RELIFE talks to three leading experts on what to expect from the symposium at AMWC 2019 as well as the future of threads in Aesthetic Medicine 

DURING AMWC, RELIFE will host the scientific symposium ‘New Frontiers in Aesthetic Medicine: Global Strategies for Physiological Tissue Reshaping with Absorbable Suspension Threads’. The symposium will feature five internationally distinguished speakers, namely Hema Sundaram (Dermatologist, USA), Philippe Kestemont (Plastic Surgeon, France), Henry Delmar (Plastic Surgeon, France), Salvatore Fundarò (Aesthetic Surgeon, Italy) and Francesco Cirillo (Plastic Surgeon, Italy) and will introduce a new evidence-based paradigm to 3-Dimensional dynamic facial support concept, a novel approach to physiological REshaping with Definisse™ threads.

The session will be followed by a live demonstration.

Let’s take a closer look at 3 symposium protagonists to discover RELIFE’s REshaping and REpositioning techniques. 

Plastic Surgeon, investigator on medical studies researches of MEDITI (Medical Evaluation of Devices and Investigation of technologies Institut) in Cap d’Antibes, France

Dr Delmar, could you please give us a brief highlight of key messages you will deliver in the upcoming RELIFE symposium at AMWC?

‘The key messages of our symposium: be simple and reproducible. To achieve this, we must master the science of aging processed and facial anatomy, and deeper understanding of patient expectations.

We have to gain sufficient clinical experience to provide something simple and effective for our patient.’

What do you expect from the use of suspensions threads in facial ageing?

‘The recent PRIME Journal, Jan 2019, put a catchy phrase — ‘The Return Of Threads, Reshaping and Volumizing’, as its cover-title. This introduces a model of scientific inquiry with potential to transform perceptions and usage of threads which also lies in the technical evolution. First of all, it is important to know in depth the bio-mechanical features of threads and to correlate them with the concerns of the area we are treating. Moreover, we need to clarify the interaction between threads and tissue and how, in this relation, they affect each other.’ 

Which are the 10 basic rules for a successful strategy with suspension threads?

‘The ten basic rules for today’s success of treatment are: 

  • To understand the facial anatomy, the correct anatomical plane to obtain effective traction and soft tissue mobilization. 
  • To understand the rheological and bio-mechanical properties of threads to help us defining appropriate clinical indications for threads, 
  • To better understand the interaction between threads and tissues, in order to allow tissue mobilisation and to provide predictable outcomes for our patients; 
  • To correct the gravity effects of the aging process; 
  • To use threads with bi-directional barbs: this allows the ideal anchoring to the tissues; 
  • To always keep in mind the facial dynamic; 
  • The more tissue to suspend, more threads need to be used 
  • To mark the placement of the threads, the insertion and exit points; to observe the asymmetry of the face (bone and soft tissues); 
  • To be simple, but what does it mean? It means insert a thread gently, avoiding to over-correct, while preserving the quality of the result; 
  • To exactly explain to the patient what will be the treatment results: Manage patients’ expectation, and educate the duration based on evidence based scientific data. Don’t promise more than what can we achieve and educate on the importance to repeat the treatment, just as any other aesthetic medicine procedure. 

Finally, I would like to highlight that this newly developed dynamic treatment model that effectively addresses all three anatomical dimensions — frontal, sagittal, transverse — can correct facial projection, width, and gravity-related ptosis respectively. This model can be applied to the combination of threads with other aesthetic medicine modalities. Doing that, I promise you that you will have good results with confident patients.’ 

SALVATORE FUNDARÒ, MD, Aesthetic Surgeon, Founder and Treasurer of Associazione Italiana Trattamento Estetico Botulino A.I.T.E.B.), Vice-President of Società Italiana Medicina e Chirurgia Estetica (S.I.E.S), Italy

Dr Salvatore Fundarò, could you please give us a highlight of key messages you will discuss during the upcoming RELIFE symposium at AMWC?

