One-Stitch Facelift in Düsseldorf and BerlinTargeted tightening for the jawline and midface
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Dr. Karl Schuhmann brought the one-stitch facelift from the USA to Germany and established it 10 years ago. He is considered one of the leading pioneers of this minimally invasive lift. Today, the one-stitch facelift is among the most modern facelift techniques – for people who want a visible yet understated rejuvenation.
The one-stitch facelift improves the profile of the jawline and midface and is particularly suitable for a declining contour and mild tissue laxity in the midface as well as early jowls.
With this method, the skin and tissue still need to cooperate well, and there should be no significant excess skin. The results you can expect are very natural!
At a glance
- Treatment: minimally invasive SMAS lift (One-Stitch)
- Duration: approx. 60 minutes
- Anaesthesia: local anaesthesia, twilight sedation on request
- Stay: outpatient
- Presentability: within a short time
- Suitable for: loss of jawline definition, early jowls, beginning skin laxity
- Special feature: small access points, short recovery, natural tightening
One-Stitch Facelifting - Wangenstraffung & Jawline Contouring
One-Stitch-Facelift - neues Verfahren zur Gesichtsstraffung und Faltenreduktion
At a glance: the modern facelift to go
fast, natural, effective
- Treatment: one-stitch facelift / minimally invasive SMAS lift
- Goal: tightening of the jawline and sagging cheeks, and a desire for a natural, non-surgical rejuvenation
- Suitable for: loss of jawline definition, early jowls, beginning skin laxity
- Anaesthesia: local anaesthesia, twilight sedation on request
- Duration: approx. 60 minutes
- Stay: outpatient
- Presentable again: within a short time
- Special features: small incisions, short recovery, natural tightening
- Not suitable for: correction of the nasolabial fold, pronounced excess skin, very pronounced jowls
What is a one-stitch facelift?
The one-stitch facelift is a minimally invasive variant of the SMAS facelift. Through a small incision at the hairline, the facial muscles and skin are tightened. Excess skin is removed. The incision is closed with self-dissolving sutures that dissolve on their own after a few weeks. To be clear: this is not a thread lift. The sutures serve solely to close the wound – they do not lift anything and do not remain permanently in the tissue.
When the midface loses contour and the cheek area begins to give way, the one-stitch facelift can counteract this in a targeted way. With minimal effort, we lift the slackened cheek area, sharpen the jawline and give your face back what time has quietly taken away: freshness, contour and a rested radiance.
Who is the one-stitch facelift suitable for?
Whenever the elasticity and firmness of the skin decrease and become visible in the midface and along the chin-jaw contour. This can affect virtually any age, for example after weight loss. If the sagging is too pronounced, procedures such as other outpatient SMAS-lift techniques, the mini-SMAS lift, the MACS lift or even the Deep Plane Facelift are more suitable.
The one-stitch facelift is suitable for:
- the cheek area losing contour
- loss of a clear contour line
- changes in the cheek area
- good to moderate skin elasticity
- a desire for more tightening
Dr. Karl Schuhmann describes the procedure as one of the most elegant facelift concepts – provided the starting situation is right. More on this: When is the one-stitch facelift really suitable?
When are other facelift techniques more sensible?
With more pronounced excess skin or significant volume loss, minimally invasive procedures reach their limits. In such cases, a midface lift or modern deep-plane and SMAS facelift techniques lead to more harmonious and stable results. These demanding facelifts are among Dr. Karl Schuhmann’s areas of focus. Which method is right depends on the current condition of the skin and the result you wish to achieve.
The difference from a thread lift and mini facelift
The one-stitch facelift is also repeatedly confused with other procedures in the media. Here is an overview.
On the thread lift:
The thread lift is not a lift in the true sense. Resorbable threads create a short-term, very subtle tightening. The effort is similar to that of an injection treatment, no anaesthesia is required, and the procedure itself takes a few minutes. Excess skin is not removed in the process. The effect is very short-lived and usually not advisable in the long term.
On the mini facelift:
With the mini facelift, the work is more superficial, without tightening the SMAS. With the one-stitch facelift, we tighten not only the skin but entire tissue layers and achieve more stable results. The comparison shows at a glance: the one-stitch is the smallest surgical procedure with minimal downtime, while the mini facelift delivers more of a tightening effect with somewhat more effort.
