Non-surgical facelift arrives in Brevard

Dr. Emran Imami pulled all the right strings, literally, to turn back the clock a good 10 years for patient Lindsay Clark. Clark was the first patient in Brevard to take advantage of the newly FDA approved NovaThread, a face lifting procedure that involves none of the nipping and tucking of traditional face lifts.

At the heart of the procedure are needles and thin threads.

“The NovaThread procedure requires inserting of small needles in the facial tissue at the subdermal level, parallel to the surface of the skin, to lift and contour,” explained Imami, medical director of Imami Skin & Cosmetic Center. “The thread remains under the skin and fully absorbs within four to six months, acting as a type of scaffolding which tightens and lifts the chosen facial area.”

However, these are not the threads you will find in Grandma’s sewing basket, but rather polydioxanone, or PDO threads that promotes healing while also rejuvenating the skin. Even better, these threads help stimulate collagen production while keeping the facial skin lifted for a year or more.

“Our skin is very good at repairing itself,” explained Imami.

“By inserting NovaThreads for facial lifting, we promote natural healing by creating new collagen underneath the skin.”

But wait, there’s more! The lifting possibilities don’t end at the face, for the NovaThread procedure can also be used to life saggy breasts and butts, not to mention that annoyingly limp skin under the arms and jowls, plus neck bands and knee “overhang.”

A staple for years in orthopedic and cardiothoracic surgery, as well as in other biomedical and clinical applications, sutures comparable to NovaThread have been proven safe and effective.

NovaThread, which received FDA approval late last year, is slightly thicker than its predecessors and feature miniscule barbs or hooks that add extra traction to keep facial skin lifted and promote the formation of facial collagen. The absorbable suture material is inserted via needle just under the skin.

The procedure takes less than an hour, leaves minimal, if any, bruising and patients can go about their normal routine the same day, as did Clark, who returned to work right after the visit to Imami’s office in Melbourne.

“Dr. Imami suggested I take some Aleve, but I didn’t even need it,” said Clark. “All I felt was a little pinch.”

Clark, who owns LA Bridal boutique at The Avenue Viera, wants to look her best in front of her clients, but she couldn’t afford the time for traditional plastic surgery, and, frankly, she was scared of going under the knife.

“I always want to put my best foot forward at the store,” said the Viera resident. “I am also afraid of going under anesthesia with plastic surgery and I’ve also had some girlfriends who had plastic surgery and it didn’t turn out well for them.”

Clark is delighted with the NovaThread results, particularly since it turned her former permanent frown upside down.

“People would ask me why I was upset, when I wasn’t,” she said. “Now, I don’t look sad or upset anymore. It was instant gratification.”

In fact, she is so happy with the procedure, she had Imami repeat it, this time with her breasts and buttocks to alleviate the effects of gravity and motherhood on those particular body parts.

“I wanted them back to where they started, so I could be comfortable in a bathing suit,” she said.

Even though he has just started offering the procedure, Imami already has a waiting list for the treatment. Several of Clark’s fellow business owners at The Avenue are among his patients. This anti-aging option is being considered almost preventative in nature by younger patients such as Clark, who is 33.

While it generally costs less than plastic surgery, a NovaThread facelift nevertheless will set you back a couple of thousand dollars and the procedure must be repeated a year or two down the line to keep the same youthful appearance. Imami also notes that the non-surgical facelift is only part of the arsenal he uses to combat aging.

“We can combine NovaThreads with laser, IPL photofacial treatments, botox and fillers to address the patient’s entire facial structure for optimal results,” he said.

Clark doesn’t mind the cost and expects NovaThread to become part of her maintenance regimen well into the future.

“I would do it every year, because I know that 10 years down the road, I won’t have to do something more drastic,” she said. “When you see the results, you know it’s worth it.”

For more information on adding the NovaThread procedure to your practice Contact Us or call 330-489-9203.

See the Original Story here: http://www.floridatoday.com/story/life/wellness/2017/02/28/non-surgical-facelift-arrives-brevard/98448712/)