APTOS SPRING – A new concept of lifting

The operation of rhitidoplasty is known not to allow carrying out an effective lifting of soft tissues of those facial areas that are maximally remote from the cut line, as well as those being in the zone of active action of the masticatory and mimic muscles. The APTOS THREAD method is not used on these areas, for the permanent muscular movement leads to destruction of the threads' cogs in the immediate postoperative period, with the resulting outcome being of short duration. To solve this problem, we have devised a new thread called APTOS SPRING which after being inserted subcutaneously is capable of stretching and contracting simultaneously with the muscles involved. Along with it, the thread provides a good lifting effect, yielding excellent results that persist over time. The APTOS SPRING is a spring-like twisted polypropylene 2/0 or 3/0 thread which during the production process is exposed to a special treatment allowing it to possess springing properties. The little spring is reeled onto the injection needle sized 1.1×100mm or 0.8×90mm in the compressed condition. Prior to installation, the spring is elongated along the length of the needle to be thus inserted under the skin. After removal of the needle and slightly pulling up the spring, the leftovers are cut from the both sides, and the thread's ends – springs are buried under the derma. The APTOS SPRING, contracting, pulls up the ptosed tissues, and during the mimic, masticatory or other facial movements of the face, it elongates simultaneously with the muscles. We used the APTOS SPRING method for the first time in February 2003 for lifting the angle of the mouth and wrinkles of „mourning“ to be thereafter used on other areas of the face, as well. The operations are easy and rapid to perform, with no excessive operational wound and haemorrhage, with inconsiderably pronounced postoperative pain syndrome, absence of a cutaneous wound and scar, and a short rehabilitation period. Over more than one-year period, we have performed a total of 67 operations using this technique, to be accompanied and followed by invariably good and stable outcomes.