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Technology

APTOS Threads

APTOS Threads are specially structured sutures with barbs or multidirectional elements, used in thread-lift procedures to lift and reposition soft tissue.

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APTOS thread lift technology

Understanding APTOS Threads.

APTOS Threads are fine sutures with barbs, notches or multidirectional structures along their length, so they can grip and hold soft tissue. Placed beneath the skin in a thread lift, they lift and reposition tissue in the face and, in some cases, the body. The range includes absorbable threads, made from materials such as caprolactone and lactic-acid polymers that your body gradually breaks down, and longer-lasting non-absorbable threads. Some versions are also designed to encourage your skin's natural collagen as the thread settles into the tissue.

Thread lifts are performed by our experienced physicians. Dr. Gidon Frame, our Medical Director, is APTOS's official thread-lift trainer in BC, and our clinic hosts official APTOS training.

Book Your APTOS Thread Lift Consultation →

Sagging and laxity can be treated in a few different ways, and each one works on something different: where the tissue sits, the collagen within it, the volume underneath, and the quality of the skin itself. Here's how they compare.

ApproachWhat it acts onOften considered forUsed in
Thread lift Uses APTOSThe position of soft tissue, held mechanically by barbed suturesA gentle repositioning effect where laxity is mild and tissue quality is goodThread Lift
Energy-based skin tighteningCollagen within the skin and deeper layers, remodelled gradually by controlled heat or focused energyGradual firming where laxity is mild to moderateSkin Tightening
Dermal fillers and contouringVolume and structural support beneath the tissueSituations where lost volume is a big part of the change, alongside descentDermal Fillers
RF microneedlingSkin quality and texture, through collagen remodelling at controlled depthsTexture and skin quality alongside mild laxityRF Microneedling

Each approach has its own technology page explaining how it works, recovery and safety. Thread lifts are best suited to mild laxity.

How treatments work together

Facial change usually has more than one part. Descent, volume loss, collagen change and surface quality tend to show up together, in different proportions for different people. Repositioning tissue lifts it, restoring volume supports it, and improving texture refines the skin, so each treatment works on a different part of the picture.

When a combination makes sense, your physician explains what each part is meant to do, the order and timing of appointments, the recovery involved and the cost, so you can see the whole plan before you decide. A plan can also start with a single step and grow as we see how you respond. For some people, a thread lift is the whole plan.

Plan Your Lifting Treatment →

How do APTOS Threads work?

The barbs or multidirectional structures along the thread catch the soft tissue, so once the thread is placed and gently drawn, the tissue can be lifted or repositioned and held in its new position. Absorbable threads hold things in place while your body slowly breaks the material down, and the tissue's local response to the thread may also prompt some new collagen, which can add to the result. Because the lift comes from supporting your own tissue, the effect looks natural and softens gradually as the threads absorb.

What APTOS threads improve

APTOS Threads are used in thread lifts to gently lift or reposition soft tissue, most often in the face and neck. They're well suited to people with mild laxity who'd like a natural, minimally invasive change, including:

The thread type and placement are chosen around your tissue quality, the degree of laxity, your goals and your medical history.

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Benefits of a thread lift with APTOS

A thread lift gives a gentle lifting and holding effect through a minimally invasive procedure, generally with a short recovery. Absorbable options leave no permanent material in the tissue, and some threads add a collagen-stimulating effect too. The lift looks natural and softens gradually over time. Individual results vary.

Safety, side effects and considerations

Common and temporary. Swelling, bruising, tenderness and a feeling of tightness or slight puckering are common after a thread lift and usually settle over days to a few weeks.

Less common risks. Infection, visible or palpable threads, skin dimpling or irregularity, asymmetry, thread migration and, rarely, injury to nearby structures. The lift can also soften sooner than expected. Careful assessment and placement by an experienced physician lower these risks. Contact us if you notice increasing pain, spreading redness or fever after treatment.

When treatment may need to wait: an active infection or inflammation in the area, pregnancy or breastfeeding, a bleeding disorder or blood-thinning medicines, an autoimmune condition, a tendency to keloid or raised scarring, and a known allergy to the thread material or local anesthetic. Your physician reviews your health history, medications and tissue before treatment and goes through the risks that apply to you.

Aftercare. For a short time after treatment, avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, facial massage, very wide mouth opening and dental work, and try to sleep on your back. Your physician gives you aftercare instructions for the areas treated.

This is not a complete list.

The APTOS Excellence Visage thread range

APTOS is an established thread-lifting technology, originally developed in Georgia. The APTOS Excellence Visage family is a range of absorbable threads designed for facial soft-tissue repositioning, with different thread designs and lengths so the technique can be adapted to individual anatomy.

Excellence Visage method. A longer absorbable thread with specially arranged projections that engage and support facial tissue. It may be considered for selected midface and lower-face lifting, including cheek descent and early jowling.

Excellence Visage Soft method. A shorter thread design, used where the plan calls for a different placement length or approach, and where tissue mobility, skin characteristics and proportions influence the choice.

