The cosmetic industry is experiencing a cosmetic treatment boom. Men and women can now choose from various procedures that lift sagging skin, reduce wrinkles, improve skin tone, and treat other signs of aging. PDO thread lifts are a relatively new anti-aging treatment, and it is garnering interest for good reason.
This article explains the main types of PDO threads, how they work, which areas they treat, and answers FAQs about PDO threading.
What Are PDO Threads?
A PDO (polydioxanone) thread is an FDA-approved, biodegradable medical suture that has been used in surgical procedures for decades. Now they are increasingly used as a popular anti-aging treatment.
PDO thread lifting involves the insertion of PDO threads under the skin. The threads create a scaffold which lifts sagging skin and builds volume by triggering the production of collagen in sunken areas of the face or body.
Types of PDO Threads
PDO threads differ in size, shape, quality, and function. The two main types of PDO threads are mesh or mono threads and lifting or barbed threads.
Your chosen medical provider will recommend a suitable PDO thread type or a combination of PDO thread types for the skin issue you wish to address.
Mesh/Mono Threads
These are smooth threads without barbs. They are inserted in a pattern that resembles a mesh or a net to form a support structure around which the body builds new collagen. These threads don’t have a pulling or lifting effect but rather help tighten the skin.
Monos are typically used to treat the forehead, under-eye area, and neck.
Lifting/Barbed Threads
Like mono threads, barbed threads are inserted underneath the skin. The difference is that they have tiny barbs that hook themselves to the surrounding tissue, pulling the skin in the desired direction. Two commonly used types of barbed threads are cog and screw threads.
These threads are generally used to restore volume to sunken facial areas. They also stimulate the body to build collagen around them, tightening the skin.
How Do PDO Threads Work?
PDO threads are inserted under the skin via needles. The body reacts to the perceived injury by building more collagen around the threads, countering the main cause of skin aging – collagen loss.
By building collagen, PDO threads improve various skin concerns, from volume loss and sagging skin to fine lines and wrinkles.
PDO threads dissolve within six months, but the lifting effect is visible for at least one year, sometimes longer.
The Benefits of PDO Threads
PDO threading effectively rejuvenates the skin and combats signs of aging, especially sagging skin. The treatment stimulates the body’s natural healing mechanisms, boosting the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.
You can expect the following benefits from the treatment:
- Tightened, firmer skin
- Improved skin texture
- Increased skin elasticity
- Fewer lines and wrinkles
- Improved facial contours
- Long-lasting results
Note: Check out our article and find out what helps skin elasticity.
What Areas Do PDO Threads Treat?
PDO threading can be performed on any skin area. This treatment is typically used to improve the appearance of the following features:
- Sagging eyebrows
- Forehead wrinkles
- Crow’s feet
- Undereye area
- Nasolabial folds
- Sagging cheeks
- Sagging jawline
- Chin wrinkles
- Marionette lines
- Neck folds
The treatment is occasionally used to lift sagging skin on the upper arms, thighs, buttocks, and stomach.
Note: Find out how to tighten the skin on your legs via lifestyle changes, over-the-counter products, and non-invasive treatments.
Who Is a Good Candidate for PDO Threads?
You are a good candidate for PDO threads if you have experienced facial volume loss and sagging skin due to aging and collagen depletion. The treatment is especially popular with patients who want to address aging signs without going under the knife.
Some health or physical conditions may require you to postpone the procedure. These include pregnancy, skin infections, and diabetes. Your chosen medical provider will examine your medical history and current state of health to determine if you are a good candidate for PDO threading.
What Is the Best Age for a PDO Thread Lift?
PDO threads are designed to treat the symptoms related to collagen loss, such as thinning skin, loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles, and folds. These aging signs typically appear and worsen in our 30s and 40s. Most patients are in that age range, but you can start the treatment whenever you notice more prominent aging signs.
How to Prepare for the PDO Threading Procedure?
Medical providers performing PDO threading explain how to prepare for the procedure during the consultation session. They typically advise the following:
- Discontinue the use of anticoagulation supplements (fish oil, vitamin E, Gingko Biloba, etc.).
- Avoid blood-thinning medications (ibuprofen, aspirin, heparin, warfarin).
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco five days before the treatment.
- Drink a lot of water several days before the treatment.
What Can You Expect During the PDO Threading Procedure?
PDO threading starts with the application of a topical numbing cream and a lidocaine injection in the treated area. That way, medical providers ensure the patient doesn’t feel any discomfort.
