A new cosmetic procedure called a fox eye lift has taken off on TikTok. The procedure is also known as thread brow lift, brow suspension, or brow feathering. The goal of the treatment is to raise your eyebrows and give you an almond-shaped eye, similar to the shape of fox eyes.
The treatment includes an injection of botox or Dysport and then the placement of threads under your skin.
While the perks of a fox eye thread lift are many, such as a safe and painless procedure that bear instant results on your skin, it has risks. Remember, any cosmetic procedure, especially when injecting ingredients into your body, has its downside.
Complications include swelling and bruising. It can also cause eyelid drooping (ptosis). We understand that the results are temporary and will last between six months and one year, depending on what type of thread was used.
In fact, there’s about 15% to 20% risk of complications arising from using PDO threads for foxy eyes. Let’s find out some more fox-eye thread lift side effects here. But first, it’s good to recap what a fox eye thread lift is.
What is a Fox Eye Thread Lift?
It’s a new way of lifting the face, apparently inspired by model Bella Hadid’s facial appearance. Instead of following the natural contours of the face, this lift aims to bring the brow’s tail up through suturing techniques and create a lifted, elongated eye shape.
The procedure involves pulling up and suturing the tail end of your brows back towards your ears, creating an effect that makes your eyes look bigger, brighter, and more lifted. This can take years off your appearance and make you look refreshed. However, the fox eye lift leaves you with a permanent doll-like stare that is not natural.
So, what are the side effects?
10 Fox eye Thread Lift Side Effects
You can have the best technology globally, but without the right person behind the controls, you’re going nowhere.
The FDA has received reports of complications from thread lifts. These complications include pain, nerve injury, facial paralysis, and even skin necrosis (tissue death). A study found that when thread lifts are performed correctly by well-trained doctors, the chances of complications are low.
So, look for experts to minimize side effects. Below, we look at what to expect after a fox eye thread lift, including potential side effects and complications.
1. Swelling and bruising
Thread lifts use tiny absorbable threads inserted into the skin to achieve a lifting effect. Apart from facelifts, doctors also use threads to perform neck lifts, breast lifts, and body lifts.
Swelling is common after these treatments, especially in certain areas like the temples. Swelling after a thread lift can last up to 2 weeks but will mostly subside after 72 hours.
Bruising is also common and can be accompanied by some discomfort and itching. This is not causing concern. However, contact your doctor immediately if you feel any sharp pain or notice any discharge coming from the incision site.
How to deal with swelling:
- Apply ice packs immediately after the procedure and for the next two days for 10-15 minutes every two hours
- Take an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen
- Lay down with your head elevated at a 45-degree angle for the first three days
- Sleep on your back for the first week
- Avoid sleeping on your face; use pillows to support the head when you sleep on one side
2. Fox Eye Thread Lift is Expensive as Compared to other Thread Lift Procedures
Fox eye thread lift is expensive as compared to other thread lift procedures. This treatment can range from $1000 to $2500 depending on the number of threads used, which varies from person to person. Prices also vary depending on the area, patient’s condition, the experience of the doctor, and the complexity involved in performing the procedure. A doctor may only use one or two sutures to lift the corner of the eye, while they may use 20 or more to treat areas like the neck and jowls.
Another reason is that the use of barbed threads is expensive hence increasing the cost of the treatment. However, the price quoted here is subject to change according to the location of the medical spa.
If you are worried about the cost of the surgery and do not want to visit a doctor’s clinic or leave your home, you can order a fox eye thread lift on the Internet. This product will help you avoid dark circles, wrinkles, and bags under the eyes without pain and surgeries.
3. Results are not permanent.
The Fox eye Thread Lift is the perfect procedure for you looking for natural and long-term results with little to no downtime. Patients typically see a visible difference within days after the procedure with continued improvement over eight weeks. Patients consistently report a dramatic change in perception of their eyes.
However, one major downside is that it may not last long, yet it requires several maintenance visits. The commonly used PDO threads are biodegradable and biocompatible sutures that dissolve in 3 to 6 months.
So, in a year, the effect of the threads is unfelt, unlike a fox eye surgery or brow lift where the results are permanent. Well, as you decide on this procedure, remember this.
4. Threads can break, which can lead to infections.
The Fox eye thread lift is a popular choice for diminishing the look of wrinkles between and under the eyes, but you should do plenty of research before making this choice. The treatment involves using surgical thread to lift the under-eye area.
But there are risks to it. Threads can break over time, which can lead to infections which means you’ll have to have them surgically removed. Your face may not look as lifted as it does immediately after surgery.