Nano Excellence method. A shorter thread configuration again, for areas that suit shorter placement trajectories.

Materials and absorption. Certain absorbable APTOS threads are made from a combination of poly-L-lactic acid and polycaprolactone, known as P(LA/CL). As these materials gradually break down, they can prompt a localized tissue response that includes some collagen formation. The main effect is mechanical lifting and support, and any improvement in skin quality varies between people. Some P(LA/CL) materials take roughly 18 to 24 months to absorb, and the visible lift usually softens before the material has fully absorbed. How long the lift lasts varies from person to person.

Choosing your thread. Thread choice is personal. Your physician selects the technique based on facial anatomy, tissue thickness, degree of descent and the result you're hoping for. The availability of specific products can vary.

APTOS threads with hyaluronic acid

APTOS continues to develop its thread technology, including a newer Excellence Visage HA range that uses NAMICA technology. These absorbable threads carry hyaluronic acid within a specially designed coating intended to release it gradually over time, combining mechanical support with staged HA delivery. Research into the added effects is ongoing, and we'll share more as product availability is confirmed at our clinic.

APTOS training-model opportunities

Our clinic hosts official APTOS training, led by Dr. Frame as APTOS's official thread-lift trainer in BC. From time to time, suitable patients are invited to take part in these professional training sessions. Training models are assessed first to confirm treatment is appropriate for them.

These opportunities depend on training dates, the treatment required and eligibility. The physician performing the procedure, the supervision arrangements, the fees, the risks and the consent process are all explained before anyone takes part.

Enquire About APTOS Training-Model Sessions →

Watch Our APTOS Thread Lift Video

APTOS thread lift video from Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic

A short video about APTOS thread lifts from our clinic. Watch on YouTube

Related Treatments

Treatments that may utilize this technology.

Thread Lift

Uses absorbable barbed threads to reposition and lift facial tissue, with a gradual collagen build as the threads absorb.

Read treatment page →

Want to understand where APTOS Threads fits?

Book a consultation to discuss your goals and how this technology may or may not fit into an individualized treatment plan.

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Conditions It May Help Address

Concerns connected to this technology.

The relationship between a technology and a concern depends on the treatment plan, patient assessment, and how the technology is being used.

Cheek Volume Loss

Reduced cheek fullness and downward tissue movement that can create hollows or deepen nearby folds.

→

Loose or Crepey Skin

Reduced firmness and mild tissue descent related to aging and the decline of collagen and elastin.

→

Not sure how APTOS Threads may fit?

Talk with Anti-Aging Clinic about your goals and the options that may be worth exploring.

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Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic

Why patients choose our clinic

  • Led by APTOS's official trainer in BC. Dr. Gidon Frame is APTOS's official thread-lift trainer in BC and teaches thread technique to other physicians. His training included time in Tbilisi, Georgia, where APTOS technology was developed. Our clinic hosts official APTOS training.
  • Placed by our experienced physicians. Thread lifts here are performed by our physicians, who match each patient to the approach that suits their anatomy, whether that's threads, energy-based treatment or volume restoration.
  • Physician-led care since 2003. Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic has provided physician-led care in Vancouver since 2003, from our clinic in Kitsilano.

Your consultation. Your first visit is a complimentary consultation with one of our aesthetic consultants. One of our physicians then sees you to look at your tissue, explain how much lift to expect and how long it usually lasts, show how threads fit with your other options, approve your treatment and perform your thread lift.

See If a Thread Lift Suits You →

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FAQ

Questions about APTOS Threads.

The range includes absorbable threads made from materials such as caprolactone and lactic-acid polymers, which your body gradually breaks down, as well as longer-lasting non-absorbable options. Your physician chooses the type based on your goals and your tissue.

The lift softens gradually as absorbable threads are broken down and the tissue relaxes. How long it lasts varies from person to person, so your physician gives you a personal estimate once they've looked at your tissue.

A thread lift is minimally invasive and gives a gentler, shorter-lasting lift, so it's best suited to mild laxity. Where laxity is more advanced, your physician will talk through what non-surgical care can achieve and whether a surgical opinion is worth considering.

Temporary swelling, bruising, tenderness and a feeling of tightness or slight puckering are common and usually settle over days to a few weeks. You'll go home with clear aftercare instructions, and our team is easy to reach if you have questions while you heal.

Thread lifts are performed by our experienced physicians. Dr. Gidon Frame, our Medical Director, is APTOS's official thread-lift trainer in BC, and our clinic hosts official APTOS training, so the technique here is taught as well as practised.

Reviews

What patients say about the clinic experience.

Reviews help show the human side of care, from the first consultation to comfort, communication, treatment planning, and follow-up.

Medical Review

Reviewed for clinical accuracy.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Gidon Frame, Medical Director, Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic (CPSBC).
Last medically reviewed: August 2026.
Evidence reviewed: clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews and peer-reviewed medical literature.

AuthorDr. Gidon Frame
Medical ReviewerDr. Gidon Frame
Last ReviewedSeptember 2026
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