PDO thread lift
Resorbable PDO thread lift: a medical treatment to redefine the facial oval and neck with a lifting effect and collagen stimulation.
What thread lifts are
These are resorbable threads — usually made of polydioxanone, PDO, the same material used in some surgical sutures — inserted under the skin with a fine needle or a cannula. They do two things: give an immediate lifting effect by slightly repositioning the tissue, and stimulate collagen production around the thread over the following months. The thread disappears; the collagen stays for a while.
Who they make sense for
- Mild to moderate loss of definition in the facial oval.
- Early sagging of the cheeks, neck or under the chin.
- People looking for a subtle improvement who aren't candidates for — or don't want — surgery.
With advanced sagging or a lot of excess skin, the result is limited, and in those cases it's better to say so at the prior consultation than to promise a facelift without an operating theatre.
What the procedure involves
It's done at the clinic, with local anaesthetic at the entry points, and takes between thirty and sixty minutes. Afterwards, swelling, occasional bruising and a feeling of tightness are common and settle down over time. A soft diet for a few days, sleeping on your back, not massaging the area, and avoiding extreme facial expressions and intense exercise for a couple of weeks are recommended.
How long it lasts and what to expect
The effect lasts roughly between eight and eighteen months, depending on the type of thread, the area and the person. It's often combined with other treatments —hyaluronic acid to restore volume — within a plan assessed by the doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Do thread lifts replace a facelift?
No. They give a discreet lifting effect and stimulate collagen, and they work well in mild or moderate laxity. With advanced laxity or a lot of excess skin the result is limited, and that is said in the prior consultation instead of promising a facelift without an operating theatre.
How long does the result last?
As a rough guide, between eight and eighteen months depending on the type of thread, the area and the person. The thread is absorbed; what remains for a while is the collagen that has formed around it. It is usually combined with other treatments as part of a plan.
What is the recovery like afterwards?
Swelling, some bruising and a feeling of tightness that gradually settles are all common. A soft diet for a few days is recommended, as well as sleeping on your back, not massaging the area and avoiding extreme facial movements and intense exercise for a couple of weeks.
Which is better, Botox or thread lifts?
They solve different problems: the toxin relaxes the muscle and softens expression lines; threads slightly reposition the tissue and stimulate collagen to counter sagging. They are not in competition, and in many cases they are combined within a plan alongside fillers to restore volume.
At what age are thread lifts advisable?
Age is not what decides, but the degree of sagging and the quality of the skin: they are usually indicated when the facial contour starts to lose definition, something common from the forties onwards. With advanced sagging the result is limited, and the honest thing is to say so beforehand, not afterwards.