The medical provider inserts a hypodermic needle or cannula (blunt-tipped needle) containing a PDO thread into the treatment area. The whole procedure lasts about 30-45 minutes.
The number of PDO threads per treatment depends on the treatment area size and how much lifting and tightening it needs. Some areas require as few as six threads, while others as many as 20.
Do PDO Threads Hurt?
PDO threads don’t hurt because the patients receive local anesthesia. They may feel slight discomfort and a pinching sensation, and they may also feel some pain and discomfort after the effects of lidocaine wear off.
PDO Thread Results
The results of PDO threading are immediate. The skin is visibly tightened and refreshed right after the treatment.
As the body builds new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid in the months following the treatment, the face becomes plumper and acquires a more youthful look. The PDO thread lifting effects peak at about six months after the procedure.
Note: Learn about the similarities and differences between collagen and elastin and how to increase the production of these two proteins.
How Many Sessions of PDO Threads Do I Need?
Patients typically need between one and four treatments for the best results, though the skin is visibly improved after the first treatment. Many patients chose to prolong the effects of PDO threading for several years with annual maintenance treatments.
Can You Feel the Threads in Your Face?
PDO threads are so small and thin that patients can’t see or feel them once their skin heals. In rare cases, patients with very thin skin can feel them when they press the skin in the treated area.
How Long Does a PDO Thread Last?
The duration of PDO threading results depends on the patient’s age and lifestyle habits. They usually last one year, but your skin will look younger for several years with annual maintenance treatments.
Younger patients typically experience longer-lasting effects.
Side Effects of PDO Threads
PDO threading requires no social downtime. Patients usually resume their routine activities right after the procedure.
Threads are considered very safe due to their non-invasive nature and serious side effects are rare.
Common side effects include:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Soreness
- Stinging
- Occasional nerve pain
These side effects are usually mild and subside within a week.
Rare side effects include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Protruding PDO threads
- Allergic reaction
- Facial asymmetry
Most of these very rare side effects can be resolved by removing the threads. The treated area will then return to its previous state.
PDO threading is not considered safe for:
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women
- People suffering from autoimmune diseases
- People with skin infections, acne, or cold sores
- People with diabetes
Can PDO Threads Cause Permanent Damage?
PDO threads are FDA-approved and safe when performed by board-certified medical professionals. Severe side effects like scarring, bruising, and bleeding are rare and may occur when inexperienced, non-medical staff inserts PDO threads.
In extremely rare cases, the procedure can damage a deep facial nerve and cause facial paralysis. However, all potential damage from the procedure is treatable.
PDO Threads Aftercare
Since PDO threading is a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment, it requires minimal aftercare. After your treatment, avoid the following:
- Intense activities that cause sweating for 48 hours
- Dental work for six weeks
- Shaving the treated area for several days
- Rubbing the treated area
- Sleeping on your front or sides for two weeks
How Much Do PDO Threads Cost?
The cost of PDO threads ranges between $500 and $5,000, depending on the patient’s individual needs and the medical provider’s expertise. Consult our medical experts at Vibrant Skin Bar to review your goals, determine the best course of therapy, and get a pricing estimate.
Can PDO Threads Be Paired with Other Treatments?
PDO threading results in a refreshed, plumper look, but the effects aren’t as dramatic as those after a surgical facelift. For more radical effects, a PDO thread lift can be paired with other cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic treatments that work well with PDO threading are:
Botox Injections
Botox is an injectable neurotoxin that paralyzes the dynamic muscles that cause wrinkle formation. Botox injections are mainly used to smooth out the upper section of the face: the forehead, crow’s feet, and wrinkles between the brows. You can have a Botox treatment after PDO threading.
Contact Vibrant Skin Bar for the best Botox session in Phoenix!
Dermal Fillers
Fillers are hyaluronic acid or poly-L-lactic-acid injections that add volume to sunken facial areas. They are mainly used to plump up the lower third of the face. You can achieve a fuller, more volumized look with dermal fillers after the PDO thread lift.
For safe and impressive dermal fillers in Phoenix, contact the Vibrant Skin Bar team!
Laser
Laser and other heat treatments can be used right after mono threads to increase collagen stimulation. However, avoid these treatments after getting lifting/barbed PDO threads.
Conclusion
Today, we can choose from a range of cosmetic treatments to counteract the skin changes that come with age. The PDO thread lift is one of them.
PDO threading effectively treats sagging skin and restores attractive facial contours without the use of a knife and general anesthesia. Weigh the pros and cons of this popular alternative to facelifting surgery to determine if it’s the right step for you.
