PDO Threads
What is PDO Threading?
PDO threads are made of absorbable polydioxanone (PDO) and are used for an FDA-approved minimally invasive anti-aging treatment that lifts and tightens your skin. These threads, once placed into your skin, dissolve within weeks to months, depending on the skin type and condition being treated. Depending on your skin type, how much lift you need, and your overall cosmetic goals, your physician may choose threads of varying thickness, length, and shape. A PDO thread lift is not as invasive as surgery and is performed in the office, sometimes on the same day as a consultation. The threads, once placed into the skin, promote collagen growth in the area of injury, that continues over months. Collagen is a protein that adds elasticity and strength to the skin, providing support for sagging skin and volume for fine lines and wrinkles.
Skin and Aging
The natural process of aging leads to a reduced rate of collagen and elastin production in the skin. A lack of these essential proteins and fibers, in addition to gravity, leads to sagging skin and wrinkles.
Several environmental factors can be harmful for skin, speeding up the aging process. For your best results with any cosmetic procedure, we recommend the following lifestyle modifications:
1. Don’t smoke. Nicotine restricts oxygen flow to your skin, making it look older and more crepy.
2. Wear sunscreen. Sun damage can cause your skin to wrinkle faster.
3. Reduce or eliminate alcohol. Alcohol reduces blood flow to the skin, dehydrates the skin, and makes you look older than you are.
The Thread Lifting Procedure
PDO Threading procedures are one way to augment the aging process. One of the most popular ways to use PDO threads is for a non-surgical face or neck lift. With this procedure, initial results are immediately apparent, with improved tightness and firmness of skin. However, the collagen promotion continues for several months after the procedure, enhancing results over a period of 1-2 years. This procedure utilizes thicker threads can be used to lift and hold sagging skin around your neck, jowls, and cheeks.
This minimally invasive treatment starts with numbing the treatment site and injecting local anesthesia. This minimizes any discomfort during your treatment. The PDO threads may be inserted by either a blunt or sharp tip needles, known as cannulas. These cannulas are inserted into different layers of your skin and anchor the threads so your skin can be lifted upwards. Then, leftover threads outside of the skin are snipped off.
Depending on the area being treated, the procedure can take anywhere from 15-45 minutes. After that, you are free to go back to your daily routine. Downtime is minimal but can include mild swelling and bruising for a few days. Skin can feel tight (the goal) right after a treatment, and this feeling can last for a few weeks until threads begin to dissolve.
The Thread Volumizing Procedure
In contrast, relatively thin mono-threads are ideal for restoring volume to and rejuvenating the fine lines in the cheeks, forehead, chin, and around the mouth. The results for volumizing and rejuvenating treatments are not immediately apparent, but the promotion of collagen continues slowly over 1-2 years. PDO threading can be combined with other aesthetic treatments to offer you the best and even more immediate results. These therapies can include neuromodulators such as Botox to reduce dynamic wrinkle production, and hyaluronic acid fillers such as Juvederm, to volumize the cheeks or soften static lines and wrinkles.
What areas can be treated?
This long-lasting rejuvenation treatment can be used on the following areas:
Under-eye area
Forehead
Eyebrows
Cheeks
Crow’s feet
Nasolabial folds
Wrinkles around mouth
Neck
Jowls
Jaw Line
Hands
Cellulite
Results
The results from PDO thread treatments are longer-lasting than most aesthetic treatments, with an effect of increased collagen for up to two years. PDO threads are completely non-toxic and safely absorbed by your body unless you are allergic to blue dye. The best candidates are individuals between the ages of 30-65, concerned with mild-to-moderate skin sagging. Good candidates have skin that is not too heavy or too thin and those who have not previously had a facelift. Although some results are immediate, many take time while collagen growth is promoted. A typical result is a younger, healthier version of yourself without dramatically altering your appearance. Lifestyle choices also affect the durability of results.