No one is immune to the progression of time—not even celebrities who have seemingly endless cash to enhance, lift, augment and refine and the world’s finest plastic surgeons at their disposal. There are common aging concerns many of us tackle during the various stages of life with the hopes of maintaining a graceful, age-appropriate appearance: injectables for our foreheads and to plump our cheeks; bleaching and veneers for mega-watt smiles; tucks for our tummies; and laser resurfacing for smoother skin.
The real trick when trying to soften the inevitable march of time with non-surgical facial procedures is to ensure those elements work in your favor and don’t put you in an aesthetic age group you’ve long surpassed.
One of the most sought-after cosmetic techniques in recent years has been Botox. Affordable and quick, women are by far the biggest consumer of this instant-gratification injection that magically wipes away frown lines and brow furrows, although men are joining the ranks when it comes to the desire to look fresher and younger.
Dermal fillers are popular injectable substances used to fill in lines, wrinkles, make flaws less exaggerated and smooth out scars. The new generation of those fillers that add volume to areas of the face robbed by time includes Radiesse, Restylane and Juvederm. Medical professionals help determine the product best for each individual situation, including the condition of the skin and the severity of the problem.
No matter what cosmetic procedure you decide on, long-lasting and natural-looking results are the ultimate goals.
Sarah Skillett, RN, at Aesthetic Medical Center in Overland Park is the practitioner of a new, non-surgical FDA-approved technique using dermal fillers but in a different application that actually helps sculpt the face in a pattern and shape most aesthetically pleasing for each individual. The Injectable Thread Lift™ uses the familiar dermal fillers but in a way that directs the skin upward.
“The Injectable Thread Lift™ uses a unique arching technique that delivers the product in such a way that it holds the skin from falling back,” says Skillett. “It’s almost like offering structural support to the face.”
According to Skillett, the Injectable Thread Lift™ offers full correction of smile lines and facial folds, lifts the cheeks, jowls and corners of the mouth, supports the hollows under the eyes and pulls out the natural lips with approximately the same amount of product traditionally used on smile lines. In addition, Skillett says the technique lasts longer.
“In some patients the Injectable Thread Lift™ can last 12 to 18 months,” says Skillett. “And it delivers visibly superior results with less product.”
Skillett discovered the technique, developed by Leslie Fletcher, RN, MEP-C, through peer networking and personally trained with the Los Angeles-based aesthetic nurse to learn the technique. Fletcher has worked for a world-renowned dermatologist in southern California and is currently crafting her skills with a private plastic surgeon practice. Fletcher, who has practiced as an aesthetic nurse for nine years, is known by patients and colleagues for her inspiring artistic eye and innovative uses with Botox and myriad dermal fillers.
“I was intrigued when I learned about the process Leslie developed,” says Skillett. “I knew my patients, who demand the latest and best aesthetic techniques and products would benefit from Leslie’s arcing technique to administer fillers.”
Fletcher says the novel approach to dermal fillers was revealed to her one day during a commute on a busy Los Angeles freeway. She saw a construction site with strategically placed structural support beams.
“It dawned on me that I could do the same thing with the dermal fillers,” says Fletcher. “The Injectable Thread Lift™ allows the product to become more supportive than if it was laid down using traditional methods.”
Fletcher says the Injectable Thread Lift™ allows patients to experience targeted results without downtime and the expense of surgery.
“The results have far exceeded the expectations in the two years I’ve done this,” says Fletcher.
Skillett, a nine-year veteran of the medical aesthetic industry, is the only certified practitioner of the Injectable Thread Lift™ in a five-state area. She says the technique is another product in her aesthetic arsenal to help people look more vibrant and gives them an edge in today’s professional world without requiring a large investment in both time and money.
“People want to remain competitive in today’s marketplace when they’re interviewing for a job,” says Skillett. “Looking your natural best certainly puts your best foot forward during the interview process. The Injectable Thread Lift™ is accessible and has amazing effects.”
Skillett says people considering age-
defying, non-surgical facelifts have choices in how they achieve a more youthful appearance.
“No one has a miracle to halt aging,” she says. “But when it comes to helping the face achieve its full potential, volume—and how it’s distributed—is the name of the game. The Injectable Thread Lift™ helps achieve optimal results.”
For more information, visit www.yourselfimage.com or call (913) 322-6840.
words: Kimberly Winter Stern
photos: Rachael Swetnam