‘The first one will be: the importance of anatomy for the correct use of suspension threads. It is very important to exactly know facial anatomical structures such as fat compartments, ligaments, tissue layers. Then, it is absolutely fundamental to understand how these structures will change along with the aging process and, based on this science of aging, it is possible to plan the correct treatment according to specific facial concerns. 

What do the Aesthetic Medicine specialists expect from the use of suspension threads?

‘By the use of these suspension threads, the capability to give a natural 3-Dimensional repositioning of the superficial fat compartments. By planning accurately the repositioning of this anatomical structure, we can achieve the expected good clinical aesthetic result. 

What is the innovation in RELIFE’s suspension threads technique?

‘The first innovation is surely the quality of the product. Definisse™ threads are supported by scientific publications1–4. The second innovative aspect is that RELIFE is leading in delivering an international consensus on standard techniques that is simple and effective for clinical use all around the world.’ 

FRANCESCO CIRILLO, MD, Plastic Surgeon, National Secretary of Associazione Italiana di Chirurgia Plastica Estetica (AICPE), Italy

Dr Pierfrancesco Cirillo, could you please give us a highlight of key messages you will discuss during the upcoming RELIFE symposium at AMWC?

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has evolved to be gold-standard in healthcare (from cardio, gastro, urology, to aesthetic medicine). The innovative approach to achieve effective result with minimal or less downtime, and faster patient recovery has led to a shifting trend towards MIS. The use of the suspension threads as minimal invasive approach in aesthetic medicine, must be hypothesised when we need an action of traction and anti-gravity support, especially for facial reshaping. Definisse™ Ancorage Threads, are the threads that, in the Definisse™ portfolio, require minimal surgical experience.

In my experience, the possibility of anchoring one of the ends of the thread to a fixed point, generally the Galea in the temporal region, translates into greater stability and reliability of the final result. 

 

 

What are the strengths of Definisse™Ancorage threads in comparison with other threads?

In my opinion, the strengths of the Definisse™ Ancorage are mainly: an excellent grip, essential condition to have a reliable and stable traction action; a slow reabsorption of the thread, without however stimulating an intense fibrotic reaction; and an optimal tensile strength of the thread, which does not undergo breakage during the treatment. 

Figure 1 (A) Before and (B) 1 month after treatment with Definisse™ double needle threads

Who is the ideal candidate for Definisse™ Ancorage threads?

In my experience, the ideal patient is between 35 and 55 years old, with a good bony support, with mild to moderate laxity, without a history of significant weight loss, and with an appropriate skin thickness: too thin skin type, does not usually fall among ideal patients. Thread procedure is an option to be considered also for those patients that don’t want any kind of major surgery, cost-concern, and requiring short downtime. In my experience, thread procedure is a minimal invasive intermediate step, to a surgical face-lifting, offering complementary skill and service in our aesthetic medicine clinical practice.

Discover more about RELIFE solutions. The Symposium will take place on Saturday, April 6th from 2 to 4 pm in SALON PRICE PIERRE. Don’t miss the date.

‘Finally! Trusted and professional 3-Dimensional Reshaping thread in our hands, improving your patient’s self-confidence.’ 

 

Find out more about Relife Company by visiting our website at: www.relifecompany.it

 

Further Reading

  1. Savoia A, et al. Outcomes in thread lift for facial rejuvenation: a study performed with Happy LiftTM Revitalizing. 2014, Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 4(1):103-14
  2. Wong V. “Efficacy of bidirectional barbed polycaprolactone threads in repositioning of soft tissue in the neck”. 2017, J Clin Exp Dermatol Res 8:1 (Suppl)
  3. Kalyan R., et al. “The efficacy of polycaprolactone threads in zygomatic and mandibular lifting: consecutive study from a single practitioner’s experience”. 2017, Int J Clin Expl Dermatol. 1(1):1-3
  4. Sundaram M. “The new science of threads, an evidence-based paradigm for physiological tissue mobilistation and reshaping”. 2019, PRIME J. 9(1):48-54