Just like every other industry in the world, the beauty industry sees trends that come and go. Some stick around for the long term, others barely make it. And when it comes to aesthetic procedures the same rule of thumb applies—what was big then may be considered ancient and even black listed now. These are the treatments that doctors used to clamor over back in the day, which rarely, if ever, make it onto the treatment menu anymore.

Old school thread lifts

When it comes to plastic surgery, there are always those who are looking for a short cut. Oftentimes, a lot of these procedures don’t live up to be what they claim to be. “One example is the Thread Lift, where long stitches with fishhook-like barbs were used to tighten the face and neck as an alternative to a full facelift or neck lift.  It was marketed heavily on national television,” says Purchase, NY plastic surgeon Michael Suzman, MD. “Many doctors even those without training and plastic surgery started offering it. Results were temporary, often painful and many of these threads had to be removed.”

However, Richmond, VA facial plastic surgeon Michael Godin, MD, notes that modified forms of these lifts (that are now safer and feature newer technology) are making a bit of a comeback.