Nose thread lift

A nose thread lift uses absorbable barbed sutures inserted along the nasal bridge to reshape and lift the nose. It is a minimally invasive alternative to surgical rhinoplasty for certain concerns.

Also referred to under trade and technique names including APTOS, stitch lift, safe lift, S lift and feather lift.

What it can address

The technique is adaptable - the bridge, the tip, or both can be treated. It can be used to:

• Improve the shape of the nose
• Change the angle and rotation of the tip
• Refine and lift the tip
• Straighten and define the bridge
• Camouflage a bump on the bridge
• Improve the appearance of a deviated bridge

What it cannot do

• Make the nose smaller. Threads reposition and support tissue; they do not remove anything.
• Narrow the nostrils or change bone. That requires surgery.
• Improve breathing. Nasal obstruction and a deviated septum are functional problems requiring surgical correction, where MBS items 45632 to 45644 and 45650 may apply.

Cosmetic nose surgery ranges from $15,000 to $30,000. If what you want is a structurally different nose, that is the relevant procedure.

The procedure

The nose is sterilised and local anaesthetic injected to numb the area. A single entry point at the tip of the nose is used to insert the threads along the nasal bridge. Once the sutures are in place, the doctor moulds the skin by hand to shape it and achieve the lifting effect.

The number of sutures used depends on what is being changed.

The threads

Me Clinic uses absorbable barbed APTOS threads - bidirectional barbed threads designed to grip tissue from both directions. The barbs are what allow the thread to hold a repositioned shape, as opposed to smooth threads which stimulate collagen without lifting.

Thread material determines how long a result lasts. Smooth PDO threads are generally cited by manufacturers as lasting a few months to a year; slower-dissolving barbed threads can hold a result considerably longer.

The threads also support collagen formation along their path, so some structural support persists after the thread itself has dissolved.

How long results last

Sutures used in a nose thread lift typically last up to about two years, and in some patients longer. Threads can potentially be adjusted or tightened. Results vary between individuals.

Recovery

Mild swelling and transient bruising are common and usually settle in around two to seven days.

A slight depression or skin irregularity can appear at the entry point, and generally resolves within a few days.

Avoid pressure on the nose while the threads settle - including glasses or sunglasses resting on the bridge - as directed by your practitioner. Avoid nasal massage and manipulation.

Risks

The nose is a small, tightly constrained area with a rich blood supply, which is why technique matters here. Risks include:

• Pain, swelling and bruising
• Acute inflammatory tissue reaction
• Infection - uncommon, but infection around a foreign material may require thread removal
• Depression, dimpling or irregularity at the entry point or along the thread
• Threads becoming visible or palpable under the skin, particularly where nasal skin is thin
• Thread extrusion through the skin
• Asymmetry or deviation of the result
• Granuloma or nodule formation
• Thread migration or breakage
• Skin compromise or necrosis where blood supply is impaired
• Little or no change
• An unsatisfactory result

Seek prompt attention for increasing pain, spreading redness, fever, skin discolouration over the nose, or a thread coming through the skin.

Tell your practitioner about any previous rhinoplasty or nasal filler. Previous surgery alters the tissue and blood supply, and previous filler in the same area changes the risk picture.

Please read our information on the risks and complications of cosmetic surgery before proceeding.

Combining with other treatments

Dr Gordon Ku often combines a nose thread lift with other non-surgical nose treatments, including non-surgical nose augmentation with dermal filler, where threads provide projection and support and filler addresses contour.

Where both are used, the risks of both apply - including, for filler in the nose, vascular occlusion, which can cause tissue necrosis and rarely permanent vision loss. Read that page before combining treatments.

Cost

Every patient's requirements differ, so there is no standard price. Cost depends on the number of sutures used and what is being addressed, and is quoted after a no-obligation consultation and assessment. Consultation fees may apply.

As at September 2024 and including GST, a consultation with a Cosmetic Doctor is $150. This is a cosmetic treatment and is not covered by Medicare.

Referral and booking

A GP referral is not required to see a cosmetic doctor for a non-surgical treatment such as this - the referral requirement introduced on 1 July 2023 applies to cosmetic surgery. Appointments are generally available within 7 to 14 days, or sooner on a cancellation list.

Nose thread lifts at Me Clinic are performed by Dr Gordon Ku, Cosmetic Doctor (MED0001169203), MBBS (Melb), FACCSM (Med), FCPCA, AAAM (Board Cert), FA4M (Dubai). Registration can be checked free of charge on the AHPRA public register.

Book a consultation or contact the clinic. Me Clinic is at 4 Burke Road, Malvern East VIC 3145. Phone 1300 852 050.

Related pages

See thread lift, non-surgical nose augmentation, thread lift before and after, or all face procedures.

Individual results may vary. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.