{"id":613,"date":"2026-08-20T17:05:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:05:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/glossar\/contour-lifting-fadenlifting\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T17:23:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:23:47","slug":"contour-lifting-thread-lift","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/glossar\/contour-lifting-fadenlifting\/","title":{"rendered":"Contour Lifting (thread lift)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#was-ist-ein-contour-lifting\">What is a contour lift?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#das-duale-wirkprinzip-mechanischer-lift-biologische-regeneration\">The dual action principle: mechanical lifting &amp; biological regeneration<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#fur-wen-ist-ein-fadenlifting-geeignet\">Who is a thread lift suitable for?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#der-grosse-vergleich-fadenlifting-vs-chirurgisches-facelift\">The big comparison: thread lift vs. surgical facelift<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#risiken-des-contour-liftings-und-die-bedeutung-der-absicherung\">Risks associated with the Contour Lift and the importance of insurance cover<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-style-boxed has-white-warm-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Important note<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis or advice. If you are unsure, or if you require a personalised treatment plan, it is essential that you consult a qualified specialist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The desire for a firmer, more youthful face without major surgery has led to the development of numerous minimally invasive procedures. One of the best known is the <strong>Contour Lifting<\/strong>, a marketing term that is generally used to refer to the <strong>Thread lift<\/strong> It can provide a visible lifting effect with minimal downtime, although results may vary from person to person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article provides a clear and realistic explanation of what a Contour Lifting is, how the technique using absorbable threads works, what results you can expect, and where the clear limitations lie compared to a surgical facelift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"635\" height=\"635\" src=\"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Fadenlifting_Contour-Lifting.png\" alt=\"Thread lift, Contour lift\" class=\"wp-image-333 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Fadenlifting_Contour-Lifting.png 635w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Fadenlifting_Contour-Lifting-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Fadenlifting_Contour-Lifting-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Fadenlifting_Contour-Lifting-12x12.png 12w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Fadenlifting_Contour-Lifting-120x120.png 120w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Fadenlifting_Contour-Lifting-40x40.png 40w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Fadenlifting_Contour-Lifting-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Fadenlifting_Contour-Lifting-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Fadenlifting_Contour-Lifting-500x500.png 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"was-ist-ein-contour-lifting\">What is a contour lift?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contour Lifting is a minimally invasive procedure for tightening and lifting sagging areas of the face, known by the technical term <strong>Thread lift<\/strong> is well known. In this method, special, self-dissolving threads (usually made of polydioxanone (PDO), polylactic acid (PLLA) or polycaprolactone (PCL)) are inserted into the subcutaneous fatty tissue. These threads are often fitted with small barbs or cones, which anchor themselves in the tissue and enable the skin to be mechanically tightened and lifted into a higher position.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"das-duale-wirkprinzip-mechanischer-lift-biologische-regeneration\">The dual action principle: mechanical lifting &amp; biological regeneration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The effect of a thread lift is based on two consecutive processes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"der-sofortige-mechanische-lifting-effekt\"><strong>The immediate mechanical lifting effect:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Immediately after inserting the threads, the doctor can lift and reposition the tissue by gently pulling on the threads. The barbs anchor the tissue in its new, lifted position. This effect is visible straight away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"der-langfristige-biologische-aufbau-effekt\"><strong>The long-term biological restorative effect:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the actual regenerative part of the treatment. The threads are gradually broken down by the body. In doing so, they stimulate the formation of new collagen and connective tissue, which supports the regenerative effect. A new, internal support structure is formed from the body\u2019s own tissue, which continues to tighten the skin even after the threads have completely dissolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fur-wen-ist-ein-fadenlifting-geeignet\">Who is a thread lift suitable for?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A thread lift is not a substitute for a surgical facelift. It is ideal for patients with:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Early to moderate sagging of the skin<\/strong>, particularly around the cheeks, the jawline (\u201esagging cheeks\u201c) or the eyebrows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Still <strong>good skin quality and elasticity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The desire for a <strong>a visible yet natural result<\/strong> without the downtime and scarring associated with surgery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A thread lift is not the appropriate method in cases of significant excess skin or very thin skin.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"562\" height=\"562\" src=\"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Contour-Lifting_Faeden.png\" alt=\"Contour Lifting: Threads\" class=\"wp-image-329 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Contour-Lifting_Faeden.png 562w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Contour-Lifting_Faeden-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Contour-Lifting_Faeden-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Contour-Lifting_Faeden-12x12.png 12w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Contour-Lifting_Faeden-120x120.png 120w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Contour-Lifting_Faeden-40x40.png 40w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Contour-Lifting_Faeden-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Contour-Lifting_Faeden-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/4beauty.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2025-10_Contour-Lifting_Faeden-500x500.png 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"der-grosse-vergleich-fadenlifting-vs-chirurgisches-facelift\">The big comparison: thread lift vs. surgical facelift<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Criterion<\/th><th>Contour Lifting (thread lift)<\/th><th>Surgical facelift (SMAS lift)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Method<\/td><td>Inserting sutures into the subcutaneous tissue<\/td><td>Surgical lifting of the deep tissue layers (SMAS) and removal of excess skin<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Invasiveness<\/td><td>Minimally invasive<\/td><td>Surgical procedure<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Anaesthesia<\/td><td>Local anaesthesia<\/td><td>General anaesthesia or twilight sleep<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Result<\/td><td>A subtle, natural lifting effect<\/td><td>A noticeable, comprehensive lifting effect<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Shelf life<\/td><td>Temporary (approx. 