Short-term Treatment Outcomes of Facial Rejuvenation Using the Mint Lift Fine

Abstract

Background: Threadlifts are classified as absorbable or nonabsorbable, natural or synthetic, and multifilament or monofilament ones, each of which has its own merits and demerits. We placed a novel absorbable polydioxanone monofilament threadlift (Mint Lift Fine; HansBiomed Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea) in the subcutaneous fat compartment for facial rejuvenation in patients with nasolabial folds, nasojugal groove, marionette lines, or sagging jowl. Here, we describe its short-term treatment outcomes in a retrospective consecutive series of 21 patients.

Methods: A total of 21 patients (n = 21) were evaluated; their treatment outcomes were described based on a comparison between preoperative and postoperative findings and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) scores were assessed at 6 months. This is accompanied by analysis of the incidence of postoperative complications.

Results: The patients had a mean GAIS score of 3.62 ± 0.84 points, which corresponds to "Much improved" or "Very much improved." Moreover, there were no significant differences in the GAIS scores between the target sites (midface and lower face: 3.78 ± 1.13; lower face: 3.43 ± 0.50; and midface: 3.60 ± 0.49; P > 0.05). Furthermore, there were a total of 4 cases (19.0%) of postoperative complications, all of which were spontaneously resolved within a maximum period of 4 months.

Conclusions: We describe short-term treatment outcomes of facial rejuvenation using the Mint Lift Fine in patients with nasolabial folds, nasojugal groove, marionette lines, or sagging jowl. But further large-scale, prospective, multicenter studies with long periods of follow-up are, therefore, warranted to establish our results.

Fig. 1.

Treatment protocol. A, In the temporal area, the entry point was determined. This was followed by the drawing of a triangle formed by the Pitanguy line, the horizontal line along the superior border of the zygomatic arch, and the vertical line from the temporal process. B, In the triangle, 4 entry points were determined below and in parallel with the Pitanguy line. Subsequently, 4 exit points were determined in the center of the target fat compartment. C, In each entry point, a hole was made using a 18-G needle. D, After the cannula was inserted, it was advanced through the subcutaneous layer and then reached the distal part of the target fat compartment. E, Although the cannula was being held and then fixed with one hand, it guided the displacement of the soft tissue to the vertical direction using the opposite hand. F, Following the removal of the cannula, when the proximal part of the remaining thread was protruded outside of the entry site, it was cut and then removed.

Fig. 2.

Distribution of the GAIS scores. Postoperatively, our clinical series of the patients achieved a mean GAIS score of 3.62 ± 0.84 points.

Fig. 3.

Illustrative case. A, A 39-year-old woman visited us with a chief complaint of sagging jowl, who received a treatment using the Mint Lift Fine. B, At 6 months postoperatively, the patient achieved a Global Aesthetic Improvement Score of 2, which corresponds to “Improved.” The patient presented with no postoperative complications.

Fig. 4.

Postoperative complications. In our series, there was 1 case (4.76%) of depression at the entry point, 2 cases (9.52%) of irregularities on the skin, and 1 case (4.76%) of facial asymmetry, all of which were spontaneously resolved within a maximum period of 4 months.