Has your skin been feeling a little dim or saggy lately? If yes, you must be looking for ways to correct hyperpigmentation, lines, and wrinkles. Well, the solution to all these problems is PDO thread lift. Multiple studies suggest that this treatment helps produce new collagen in the skin, which intensifies the skin’s flexibility and improves the appearance of creases and wrinkles. To know more about the benefits of PDO thread lifts, read this article till the end.
What is PDO thread lift?
Polydioxanone (PDO) threads are excellent, FDA-approved threads made up of protein. Various researches have demonstrated that PDO relaxes tendons and muscles while causing the skin to produce more collagen. Thread lifts offer a modern, non-surgical facelift procedure that uses dissolvable sutures to strengthen and uplift sagging skin.
Types of PDO threads
There are mainly two types of PDO fibers that are floating non-barbed threads and floating barbed strands. Non-barbed ones are classified further into mono-filament or braided. Likewise, barbed ones can be unilateral, bilateral, uni-directional, bi-directional, z-directional, and molding barbs. Depending on your skin type, goals, and needs, your healthcare provider will choose the one best suited for your treatment. Generally, the thickness and length of the threads applied determines the overall quality and cost of the process.
How do PDO threads build collagen in the skin and its benefits?
No incisions need to made in this method, as the threads remain under your skin until they eventually dissolve. They stimulate the collagen-producing cells to secrete more collagen and elastin gradually. Some significant benefits of collagen for skin are listed below.
- It prevents the sagging of skin by reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
- It helps in preventing dryness of skin by hydrating it.
- It helps boost skin elasticity causing the skin to tighten.
- In some cases, collagen helps in fighting against acne and blemishes as well.
- Collagen helps the skin cells regenerate and rebuild themselves.
The procedure of PDO thread facelift
As a person grows older, skin and tissues naturally lose flexibility, leading to sagging and creases. A PDO thread lift, is a medical procedure that boosts and tightens these tissues. Threads used in this differ depending on your wanted results. The general idea for the process is listed down below.
- Your healthcare professional will guide you about its benefits and risks and then take your consent to carry on with the procedure.
- It’s a pain-free treatment as no cuts or incisions are required.
- It starts by numbing the treatment site using local anesthesia, thus ensuring that the process is pain-free.
- After applying lidocaine injections to the entry points, insertion of PDO threads by a cannula takes place into different layers of your skin.
- Lastly, the leftover threads need to be removed.
The PDO thread facelift treatment results in an instant enhancement in the appearance of the face, but the results will improve over/weeks as the PDO stimulates the production of new collagen over time.
How long does PDO thread lift treatment take?
An advantage of PDO thread treatment is that it’s very time-effective, as it only takes about 15-30 minutes. Although the time varies on the client-to-client basis, most treatments take a maximum of 30 minutes. After the procedure, a person is free to go and do their daily activities as no post-treatment recovery is required. However, aftercare is important such as no exposure to sun, no physical activity, no applying of makeup, no scrubbing of treated area, etc.
How long does it last?
If you’re thinking of investing in this procedure, then a question like “How long does PDO thread lift last?” might cross your brain. Well, due to the usage of dissolvable and biodegradable threads, the results are not permanent. Depending on each body’s ability to metabolize the strings, they remain for approximately six to eight months. It might be necessary to receive maintenance treatments after a while.
Time required for results to show up
If you’ve recently gotten this treatment or are thinking of getting one, then a question like “When do PDO threads start working?” might occur to you. The answer to this is that the patient will notice the outcomes within two weeks as collagen synthesis begins. However, the full results start to appear within two to three months following the initial treatment.
Amount of threads required?
A very frequently asked question by the clients is that “How many PDO threads do I need?” Well, the answer to this is that it depends from person to person. Once your healthcare practitioner accesses your case, they will guide you about the number of threads used. In most cases, there is a usage of two to twenty strands in total and four to eight on each side.
Areas treated
One enormous benefit of this method is that it allows the treatment of multiple areas of your body. This reliable, versatile, durable rejuvenation approach can deal with the domains listed below.
Chin and double chin
These medically approved threads support lifting and tightening skin tissues by producing collagen. Stimulation of tissue contraction under the skin reduces the effects of extra fat under the chin. Moreover, thread lifts give a suggestive but evident improvement in skin laxity that produces immediate outcomes with short downtime. Hence, PDO threads for chin and double chin provide an effective treatment.
Lips
PDO threads for lips give a non-surgical option to even out the fine lines and wrinkles surrounding your mouth. Unlike lip fillers that add volume to your lips, lip threading enhances the curvature of your lips, giving a fuller and fresh look. Also, the lip threads dissolve after around six months, and the results last up to three years. Moreover, this method provides the person with a less painful and uncomfortable approach.
