Methods for lifting and tightening various areas of the body
View Patent ↗Methods of lifting and elevating various areas on a body including skin and tissue of a subject, such as an umbilicus region, using one or more threads including a plurality of features are provided herein. In a desired area of the body to be lifted, a method includes passing a first end of a first thread through a first path defined under the skin of the subject and passing a second end of the first thread through a second path defined under the skin of the subject and pulling one or more ends of the one or more threads in a direction to effect lifting of the desired area followed by fastening of the one or more ends of the one or more threads. The subject may have undergone liposuction prior to performance of the method.
1 . A method of elevating an umbilicus and/or a lower abdomen of a subject, the method comprising:
passing a first end of a first thread through a first path, wherein the first path is defined under the skin of the subject and extends from an upper abdominal region of the subject to an umbilicus region of the subject;
passing a second end of the first thread through a second path, wherein the second path is defined under the skin of the subject and extends from the upper abdominal region of the subject to the umbilicus region of the subject,
wherein the first thread comprises a plurality of features;
wherein the first path and the second path are separated by a first lateral distance; and
pulling the first end of the first thread, and the second end of the first thread in a direction away from the upper abdominal region to elevate the umbilicus and/or the abdomen.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first thread is introduced through a first entry and passes through the first path to a first exit and the second end of the first thread is introduced through the first entry and passes through the second path to the first exit; or wherein the first end of the first thread is introduced through the first exit and passes through the first path to the first entry and the second end of the first thread is introduced through the first exit and passes through the second path to the first entry.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a distance between the first entry and the first exit is smaller after pulling of the first end of the first thread and the second end of the first thread compared to a distance between the first entry and the first exit prior to pulling.
4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
passing a first end of a second thread through the first path,
passing a second end of the second thread through the second path; and
pulling the first end of the second thread, and the second end of the second thread in the direction away from the upper abdominal region to elevate the umbilicus and/or the abdomen;
wherein the second thread comprises a plurality of features.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first end of the second thread is introduced through the first entry and passes through the first path to the first exit and the second end of the second thread is introduced through the first entry and passes through the second path to the first exit or wherein the first end of the second thread is introduced through the first exit and passes through the first path to the first entry and the second end of the second thread is introduced through the first exit and passes through the second path to the first entry.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
passing at least one of a third thread, a fourth thread, a fifth thread, a sixth thread, a seventh thread, an eighth thread, a ninth thread, and a tenth thread as follows:
(i) a first end of a third thread through the first path and a second end of the third thread through the second path;
(ii) a first end of a fourth thread through the first path and a second end of the fourth thread through the second path;
(iii) a first end of a fifth thread through the first path and a second end of the fifth thread through the second path;
(iv) a first end of a sixth thread through the first path and a second end of the sixth thread through the second path;
(v) a first end of a seventh thread through the first path and a second end of the seventh thread through the second path;
(vi) a first end of an eighth thread through the first path and a second end of the eighth thread through the second path;
(vii) a first end of a ninth thread through the first path and a second end of the ninth thread through the second path; and
(viii) a first end of a tenth thread through the first path and a second end of the tenth thread through the second path;
pulling, in the direction away from the upper abdominal region to elevate the umbilicus and/or the abdomen, one or more of:
(i) the first end of the third thread and the second end of the third thread, when present;
(ii) the first end of the fourth thread and the second end of the fourth thread, when present;
(iii) the first end of the fifth thread and the second end of the fifth thread, when present;
(iv) the first end of the sixth thread and the second end of the sixth thread, when present;
(v) the first end of the seventh thread and the second end of the seventh thread, when present;
(vi) the first end of the eighth thread and the second end of the eighth thread, when present;
(vii) the first end of the ninth thread and the second end of the ninth thread, when present;
and
(viii) the first end of the tenth thread, and the second end of the tenth thread, when present;
wherein one or more of the third thread, the fourth thread, the fifth thread, the sixth thread, the seventh thread, the eighth thread, the ninth thread, and the tenth thread each comprises a plurality of features.
7 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising fastening the first end of the second thread, the second end of the second thread, or both.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first end of the first thread and the second end of the first thread are not fastened and/or the first end of the second thread and the second end of the second thread are not fastened.
9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first thread and the second thread each have a length of about 5 cm to about 120 cm and/or the first thread and the second thread each have a size according to the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) system of about 6-0 to about 4.
10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first thread and the second thread independently are a unitary thread or a divided thread and/or the first thread and the second thread each are introduced through a cannula or a needle.
11 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first thread and the second thread each comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polydioxanone (PDO), polyglactin, poliglecaprone, polycaprolactone (PCL), poly-L-lactic acid, polypropylene, polypropylene, nylon, silk, cotton, polyester, catgut, metal wire, collagen fiber, a tendinous material from a heterologous donor or animal, autologous tissue, and a combination thereof and/or the first thread and the second thread are each selected from the group consisting of a mesh, a cord, a ribbon, a net, a sheet, or a combination thereof.
12 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
passing a first end of a second thread through a third path, wherein the third path is defined under the skin of the subject and extends from the upper abdominal region of the subject to the umbilicus region of the subject;
passing a second end of the second thread through a fourth path, wherein the fourth path is defined under the skin of the subject and extends from the upper abdominal region of the subject to the umbilicus region of the subject;
wherein the third path and the fourth path are separated by a second lateral distance;
and
pulling the first end of the second thread, and the second end of the second thread in the direction away from the upper abdominal region to elevate the umbilicus and/or the abdomen.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first end of the second thread is introduced through the first entry and passes through the third path to the first exit and the second end of the second thread is introduced through the first entry and passes through the fourth path to the first exit, or wherein the first end of the second thread is introduced through the first exit and passes through the third path to the first entry and the second end of the second thread is introduced through the first exit and passes through the fourth path to the first entry.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second lateral distance is greater than the first lateral distance.
15 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first entry comprises a plurality of discrete entry points and/or wherein the first exit comprises a plurality of discrete exit points.
16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising fastening the first end of the first thread, the second end of the first thread, or both.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the following are satisfied:
(i) the plurality of features engage tissue under the skin of the subject upon pulling of the first thread and the second thread;
(ii) the plurality of features is one-directional, bi-directional, or multi-directional; and
(iii) the plurality of features is selected from the group consisting of barbs, knots, cones, beads, cogs, or a combination thereof.
18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the subject undergoing liposuction in the abdominal region or other regions of the subject prior to the passing of the first end of the first thread through the first path and passing the second end of the first thread through the second path.