Nose Thread Lift: A Patient's Story
*This story is inspired by a real patient. To protect their privacy, details have been changed.
A new type of non-surgical rhinoplasty is taking the beauty world by storm. Called a nose thread lift, this minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure can reshape and contour the nose without the need for surgery. This post follows the story of Alana Lim, a Vancouverite who has always dreamed of getting a nose job.
Meeting Alana
In the consult room, a young woman sits across from me. She looks around nervously, taking in the white examination chair and the view of downtown Vancouver from the oversized windows.
I smile at her and introduce myself as Dr. Mark Godley, "What brings you to our clinic today, Alana?"
Her attention returns to me, and she points to her aquiline nose with a wince. "I've always wanted my nose to look different."
Alana continues to explain how she had considered rhinoplasty since her teens because she felt insecure about the prominent hump of her nose. But, despite her desire to change her nose, she couldn’t quite commit to the permanence and trauma of surgery.
Alana's fear is a common one. The nose is a dominant feature, and reshaping it can make an individual feel more confident and balance their facial features. However, it can take up to a year to visualize the final results of surgery, and sometimes the patient can feel that their new nose doesn't suit them.
*False Creek Surgical Centre and Maples Surgical Centre has since been acquired and are known as Surgical Solutions Network.
As the founder of False Creek Surgical Centre* in Vancouver and Maples Surgical Centre in Winnipeg, I've met many men and women like Alana in the operating room. It's been my life's work to offer rhinoplasty, face lifts, and other facial surgeries.
And yet, when I first heard about the thread lift treatment, I was one of the first doctors in Canada to hop on a plane to Tbilisi, Georgia, to train with the inventor of thread lifting and renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Marlen Sulamanidze.
Alana's obvious nervousness catches my attention. I ask her, "What was the biggest reason why you didn't get rhinoplasty?"
She pauses, considering the question. "I like my face. It could be better, but I'm worried about changing too much and not recognizing myself."
I nod in understanding. "Let's not change who you are, then."
The two of us discuss what is possible with thread lifting and agree on a treatment plan to create volume and definition for Alana's nose bridge so that it appears less curved.
At the end of her consult, Alana shakes my hand, no trace of nervousness left on her excited face.
Treatment Day
On the day of her procedure, Alana lies on the examination chair with the same excited expression.
I insert the first thread into her nose. She frowns slightly at the sensation, but because of the local anesthesia I applied earlier, she feels minimal pain. I insert more threads creating a scaffolding structure to reshape her bridge. 30-minutes later, I trim the threads and apply a dressing to Alana's face.
"We're all done," I tell her.
As she sits up, we review her aftercare. She's a yoga enthusiast, so I ask her to avoid upside-down poses or any strenuous activity for the first few days. She's going to be bruised and swollen, but this will also subside within a few days.
Alana's Results
2-weeks later, Alana's back in the consult room to take her after photo. She grins widely at the camera, and my assistant asks her for a neutral expression.
Alana laughs. "Oh, sorry. I can't help it. I never thought I could like this and without surgery too."
I study Alana's facial profile. The hook-like curve is gone, replaced with a nearly straight line. The change is not dramatic, her nose has a more refined shape, but it's still distinctly her. What is significant is the change in Alana herself, how she holds her shoulders and continues to grin at the camera. She'd be hard-pressed to recognize herself from the shy and insecure teenager she once was.
As an anesthesiologist, I participated in thousands of surgeries at my centres. However, I rarely saw the results in person. It's moments like these with Alana and being part of her story that fuel my passion for cosmetic and facial restoration, even after decades of practice.
If you're considering a nose thread lift in Vancouver, we hope this blog post has been helpful. Dr. Godley is a leader in PDA and PDO thread lifts in Vancouver, with over 400 thread lifts performed, including the white-hot trend, the Fox Eye brow lift.
Still Undecided? Take a look at these nose thread lift results from our patients in Vancouver.
