Dear Dr. Seckel, I had the Contour Thread Lift procedure 2 days ago. During the procedure after I had received the Lidocaine and Epinephrine, and just after the last thread was placed, I fainted on the table. just before this happened, I started to feel like I was going to fall asleep but could not keep myself awake and told the Dr that I felt like I was going to faint. Just at that moment my arms and hands started to heat up and sweat and then the next thing I remember is waking up with an oxygen mask on my face, my feet being held up in the air, a pulse meter on my finger and my blood pressure being taken. The doctor told me I had fainted and that my pulse rate had also dropped. I was SO FRIGHTENED! The Dr said it was due to the epinephrine, and that I have to be careful to tell any Dr or dentist the next time lidocaine or novacaine is used, to be careful using epinephrine as well. Question 1) Are you familiar with anything like this happening to anyone? My recovery so far has been ok, but it’s only been a couple of days so far. I can tell you that it is not what I expected so far, as there is no way I could return to normal activities right now. I have no bruising, but my entire face is swollen like a pumpkin and I can’t talk or eat easily. I have to keep my head up at all times (even when sleeping, sort of in a sitting up position) I’m taking antibiotics, and a pain medication as needed, and I have a bandage over my head and face along with some steri-strips on my cheeks. I could never walk into work looking or feeling like this, and I doubt many people could. I don’t know why this surgery is presented as one that is a “lunchtime” procedure. Now, because I had swelled up so badly during the procedure, the Dr gave me a choice of having the contouring done right then, or after the swelling went down in one week. I asked her what she thought would give me the best results, and she said that if I waited, the results would be slightly better than doing it right then. So, I opted to wait a week, but am worried if the contouring aspect should actually be done a whole week after the barbs have already been inserted and my face somewhat healed. Question #2) Do you have an opinion on waiting till the swelling goes down? Ms Concerned about my Contour Thread Lift, FLA.
Dear Concerned,
I am sorry to hear about your experience with the thread lift—it is hard to understand why I see the Thread Lift advertised as a non-surgical face lift, it is neither non-surgical nor is it a face-lift. It is however a facial implant procedure and a plastic surgery operation.
Fortunately you are alive and well to tell your story and I hope readers will heed your experience and those of others who have written in.
The answer to the first question is that you most likely experienced a condition called “Vasovagal Syncope”—the fact that your pulse dropped is diagnostic of this condition. It is truly a “faint”—the stress and anxiety of the situation caused stimulation of your vagus nerve which slowed your heart rate, inadequate blood was pumped to your brain and you “fainted.
It had nothing to do with the epinephrine—epinephrine would speed your heart rate-I am surprised your doctor didn’t know that—is he/she a surgeon?
My answer to the second question is yes. I do think it is a good idea to wait for the swelling to go down after your thread lift-the result should be better.
Ask your doctor what he/she plans to do for you if the face sags after the threads are finally placed—how long does he/she guarantee the results of the thread lift.
I am sorry you have been through all of this. Hopefully the threads will give you the result you desire. Thank you for warning others through this website about the fact that this is not a “no-downtime procedure” and certainly not a non surgical face lift.
For more information on face lift and plastic surgery read Save Your Face or contact me.
Boston, Massachusetts