PDO THREADING

PDO threads are made of polydioxanone, an ultra-thin medical-grade suture. The placement of the threads is customized to each individual’s skin type and goals to ensure optimal results.

Like fillers, lifting threads are placed under the skin through a small cannula, similar to other volumizing procedures. Collagen production begins once the threads are inserted, giving immediate results lasting up to 2 years.

PDO threads come in three different types:

• PDO mono threads – Best for rejuvenation and skin tightening, mono threads are smooth sutures that stimulate collagen production.
• PDO cog threads – Best for a moderate facelift, cog threads have barbs, like fishhooks, that latch onto your skin to provide more support and lift the face.
• PDO screw threads – Best for a moderate facelift, screw threads contain two intertwined threads that restore volume to sunken parts of the skin on your face.

A licensed aesthetician at The Lett Center will discuss whether a screw, mono, or cog thread lift is best for you.

PDO threading uses small biodegradable polyester sutures to lift and tighten the skin. The colorless polyester threads break down in your body after approximately six months, but their benefits last much longer. PDO threads trigger fibroblasts to produce more collagen in your skin. If you know anything about skincare, collagen is essential since it is the protein that gives structure and elasticity to your skin, keeping your look youthful.

You can treat many areas with PDO threads, and not just on your face. Although, people commonly request PDO threads for their necks or an eyebrow lift.

Other treatment locations include:

• Lip border
• Cheeks
• Jowls
• Upper neck
• Decolletage
• Upper arms
• Stomach
• Thighs
• Knees
• And even acne scars

A thread lift treatment only takes minutes with no scalpel or anesthesia. Before the procedure, your doctor or clinician will likely advise you to avoid alcohol, tobacco, certain OTC drugs, and specific herbs five days prior. You should avoid anything that may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, like:

• Advil or ibuprofen
• Aspirin
• Omega-3 fatty acids, like fish oil
• Green tea or green tea extracts

Your aesthetician should also communicate any potential complications and post-procedure care.

During the procedure, your provider will likely use a local anesthetic to numb the areas they will work on. Then, they will insert the threads into the skin via sterile needles called cannulas. The barbed threads grab the skin, and the provider pulls the threads to lift and tighten loose skin. The PDO threading procedure is quick and takes only 15 – 60 minutes.

Shortly after the procedure, you will be able to go home. You may feel the threads in your skin initially, but they eventually dissolve.

There is no downtime for a thread lift procedure, so it’s sometimes called “the lunchtime facelift.” However, the whole recovery period for PDO threads is two weeks. During this time, the first 24 to 72 hours will have the most side effects. You may experience swelling and soreness, possibly even bruising.
Taking preventive measures in the first few days after a thread lift is essential. Avoid making drastic facial expressions, drinking from straws, and sleeping on your side or belly. This will ensure the threads stay in place.
However, you can return to work and resume most of your daily activities immediately after PDO threading.

While PDO thread lifts are much safer than surgical facelifts, minor complications rarely occur. Though thankfully, these complications are easily corrected.

Possible complications:

• Visible sutures (threads)
• Pain
• Minor bruising
• Soreness
• Infection at the insertion site
• Blood pooling (hematoma)
• Threads snapping
• Inflammation or swelling
• Dimpling
• Skin puckering
• Hair loss
• Salivary gland injury

Visit a trusted and board-certified clinic to prevent complications and unwanted side effects like thread lift puckering. Contact us at The Lett Center to speak with a highly trained and skilled clinician.