Monday, 30th October 2006 (1535 views)

Inserting pure gold thread into the skin to help smooth sagginess and wrinkles is proving increasingly popular in South Korea and Singapore, where surgeons claim to have treated around 30 people in the last 18 months.

Over 400 such surgeries have been performed in the last three years and the procedure is similar to the Malay practice of inserting a precious metal under the skin to look younger, reports the New Straits Times.

Experts claim the gold thread implantation, which involves inserting gold thread under the skin in the face, encourages new collagen to surround them and makes the skin tighter and can show results in just two months.

"Gold thread lifting" involves using two threads, one made of pure 24-carat gold and the second made of gold woven with polyglycol acid. Gold does not oxidise in the body, meaning there are few side effects and is meant to encourage collagen, making the skin fuller and tighter.

However, the controversial method has not yet received significant medical research to back some claims made by surgeons practising the technique. Complications can occur such as the thread poking through the skin, swelling, tenderness and bruising.

Nevertheless, the technique is becoming increasing popular with wealthy women in south-east Asia, where a full face treatment starts at S$2,000 (£673).

 

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