It sounds tempting: which woman would not want to be "gilded". The effect of rejuvenation with this method is gained by connecting golden threads (0,1mm in diameter) of 24 carat gold underneath the cheek skin. The noble grid is supposed to slowly lift the skin in the course of 2,5 - 3 months. The effect therefore only shows after a while. The method is said to be harmless and patients can already present themselves in the public after a few days.

In France, in 1969, Caux still used to put the thin golden threads in parallel position to each other from ear to nose and the corners of the mouth directly underneath the skin. Yet, the rejuventation-effect was rather modest. In 1975, J. Conley and D. Baker injected the golden threads in a grid-pattern underneath the cheek skin. Now we have golden threads covered with polyglycolic acid-threads which are injected by means of a straight triangular guiding needle, directly on the border between skin und hypodermis. Each golden thread is 6 cm long so that 2-3 theads are needed for one cheek.

The method was developed in France, it is used in Spain, Yugoslavia and especially in Russia. In 1999, a doctoral dissertation was submitted to the Akademie der medizinischen Wissenschaften (Ms. Dr. Natalia Taran) under the title: Armierung der Gesichts- und Halshaut mit speziellen chirurgischen Nähten (Reinforcement of facial and throat skin with special surgical stitches). In Russia, Dr. Adamjan is considered to be the promoter of the method. In 1999 and 2000, he published two articles on the application of golden threads on 300 patients in Russia's official scientific journal "Annals of Plastic, Rekonstructive and Aesthetic Surgery". There were also quotations on pre-investigative animal testing. The principle is based on the reaction of the connective tissue around the golden grid as if in an alien body capsule. This capsule will contract in the course of the following weeks which causes lifting of the cheek skin. In his article Adamjan describes 18% of all complications, mostly haematoma and 1,3% allergical reactions.

We have applied golden theads since 2001 on 18 patients and have so far not detected any unpleasant side effects. In almost a third of all cases some of the threads came out by itself only a few weeks after the operation. Some patients returned to the clinic, most patients removed the golden threads be themselves in front of their own bathroom mirror.
 

Among Russion plastic surgeons Milanov and Nerobeev are the more critical ones concerning golden threads ("Hilo de oro"), V. Tapia Fernandez from Moscow is strictly against them. We also add the statement by the Russian member of our Editorial Board, Professor Dr. Alexei Borovikov: