Stensen' s duct penetration and sialolith formation: a rare complication of thread lifting surgery.

Sialolithiasis is a relatively frequent occurrence, but the etiology of sialoliths remains unclear. Foreign bodies might enter the salivary duct and induce sialoliths by retrograde migration or penetrating trauma. Several reports have involved salivary duct stones formed around a foreign body, such as fishbone, vegetable seed, grass blade, et al. However, an iatrogenic foreign body-induced sialolith is scarcely reported. Thread lifting is a minimally invasive technique for facial rejuvenation with the advantages of short recovery, good-lifting and high satisfaction rate. The injury of the Stensen's duct was scarcely found in the complications of thread lifting. This paper reports three cases of sialoliths formed by the thread penetrating the Stensen's duct after facial thread lifting. These cases were treated successfully under endoscopy, though the lifting thread was not extracted in one case. The etiology of sialoliths is reviewed, and the complications of thread lifting are discussed.