The newest facelift on the market is the gold thread facelift, which involves a 24-carat gold mesh framework being sewn permanently under the surface of the skin.
The patient remains awake as four yards of gold thread are inserted, the only painkiller being dozens of local anesthetic injections applied to the face.
At a cost of around £2,000, the facelift takes three months to show the results, as the gold mesh stimulates the body's own production of collagen, which in turn plumps up the skin naturally.
The procedure can be used on the neck, décolletage, hands, arms, legs, abdomen and even the buttocks.
Stitch by stitch guide
1. The areas to be treated are covered with a numbing cream and injected with local anesthetic.
2. The 24 carat, 0.1mm diameter, 99 per cent pure gold thread is implanted into the anaesthetised area, threaded within the skin under the epidermis using a 1mm gauge needle and a blanket-type stitch to create a net-like structure that will provide a mechanical support to the overlying skin.
3. The thread must be implanted accurately into the 'papillary dermis' - the layer of skin directly beneath the surface.
4. The doctor repeats this process in all the areas to be treated.
5. The face is cleaned and make-up can be applied to cover up bruised or red areas.
Real Gold Beauty Threading
24K Gold Facelift
Trend Themes
1. Gold Mesh Facelift - The gold mesh framework being sewn permanently under the surface of the skin is a disruptive innovation opportunity for the cosmetic surgery industry.
2. Natural Skin Plumping - The gold mesh stimulates the body's own production of collagen, which in turn plumps up the skin naturally, providing a new opportunity for skincare product development.
3. Alternative Plastic Surgery Procedure - The gold threading facelift could pave the way for an innovative, less invasive alternative to traditional plastic surgery.
Industry Implications
1. Cosmetic Surgery - The cosmetic surgery industry can utilize the gold mesh framework technique for facelifts and offer newer and innovative plastic surgery procedures.
2. Skincare - The natural collagen stimulation of the gold mesh facelift introduces a new direction for skincare product development using alternative plumping techniques.
3. Dermatology - The 24-karat gold threading provides new research and development opportunities for dermatology that can lead to breakthrough treatments for sagging or prematurely aging skin.