Not Ready for a Thread Lift? How Biostimulators Like Radiesse and Sculptra Can Help
Thread lifts are an exciting option for patients who want to lift without surgery. But here’s the truth: not everyone is immediately a good candidate. If your skin has too much laxity or lacks enough density, the threads may slip or fail to hold the way they should. That doesn’t mean a lift isn’t possible. It just means your skin needs some preparation first.
Think of it like preparing a garden. Before you plant, you enrich the soil so the roots can take hold and thrive. Your skin works the same way, threads need a strong foundation to anchor into.
Step One: Enriching the Soil
If the skin isn’t ready for threads, treatment often begins with biostimulators such as Radiesse or Sculptra. These are injectable treatments that stimulate the body to produce more collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm and elastic.
Radiesse provides immediate support and continues working by stimulating new collagen over time.
Sculptra works gradually, encouraging collagen production that restores thickness and resilience over several months.
This first step lays the foundation, creating stronger, healthier skin that can support threads later.
Step Two: Letting Things Grow
Biostimulators don’t work overnight. They need time for your body to respond and create new collagen. Most patients return for a few sessions over several months, giving the tissues the chance to build strength layer by layer.
What many patients appreciate is that improvements appear gradually. Skin often feels firmer, texture looks smoother, and overall quality improves even before threads are placed. It feels less like waiting and more like a steady, natural progression toward the next stage.
Step Three: Planting the Threads
After the tissues have been strengthened, patients return for their thread lift appointment. At this point, the threads can anchor securely and hold their position, lifting and repositioning the tissue more effectively.
Because the tissues are denser and more resilient, the results are smoother and longer-lasting compared to placing threads in skin that wasn’t prepared.
Step Four: Enjoying the Bloom
The journey doesn’t end with the threads. Biostimulators continue working in the background, encouraging ongoing collagen production. Patients benefit from both the immediate lift of the threads and the gradual improvements from their earlier treatments.
This combination provides results that not only look good in the short term but also support healthier, stronger skin over the long term.
Why the Process Matters
“Patients sometimes feel disappointed when they hear they’re not ready for threads yet. I explain that this isn’t a setback. There’s never a downside to strengthening your tissues. By starting with biostimulators, we improve skin health on its own — and when threads are added later, they can do their job more effectively. In sequence, the effect is amplified, supporting both immediate lift and ongoing skin improvement.”
– Dr. Mark Godley
Ready to begin your personalized journey? Book your consultation with Dr. Godley in Vancouver or Abbotsford and discover the treatment approach that’s right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after biostimulators can I have threads?
It depends on how your tissues respond. For some patients, it may be a few weeks; for others, longer. The goal is to wait until the tissues have built enough collagen to support the threads effectively.
Can I get threads without biostimulators?
Yes, if your tissues already have enough density and elasticity. During your consultation, Dr. Godley will determine whether threads alone are appropriate or if preparation with biostimulators is recommended.
How long do biostimulators last?
The collagen produced by Radiesse or Sculptra can last 18 months to 2 years, depending on your skin and overall care.
Do I have to get threads after biostimulators?
Not necessarily. Some patients find they’re happy with the improvements from biostimulators alone and choose not to move forward with threads. Threads remain an option if you’d like added lift and contour.
