PDO THREAD LIFT
Could your appearance use a lift? Tighten, sculpt, and lift your facial skin with a non-surgical PDO Thread Lift. A PDO Thread Lift can be performed in less than an hour and requires little downtime, making it an ideal rejuvenating procedure. With only a few artful injections, a PDO Thread Lift can lift your neck, jawline, lower face, cheeks, brows, or under-eyes restoring a more youthful appearance. A PDO Thread Lift is a convenient, effective rejuvenation option for patients who do not yet wish to or need to receive a more invasive skin tightening procedure, like a facelift.
WHAT IS A PDO THREAD LIFT?
A PDO thread lift is a minimally invasive treatment alternative to traditional surgical facelift procedures. This increasingly popular procedure gently lifts sagging skin using small, hypodermic needles to inject fine, synthetic, absorbable threads under the skin. These polydioxanone (PDO) threads have tiny spines that “grab” onto and pull up the subdermal tissue, helping to lift, tighten, and contour loose or sagging skin. The threads also stimulate collagen production, which further diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
WHAT ARE PDO THREADS?
Polydioxanone (PDO) threads are thinner-than-hair medical grade absorbable threads that lift and tighten sagging skin tissues. These threads are implanted into the subcutaneous layer of the skin using small needles or cannulas. Once the threads are inserted, the skin looks rejuvenated, filled and lifted.
HOW DOES A PDO THREAD LIFT WORK?
A PDO thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure that helps tighten a person’s skin. Without the need for big incisions, unlike most facelift procedures, PDO thread lifting uses small needles to insert fine threads under the skin. These PDO threads are especially designed to anchor the sagging skin and lift it upwards. The threads also stimulate collagen production, which further diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
ARE PDO THREADS SAFE?
Yes! PDO threads are safe and FDA cleared. The biodegradable threads used to perform your thread lift are made with Polydioxanone, a material proven safe by years of use in orthopedics, cardiovascular surgery, tissue engineering, and plastic surgery. Polydioxanone will be broken down naturally by the body and expelled through the urine. Your PDO threads will be fully reabsorbed by the body within six months of your treatment.
HOW SOON WILL I SEE RESULTS?
Because PDO thread lifting grabs and lifts the skin, results can be seen immediately after treatment and are usually exaggerated compared to the final results. We recommend waiting two weeks before assessing your outcome. The threads will dissolve around six months after the procedure. However, because the threads stimulate collagen production, results last months after the threads have dissolved.
HOW DO THE THREADS STIMULATE COLLAGEN?
Collagen production is triggered around the thread itself secondary to polydioxanone’s (PDO) stimulatory effect. After the threads are degraded by the body, the collagen matrix that is formed will serve as a scaffold and provide continuing support and lifting for overlying skin. You will not feel the sutures after the procedure as they integrate into your own tissues in a few weeks.
WHY IS PDO THREAD LIFTING USED?
A PDO Thread Lift is a highly customizable procedure that can be used to tighten the skin on the neck or chin, tighten the jawline, reduce nasolabial folds and marionette lines, lift the brow, lift the cheeks, or reduce under-eye wrinkles. PDO thread lifting is used to help give support to and lift areas of skin where there is sagging. PDO thread lifting may be used as an alternative to traditional facelift procedures, however, they are not a substitute for surgery. PDO thread lifting may be used for adding lift to a variety of facial areas, including the:
Cheeks
Eyebrows
Around and under the eyes
Nasolabial folds
Nasojugal folds
Around the mouth
Neck
Jawline
Jowls
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT ON THE DAY OF THE PROCEDURE?
Treatment areas will be numbed prior to administration of the injection to ensure maximum comfort and minimize pain.
Your doctor will then gently inject the PDO threads into various layers of skin. The threads will grab and lift the skin. The number of injection sites will vary based on your treatment needs.
Then, one of our board-certified dermatologists will insert a cannula containing smooth or barbed threads approximately 3 to 5 mm deep to the skin, which will then be fixed in position using slight pulling pressure. The barbs serve as hooks onto which the subcutaneous tissues are securely hung and effectively lifted.
