As we age, gravity takes its toll on our faces. Skin begins to sag, jowls form, and we lose facial volume, leading to that tired, worn-out look. While a traditional facelift can produce dramatic results, it also requires going under the knife. For those seeking a less invasive way to regain a youthful visage, a PDO thread lift offers a safe alternative.
What’s a PDO Thread Lift?
A PDO (polydioxanone) thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure that uses dissolvable sutures to lift and tighten sagging skin on the face and neck. PDO threads have tiny barbs or cones along them that act as hooks to grasp sagging skin when inserted under the surface.
As new collagen forms around the threads, a support structure emerges that provides a subtle lift. Threads are completely absorbed by the body over time.
Benefits of a PDO Lift Over a Surgical Facelift
While a surgical facelift remains the gold standard for correcting severe sagging, a PDO thread lift offers several advantages.
- It’s minimally invasive with little downtime. The procedure requires only small injections under local anesthesia. There are no cuts, and most patients return to normal activities within a day or two. A facelift requires general anesthesia, incisions, and a recovery period of two weeks or more.
- Natural, subtle results. Since threads work by stimulating your body’s own collagen, results appear gradual and natural. A surgical facelift can sometimes cause an overly tight or “wind tunnel” effect.
- Lower cost. PDO thread lifts also range from $1,500 to $4,000, compared to $15,000 or more for a facelift. While results may not last as long, threads can be redone at a lower cumulative cost.
- Fewer risks and complications. With no cuts or anesthesia required, thread lifts involve far less risk of infection, nerve damage, and scarring than invasive surgery.
- Avoids general anesthesia. The minimal anesthesia used in a PDO lift eliminates the risks associated with being put to sleep during a facelift.
Why PDO Thread Lifts Are Considered Safe
PDO thread lifts pose very few risks when performed by an experienced provider. Side effects are typically mild, like temporary swelling, numbness, and discomfort. Serious complications are rare but can include infection and visible lumps under the skin from misplaced threads.
Choosing an experienced injector is key to minimizing risks. Let’s see how PDO thread lifts safely to correct sagging skin.
- Precise placement of threads. An expert provider carefully maps the surgical plan to safely target just the right areas using the right types of threads.
- Avoiding nerves and vessels. Ultrasound guidance enables the injector to visualize and avoid blood vessels, nerves, and muscles for optimum safety.
- Use of dissolvable PDO threads. PDO threads are made of glycolic acid and lactic acid, which are naturally absorbed by the body over 4 to 6 months on average.
- Stimulating natural collagen. Results come from your body producing new collagen fibers around the microscopic injuries caused by inserting the threads. This stimulates firmer, lifted skin.
Over time, minimal scarring where threads were inserted fades until almost invisible.
While not a replacement for surgery in cases of severe sagging, PDO thread lifts offer a safer, nonsurgical route to refreshing one’s appearance. With an experienced provider, minimal side effects, and quick recovery, thread lifts present an effective way to lift sagging cheeks, jowls and brows without going under the knife.