Extended with Sculptra® and autologous fat
If, in addition to firmness, volume is also lacking, we can combine the one-stitch facelift with biostimulators, fillers, exosomes and RF needling.
Sculptra®
Four to six weeks after the procedure, Sculptra® can additionally stimulate collagen production. The skin gains structure and stability.
Autologous fat
Autologous fat complements the tightening with volume and skin build-up, especially in the midface or in very slim people. Nano- and microfat can, similar to a biostimulator, additionally improve skin quality. More on the extended one-stitch facelift with autologous fat
Procedure and recovery
The procedure takes about an hour and is performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia.
Afterwards, mild irritation or bruising may occur for a few days. The result continues to develop over the course of healing.
The one-stitch facelift compared to a thread lift
| Criterion | One-stitch facelift | Thread lift |
|---|---|---|
| Type of procedure | Surgical procedure | Minimally invasive procedure |
| Method | The skin is surgically lifted and fixed with a surgical suture | Special threads are inserted under the skin to temporarily lift the tissue |
| Threads | Self-dissolving sutures to close the wound – no permanent material under the skin | Remain permanently or temporarily in the tissue – this is how they work |
| Result | Long-lasting – the tissue is surgically lifted and repositioned | Temporary – the threads dissolve or lose their effect over time |
| Scar | Small incision at the temple, usually barely visible later | No incision, only small puncture sites |
| Advantage | Genuine, long-lasting tightening | No permanent surgical effect |
The decisive difference
With the one-stitch facelift, threads are only used to close the small incision – just as in any other operation. With the thread lift, the threads themselves are the tightening tool. Both procedures work with “threads”, but they are based on a completely different principle and lead to results that last for different lengths of time.
Why artethic®?
Dr. Karl Schuhmann is one of the most experienced facial surgeons in his field and one of the few who masters the entire spectrum of modern facelift techniques: from the gentle one-stitch facelift that restores the first contours, through natural-looking injections with a firming lift effect, to the deep-plane facelift for complex and far-reaching rejuvenation.
At artethic®, individual consultation and treatment are a top priority. We only recommend what suits your skin and anatomy. We tighten as much as makes sense and aim only for results that look natural and harmonious in the long term. The path to that goal can vary, because not every form of facial ageing requires the same procedure.
Benefits
- Lifts sagging cheeks
- Firms jowls
- Contours chin and jawline
- Smooths nasolabial folds
- Firms cheeks, e.g. after weight loss
Frequently asked questions
How does the one-stitch facelift differ from a classic SMAS facelift?
The one-stitch facelift is one of the modern SMAS techniques and works through significantly smaller, minimally invasive accesses. It is ideal for early to moderate changes in the lower face. A classic SMAS or deep-plane facelift influences larger tissue shifts and can correct more pronounced excess skin. In short: the effects of the classic SMAS facelift are more extensive. Which method is sensible depends on the starting situation and your expectations.
How long does a one-stitch facelift last?
The longevity depends, among other things, on skin quality, tissue tension, lifestyle and individual anatomy. Many patients benefit from a more stable facial contour for many years. However, the ageing process continues, and weight fluctuations, smoking or strong sun exposure additionally influence the outcome.
Are the scars visible after a one-stitch facelift?
The accesses are small and inconspicuous in the area of the hairline or within natural skin folds. Directly after the procedure the scars are visible; they fade significantly during the healing process and are barely noticeable after a few weeks.
When is hyaluronic acid no longer enough, and when does a one-stitch facelift make sense?
Hyaluronic acid can even out contours and replenish volume, or we complement the one-stitch with fillers depending on the situation for maximum effect.
Can the one-stitch facelift be combined with autologous fat?
This combination is sensible in very many cases and is also referred to as the extended one-stitch facelift. In addition to tightening the tissue along the contour, autologous fat replenishes lost volume and can additionally support skin quality.
How quickly am I presentable again after the one-stitch facelift?
Most of our patients are presentable again after a short time. Mild swelling or bruising is normal in the first few days. The exact recovery time also depends on individual predisposition and any combination with other treatments. If you wear your hair down, you won’t even see the plasters.
Is the one-stitch facelift also suitable for older people?
What matters is skin quality, tissue tension, excess skin and the desired result – not age. In older people, the one-stitch facelift combined with a complementary treatment can also produce a good, satisfying effect, especially when general anaesthesia is not desired.
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