HOW LONG DOES A PDO THREAD LIFT TAKE?
It takes anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes to complete the lifting session depending on the complexity of the case and the desired results. In the vast majority of cases you can immediately return to normal activities and go back to work and regular activities.
WHAT IS PDO THREAD LIFT RECOVERY LIKE?
After treatment, there may be bruising. Your face may also be sore and swollen for the first three to five days post-procedure. The skin may appear to have slight indents. This typically goes away within the first few days. Tightness of the face may be felt for about two weeks after the procedure. To help the healing process, your doctor may recommend you avoid certain activities.
Since this is a minimally invasive procedure, you will be able to continue with your regular activities as soon as the next day. But we do not recommend that you schedule an appointment for a PDO Thread Lift if you have a special event to attend within the next two weeks. This is because you may experience some swelling and bruising. Facial massages, extractions, and intense workouts will need to be postponed for 2-4 weeks.
DOES A PDO THREAD LIFT HURT?
There is some discomfort during the procedure, but our doctor will apply a local anesthetic to the area being treated to help with any pain.
AM I AN APPROPRIATE CANDIDATE FOR PDO THREAD LIFTING?
Anyone who is looking to correct lines, wrinkles, and other manifestations of aging in the face can be a good candidate for a PDO thread lift procedure. If a person’s sagging skin is under the chin and near the cheeks, the procedure is especially effective and beneficial for them.
We recommend that you are generally healthy at the time of your appointment and that you are free of any medical conditions that may interact negatively with the thread injections.
In addition, the target skin should be free from any infection or irritation in the week leading up to your procedure. Our board-certified dermatologists will evaluate your candidacy for treatment during your initial consultation.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING A PDO THREAD LIFT CONSULTATION?
During your initial PDO thread lift consultation, you will meet with one of our board-certified dermatologists. Your previous surgeries, your medical history, medications you are presently taking, and your overall health will be reviewed. Your skin quality will also be evaluated. Pictures may be taken to help keep record of your before and after results. Your physician will listen to you to learn about your goals and determine what would benefit you the most to achieve your desired goals. PDO thread cost, benefits, recovery time, risks, and limitations will also be discussed.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PDO THREAD LIFTING?
If you are noticing signs of aging around your eyes, lips, or other areas of the face, or if you are seeking an alternative to the surgical facelift, PDO thread lifting may be an appropriate treatment option for you. Benefits of PDO thread lifting may include:
Lifted and tightened skin
Increased collagen production
Improved overall appearance of skin
No incisions required
Minimal downtime
WHAT SHOULD I AVOID BEFORE A PDO THREAD LIFT PROCEDURE?
Here are things you should avoid one to two days before treatment:
Alcohol
Ginko
Omega fish oil supplements
Vitamin E
High-intensity workouts
Steam rooms and saunas
HOW MANY PDO THREAD LIFT TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED?
Most patients see satisfactory results after a single thread lift treatment however, additional treatments may be needed depending on your desired results.
HOW LONG DO PDO THREAD LIFT RESULTS LAST?
The PDO threads dissolve after six to nine months, but their effects can last up to two years, thanks to the production of collagen. Regular maintenance every 1-2 years is recommended for best results.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF A PDO THREAD LIFT?
If a PDO thread lifting procedure isn’t done by a professional, it may result in thread protrusion and puckering of the skin. These happen when the PDO threads aren’t properly implanted. This is why we offer such an extensive training program for our practitioners.
HOW MUCH DOES A PDO THREAD LIFT COST?
Pricing for a PDO Thread Lift varies based on the areas treated due to the type and amount of threads needed. The cost can be determined after a consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists.
Our board-certified dermatologists are highly trained in the use of PDO threads and are pleased to offer the PDO Thread Lift to our patients. To learn what this treatment might do for you, please schedule an appointment online or call us at 301-810- 3600.