The Philippine Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons held a seminar on November 3, 2004, featuring the Aptos technology for facial contouring. This nonsurgical approach to facial lifting utilizes the use of patented Aptos threads, wires, springs and needles.
The guest speaker was none other than Dr. Marlen Sulamanidze, the Russian scientist, inventor and plastic surgeon who obtained world wide patents on his Aptos threads, also known as Russian threads. These threads are polypropylene threads with fine cogs or barbs cut into the thread; the barbs anchor onto facial tissue as the surgeon lifts the sagging skin in order to obtain a rejuvenated new look. The threads can be applied to brow, forehead, neck, jaw line and cheek lifting.
Dr. Sulamanidze claims that the threads can support the tissues in their new position for years. However the longest follow-up pictures he showed were only 4 months post-application of Aptos threads, although he claims in his brochure that he has been using it since 1998. My initial impression is that the Aptos thread will have its best application for a select group of patients with thin sagging skin. Just looking at the before-and-after pictures, it seems to me that patients with ample facial fat do not seem to have as good results compared to patients with thin skin.
However, when one compares the Aptos thread to the traditional face-lift with all its risks, trauma, suffering, prolonged downtime and high cost, I think it is a technology which will have greater acceptance and application in the coming years.
More about the Aptos Thread Lift
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