Temporal Lift or Thread Lift: Which Lasts Longer?
Updated: 13 hours ago
Medical editor: Dr. Semih Yıldız, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon (FEBOPRAS) · Last updated: October 2026
A surgical temporal lift lasts much longer than a thread lift. Threads hold the outer brow up from underneath with small barbs, and that hold relaxes as the tissue settles and the threads dissolve, so the visible lift usually fades within months. A temporal lift releases the outer brow and temple tissues and fixes them in a new position, which gives a long-lasting result.
Both treatments aim at the same area: the tail of the brow and the temple, where drooping makes the eyes look tired. They differ in how the tissue is moved, and that difference explains almost everything else. The operation itself, from anaesthesia to stitches, is described on the page about temporal lift surgery in Istanbul.
Two ways of moving the same tissue
How a thread lift works
Thread lifts use fine threads with tiny barbs or cones along their length, usually made of absorbable materials such as polydioxanone (PDO). They are passed under the skin through a needle or a blunt cannula, typically entering in the temple hairline and running towards the tail of the brow. Once in place, the threads are drawn gently upwards and the barbs grip the soft tissue around them.
Nothing is cut or released, and the tissue is not fixed to anything firm. The lift depends entirely on the grip of the barbs in soft, mobile tissue. As the threads dissolve, the body forms a small amount of new collagen along their path, which may add a little firmness but does not hold the brow up on its own.
How a temporal lift works
A temporal lift works through small incisions hidden in the temple hair. Through them, the outer brow and temple tissues are freed from the attachments that hold them down, moved up in a planned direction and secured there, and the incisions are closed with stitches or staples that sit in the hair. It is done under local anaesthesia with sedation or under general anaesthesia, usually within 1–2 hours, and is day surgery for most people.
Why thread results fade
The outer brow sits in tissue that moves many thousands of times a day as you blink, squint, talk and smile. Each movement puts a little load on the barbs, and the tissue gradually slips back. Published studies on thread lifts generally describe the improvement as modest and temporary, often fading within the first year.
Results also vary with the type and number of threads, the thickness of the skin and the weight of the tissue. Threads are most suited to mild drooping in light, elastic tissue. The heavier the brow and temple, the less a barb-held lift can carry, which is often exactly the situation in which people want a lift the most.
How long each one lasts
Thread lift: the lift is visible straight away, then softens over the following months as the tissue relaxes and the threads dissolve. Keeping the effect means repeating the treatment.
Temporal lift: the final result appears at 3–6 months, once the tissues have settled, and it lasts much longer than threads because the tissue itself has been repositioned.
Both: natural ageing continues. The skin keeps loosening and the brow keeps ageing, but after surgery it does so from a higher starting point.
Recovery and risks: what you trade
Threads ask little of your calendar. They are usually placed under local anaesthesia in a short session, and swelling, tenderness and some bruising generally settle within days. Small dimples or puckering along the threads are common at first and usually smooth out. Less often, a thread becomes visible or palpable, works its way out, gets infected or leaves the two sides uneven. You are usually asked not to rub or massage the area for a while, so the barbs can settle.
A temporal lift asks for more time. Expect a few days of peak swelling and tightness around the temples and eyes, stitch removal at about day 7 and, for most people, a return to desk work after 7–10 days, with most of the bruising gone by weeks 2–3. The possible complications include bleeding or infection, asymmetry, hair loss along the incisions, numbness of the temple or scalp, temporary or, rarely, permanent weakness of brow movement, over- or under-correction and the need for revision surgery.
When each one makes sense
A thread lift can be reasonable if:
the outer brow has dropped only slightly and the skin is light and elastic
you want a small change with minimal downtime and accept that it is temporary
you are prepared to repeat the treatment to keep the effect
A temporal lift is usually the better tool if:
the tail of the brow has clearly descended and skin folds over the outer corner of the eye
you want a change that lasts, rather than one you need to renew
earlier threads gave a result that faded sooner than you hoped
Some concerns need a different approach altogether. Excess upper eyelid skin is treated with eyelid surgery, which can be combined with a temporal lift. A wish for a more almond-shaped eye corner is addressed by the fox eye triple lift, which adds a canthopexy and a midface lift.
If you have had threads before
Earlier threads do not usually stand in the way of a temporal lift, but they matter for planning. As threads dissolve, they leave thin tracks of scar tissue, and fragments of longer-lasting threads can remain. Fillers in the temple change the tissue as well. This is why previous threads, fillers and facial procedures are reviewed before the plan is made.
Tell the team which type of thread you had, when, and in which area, and mention it if you can still feel a thread under the skin. Dr. Semih Yıldız uses this information, together with your photos, to plan the direction and degree of the lift. Recovery, scars and preparation for the surgical option are covered in detail on our temporal lift page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a temporal lift more painful than a thread lift?
Discomfort after a temporal lift is usually felt as tightness and pressure around the temples rather than sharp pain, and it is generally controlled with prescribed painkillers in the first few days. Threads cause less discomfort overall, although the entry points and the temples can feel tender for several days. In both cases, cold compresses and keeping your head raised help.
When can I see the result of each method?
Threads show a lift immediately, often slightly overdone for the first days, and the result then softens as swelling settles and the threads relax. After a temporal lift, swelling hides the result at first. Most of it has settled by about one month, when the lift looks natural, and the final result appears at 3–6 months.
Do threads help with heavy upper eyelids?
Only a little, and only if the heaviness comes from a low outer brow. Threads can lift the tail of the brow slightly, but they do not remove excess eyelid skin. If extra skin is the main cause, upper eyelid surgery is needed, and when both problems are present it can be combined with a temporal lift.
If you are weighing threads against surgery, send clear front and side photos of your face for a free online assessment, and mention any threads or fillers you have had before.
This article provides general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.
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