1\u20132 years)<\/td><td>Very long-lasting (approx. 10\u201312 years)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Downtime<\/td><td>Short (approx. 3\u20137 days)<\/td><td>Significant (approx. 2\u20133 weeks)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ideal for \u2026<\/td><td>Mild to moderate sagging<\/td><td>Severe sagging with excess skin<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"risiken-des-contour-liftings-und-die-bedeutung-der-absicherung\">Risks associated with the Contour Lift and the importance of insurance cover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although thread lifting is considered to be a low-risk procedure, it is an invasive procedure that must only be carried out by an experienced doctor. Possible risks include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Swelling, bruising and mild pain (normal).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Asymmetries or an uneven result.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visibility or palpability of the sutures, particularly where the skin is very thin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tightening of the skin at the entry or anchor points.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Infections along the thread canal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slippage of the sutures (suture migration).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uneven skin contours (dimpling).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The costs of treating such complications or of any necessary corrective measures will be <strong>not covered by health insurance<\/strong>. One <a href=\"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/after-care-insurance\/\">Consequential Costs Insurance<\/a> provides financial security in the event that medically necessary follow-up treatment is required after your treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;autoclose&quot;: false, &quot;accordionItems&quot;: [] }\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/accordion\" role=\"group\" class=\"wp-block-accordion is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-is-layout-flow\">\n<div data-wp-class--is-open=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;id&quot;: &quot;accordion-item-1&quot;, &quot;openByDefault&quot;: false }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initAccordionItems\" data-wp-on-window--hashchange=\"callbacks.hashChange\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-item is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-item-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-item-1-panel\" data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggle\" id=\"accordion-item-1\" type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle\"><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-title\">How much does a thread lift cost?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div aria-labelledby=\"accordion-item-1\" data-wp-bind--hidden=\"state.isHidden\" data-wp-on--beforematch=\"actions.handleBeforeMatch\" id=\"accordion-item-1-panel\" role=\"region\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-panel is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-panel-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cost depends largely on the number of threads used, the technique employed and the area being treated. For a cheek treatment, it often ranges from around 800 to 3,000 euros.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-class--is-open=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;id&quot;: &quot;accordion-item-2&quot;, &quot;openByDefault&quot;: false }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initAccordionItems\" data-wp-on-window--hashchange=\"callbacks.hashChange\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-item is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-item-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-item-2-panel\" data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggle\" id=\"accordion-item-2\" type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle\"><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-title\">Is the treatment painful?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div aria-labelledby=\"accordion-item-2\" data-wp-bind--hidden=\"state.isHidden\" data-wp-on--beforematch=\"actions.handleBeforeMatch\" id=\"accordion-item-2-panel\" role=\"region\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-panel is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-panel-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. The treatment area is thoroughly numbed with a local anaesthetic before the threads are inserted, so the procedure itself is quite tolerable and largely pain-free.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-class--is-open=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;id&quot;: &quot;accordion-item-3&quot;, &quot;openByDefault&quot;: false }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initAccordionItems\" data-wp-on-window--hashchange=\"callbacks.hashChange\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-item is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-item-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-item-3-panel\" data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggle\" id=\"accordion-item-3\" type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle\"><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-title\">What happens when the stitches dissolve? Does the face collapse again then?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div aria-labelledby=\"accordion-item-3\" data-wp-bind--hidden=\"state.isHidden\" data-wp-on--beforematch=\"actions.handleBeforeMatch\" id=\"accordion-item-3-panel\" role=\"region\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-panel is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-panel-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. As the threads dissolve, the body builds up a new network of collagen in their place. The newly formed collagen network can help maintain the skin-tightening effect for a certain period of time even after the threads have dissolved; however, the effect gradually wears off as part of the natural ageing process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-class--is-open=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;id&quot;: &quot;accordion-item-4&quot;, &quot;openByDefault&quot;: false }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initAccordionItems\" data-wp-on-window--hashchange=\"callbacks.hashChange\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-item is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-item-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading\"><button aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-item-4-panel\" data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggle\" id=\"accordion-item-4\" type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle\"><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-title\">Can you see the stitches under the skin?<\/span><span class=\"wp-block-accordion-heading__toggle-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div aria-labelledby=\"accordion-item-4\" data-wp-bind--hidden=\"state.isHidden\" data-wp-on--beforematch=\"actions.handleBeforeMatch\" id=\"accordion-item-4-panel\" role=\"region\" class=\"wp-block-accordion-panel is-layout-flow wp-block-accordion-panel-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If placed correctly at the right depth within the tissue by an experienced doctor, the threads are neither visible nor palpable. However, this can be a risk if the technique is incorrect or the skin is very thin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Contour Lifting is a marketing term for thread lifting, a minimally invasive procedure that produces a visible lifting effect and involves a short recovery time.<\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-613","glossary","type-glossary","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/glossary"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/4beauty.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}