Don’t worry, though, because this is very rare. The threads are made of a unique material that the body absorbs over time. This means they’re designed to dissolve away in 3-6 months. So any infections are likely to resolve before they have time to spread.
If you want a fox eye thread lift, talk about your expectations with your doctor, so you’ll be happy with the results. And before undergoing a thread lift, make sure the procedure is being done by a licensed professional and that the facility has the proper accreditation.
5. Incorrectly placed threads may cause painful knots or nodules.
The thread will travel straight from its entry point to the exit point. If the needle is inserted closer to the skin surface, it will travel under the skin at an angle. It may even re-emerge in another part of your face.
This can result in painful knots or nodules under your skin. These can feel like hard lumps that bulge and move around beneath your skin. Knots may be mistaken for blocked pores, but they are very different.
A blocked pore occurs when a hair follicle becomes clogged with oil or dead skin cells. Knots are formed by incorrectly placed threads that can move under the skin because they’re not securely anchored.
When people first feel a knot, their biggest concern is usually whether it’s cancerous or dangerous. Knots are benign — they’re just fibrous bumps that form under the skin because of trauma, like an accident or repetitive motion.
The good news is that they usually go away on their own after a few days or weeks. The bad news is that sometimes they don’t dissolve as quickly as we’d like — and some people develop chronic pain from them.
6. Puckering
Another common complication from a PDO thread lift is the puckering of the thread. Patients with thin or loose skin are commonly affected by this.
Also, when the plastic surgeon swayed the direction of the thread or used incorrect or poor quality threads, then puckering occurs.
It feels uncomfortable to pucker after a thread lift. So, to avoid all these complications, first, find a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in using threads. Don’t even think about having your best friend over for wine night and trying this out on each other — it’s not worth the risk!
View some of their testimonials and ensure they can correctly place threads deep enough to curb such side effects.
7. Skin necrosis
Skin necrosis, a now rare condition that can cause permanent disfigurement, results from skin tearing due to improper tightening of the fox lift. The procedure is simple enough: A web of sutures is placed in a crisscross pattern around the eye. But improperly tightening these threads can cause tissue damage, including necrosis.
A subgroup of patients who may suffer from this condition is those with thin skin with excessive neck veins. Following facelift surgery, these patients may be at greater risk for facial skin necrosis.
8. Skin dimpling
Skin dimpling occurs after placing the threads, which usually resolves independently. It happens when the plastic surgeon wrongly places the threads resulting in disfigurement of the eyebrows. The dimples mostly pop up at the entry points of the needle.
Another cause is superficially placing the threads or placing them irregularly to the others. While some are placed deep, others are placed shallowly, resulting in an irregular contour. At times, to resolve skin dimpling totally, the threads must be removed.
And in case the dimpling persists, you will need the doctor to fill the dimple with dermal fillers like hyaluronic acid filler while letting the threads slowly dissolve with time.
9. Encapsulation of the scar tissue
Unfortunately, just around the thread, some patients experience encapsulation. Encapsulation means the failure of the threads to dissolve completely. As a result, you may experience disfiguration in the face from the ripples and adhesions to the skin.
And that’s why always be cautious of hasty facial fixes if you don’t have to be counted among those whose eye thread lifts have gone wrong.
10. Thread protrusion
There are many reasons for thread protrusion, but it’s the use of an incorrect technique, whether during entry or while putting the threads.
Breakage is another cause of protrusion. Therefore this calls for keenness while inserting the threads. The thread must be well cut for the end to fold back into the skin. And this will avoid cases of skin infection and granuloma that eventually bring agony to the patient.
If monofilament threads are used and protruding, the ends must be held firmly and removed rather than cut like barbed and cogged sutures.
Also, thread breakage causing protrusion happens during tightening of the threads, unlike during insertion when secured by a microcannula. But if they aren’t protected during insertion, they must be wisely handled to curb breakage and avert protrusion.
Conclusion
The data on whether or not the fox eye is a good option is inconclusive. It all comes down to personal preference. If you like having a clear, youthful face that still shows expression, you should consider it.
As we pointed out in this blog, the nature of this procedure requires a long-term commitment to maintenance. And although many patients feel happy with their results, sometimes a second treatment is necessary.
It is vital to keep realistic expectations in mind when trying any new cosmetic procedure. It would be best to analyze both the risks and the benefits before making your decision.
And if you are a medical anesthetic, we at Yastrid Medical Aesthetics have exemplary tools to help you execute a fox eye thread lift. You can contact us for more information.
Know More about Fox Eye Thread Lift:
Ways of Attaining the Fox Eye Look
Dos and Don’ts of the fox eye thread lift