What should we monitor regarding risks and rebound?

Potential complications should be considered separately for the suture side and the liposuction side. Complications of Thread lift have been organized by frequency in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, with reports of suture exposure or migration, skin puckering, and asymmetry[8][9]。On the liposuction side, post-operative compression is positioned as part of treatment[10]、and the appearance of swelling and irregularities depends on its management。

What is the difference from incisional Facelift?

The greatest difference is whether skin is excised. Since liposuction lift does not remove skin, if there is significant skin excess, the excess itself remains. Perioperative management is also organized when considering surgical procedures after receiving minimally invasive treatment[11]、whether you are considering future incisional procedures becomes material for deciding the order you receive them in。

What to confirm during consultation

What you want to decide at consultation is the estimate of the portion due to fat volume and the portion due to descent, whether skin excess can be addressed within the range that sutures can manage, and how much swelling and compression you should expect during recovery. Regarding effect duration and the interval until the next Treatments, you can make decisions more easily by asking based on the limits indicated in guidelines[2]。Whether your facial condition and the magnitude of desired change align is evaluated individually by the physician。