Age happens. Skin loses its elasticity in all the wrong places. And you just don’t look like “you” anymore. So what to do?
You’ve already ruled out a surgical facelift because of the risks, cost, or long recovery time involved. And dermal fillers just aren’t doing the trick.
So, what’s the next step? Welcome to a minimally invasive procedure called the PDO thread lift. This procedure provides skin lifting and rejuvenation without the risk and long drawn out recovery required for surgical facelifts.
The Skinny on the PDO Thread Lift
The PDO thread lift is a minimally invasive that can be performed on the face, neck, or jowls. Threads that have small cones/graspers on them are passed under the skin using a large needle.
The cones grab hold of the underside of the skin and gently pull it to re-suspend the skin in a lifted more youthful position.
The benefits of the PDO thread lift procedure include:
- Instantly lifted skin
- Renewed cells
- Improved skin texture
- Smoothing of fine lines
- Increased elasticity
- Tightened skin
The threads, made of Polydioxanone (PDO), are absorbed by the body about six months after the procedure. This means the procedure has a much lower risk of infection than old-school facelifts.
A positive side effect of the procedure is the lifted facial contours will remain for about 3-6 months after the threads have dissolved due to cellular rejuvenation effects.
This happens because your skin cells are stimulated, and they produce new collagen and new blood vessels, which improves skin microcirculation.
The PDO threads also cause your fat tissue to contract, producing a skin tightening and facial slimming effect.
How Do You Perform the PDO Thread Lift?
First, we numb the skin using local anesthesia. After the skin is thoroughly numbed, we insert the PDO into different layers of the skin using sharp or blunt tip needles. We then trim the excess threads.
The procedure only takes 15-30 minutes, depending on what areas we treat. There can be some discomfort during the procedure.
PDO Threads Types
There are three PDO threads categories.
- Floating
- Non-barbed threads
- Barbed threads
Sub-Categories
And then, there are sub-categories.
- Unilateral
- Bilateral
- Z-type
- Cutting barbs
- Molding barbs
Other Names
Additional names that refer to PDO threads may include:
- Double screw
- Tornado
- Heart barbs
Thread Characteristics
PDO threads also come in different thickness and length, which impact their:
- Quality
- Tensile strength
- Effectiveness
- Treatment price
Because of the large number of options available, it’s best to talk to your provider. They will select the best threads for your specific skin lifting and rejuvenation needs.
Areas of Treatment
Although the cheeks and lower face show the best results from the procedure, the PDO thread lift is a very versatile treatment. Providers can use it on most of the areas of the face, including:
- Eyebrows
- Under-eye area
- Crow’s feet
- Cheeks
- Nasolabial folds
- Naso jugal folds
- Wrinkles around mouth
- Jawline
- Jowls
- Neck
Before Procedure
1-2 days before the procedure avoid:
- Alcohol
- Vitamin E
- Omega Fish oils
- Gingko
After the Procedure
After the procedure avoid:
- Alcohol
- Vitamin E
- Omega Fish oils
- Gingko
- Going to the steam room and sauna
- Engaging in heavy exercise
- Undergoing any dental treatment (which requires you to open your mouth excessively) for two weeks after the treatment
- Sleeping on your back to allow the swelling to subside
- Putting pressure on your face as this might cause misalignment of the threads
PDO Thread Lift Results
The skin lifting results are immediate as the threads provide support to lift the skin to its new position.
At first, your skin may look slightly tighter than the final result, but it should relax into a more natural position in about a week.
One to Two Months After
The effects that come from cellular regeneration and fat contraction will be noticeable in 1-2 months at which point you will notice:
- Better skin texture
- Firmer and smoother skin
Nine Months After
Nine months after the treatment, the threads will have fully dissolved. You will continue to see the results for many more months.
Suitable Candidates for the PDO Thread Lift
The PDO thread lift is an effective non-surgical facelifting treatment suitable for anyone looking to improve the appearance of sagging skin.
If you are willing to undergo injections and want to attain an immediate lift of the facial contours without undergoing facelift surgery, then this treatment may be the solution.
Possible Risks and Side Effects
Many of the side effects associated with older thread lifting procedures, such as infection and thread breakage, are minimized now.
Because we insert the PDO threads using needles and not surgery, your body absorbs them in 6-8 months.
Our training and expertise with this procedure are critical in ensuring minimal side effects from your procedure.
You may experience:
- Mild swelling and soreness for 3 to 5 days
- A sensation of tightness (mild) for up to 2 weeks
- Mild dimpling that should resolve in a few days
Depending on the thread types we use and the areas we treat, you may also experience:
- Bruising
- Surface depressions
- Thread migration
- Thread extrusion
- Facial asymmetry
- Prolonged pain
- Prolonged dimpling
Serious side effects are rare but may include:
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Formation of nodules
- Damage to the salivary ducts
Let’s Talk About the Cost
A PDO thread lift procedure can cost anywhere from $1500-$4500.
Contact Us Today
- Are you looking for an instant lift?
- Improved skin texture?
- Tighter skin?
Say good-bye to sagging facial skin and hello to the PDO thread lift. If you’re ready to make an appointment, we’ve got you covered.