Acne scars
PDO threads for acne scars are a highly preferred option for people suffering from this issue. By placing the threads beneath and around the marks, collagen and elastin synthesis takes place. This method helps in evening out the skin texture and getting rid of any lines and blemishes. As compared to facelift surgery, this non-invasive procedure is a better approach.
Cheeks
PDO Threads generate collagen under the skin to contract, producing natural lift and stretching along the jawline and throughout the cheeks. These threads anchor into several layers of the skin via needles, instantly uplifting and tightening drooping skin.
Jowls
The term jowls refers to the sagging skin under the chin or jawline that people develop over time with increasing age. These threads can help in producing a subtle but evident lift in those areas. Hence, this gives a person more youthful-looking skin.
Under-eye area
PDO threads cause the area under the eyes to be lifted and tightened, causing the face to look young and stress-free.
Expected results after the PDO thread lift treatment
In most cases, within two months, the outcomes begin to appear. Some of the PDO thread results are listed below, which you can expect out of this procedure.
- You will look immediately younger after this as the threads tighten and lift your sagging skin.
- Sunken cheeks appear to be plumper and fuller.
- There is a significant decrease in wrinkles and fine lines due to the synthesis of collagen and elastin.
- There is an evident decrease in the double chin, and the jawline becomes more prominent.
- A notable improvement in skin tone, texture, and overall condition takes place.
- After the treatment, there is a vital improvement in the appearance of acne scars and blemishes.
- You will notice an enhanced curvature of your lips, giving them a lifted look.
- Recreation of the borders of lips takes place, causing them to look plumper.
- This treatment results in an increased volume to your facial areas that were previously sagged.
- Overall, the skin looks fresh, youthful, and firmer.
Benefits of PDO thread lift treatment
The multiple vital benefits of this approach are listed below.
Non-invasive
Unlike facelift surgery, this method is non-invasive. During this process, the patient hardly feels any pain as the making of incisions does not occur. Also, insertion of threads occurs in the external layers of the skin as nerve endings are left untouched. Hence, this causes the treatment to be pain-free. Furthermore, after the procedure, no signs of inflammation, redness, or swelling take place.
Quick results
This treatment allows instant results within weeks, which improve with time over a couple of months. Whereas facelift surgery leads to inflammation, causing a delay in results.
Safe to use
PDO threads are a decade-old treatment that has safety track record in heart surgery and wound closure. They also gained FDA approval. Hence, they do not possess health hazards.
Uplifting of skin
You will look younger and fresher immediately after the PDO thread lift due to the tightening of sagging skin. The threads cause the secretion of collagen and elastin that hydrate and tighten the skin.
Cost-effective
The cost of PDO thread lift procedure will depend on numerous factors, including the areas you want to treat, the amount and nature of threads used, whether you get a local anesthetic or not, your desired results, etc. However, this treatment is more affordable than other alternatives such as facelift surgery and chin augmentation.
Can be customized
As stated earlier, PDO threads come in multiple shapes, sizes, thicknesses, lengths, and forms. Hence, each individual can get treatment according to their aesthetic, needs, goals, skin type, and skin conditions. For example, carrying drooping skin around the neck takes place by thicker threads. Whereas thinner threads aid in providing volume to cheeks.
Combination with other treatments
Unlike most of the other approaches, PDO thread uplift possesses a complementary nature. Hence, even if you are receiving other skin treatments, this one can complement it.
Lesser risks and side effects
Compared to facelift surgeries, PDO thread lift strategy has much less risk of bruising, scarring, inflammation, and swelling. Minor complications can occur in some rare cases, but they are easily solvable. Furthermore, due to lesser side effects, hardly any post-operational care is needed.
Potential hazards of this treatment
Although the risks associated with this are less frequent, they do occur at times. PDO thread’s side effects are listed below.
- The sutures might be visible, especially in people with thin skin.
- Some patients might experience a little discomfort or irritation.
- Minor bruising can occur.
- In some rare cases, accumulation of blood and inflammation can take place.
- In some exceptional cases, an allergic reaction can occur that can cause stinging or redness.
However, despite a few potential risks, PDO threads go wrong in very few unique cases. Hence, before the process, your practioner will take your medical history and plan the treatment accordingly. This process may not be suitable in the circumstances listed below.
- If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, this might not be a good option for you.
- If you’re suffering from an autoimmune disorder like diabetes, PDO thread uplift is not for you.
- Doctors usually do not prescribe this process if you have taken anticoagulation medications such as aspirin/warfarin/heparin or within 48 hours of treatment.
Who is a good candidate for this procedure?
In general, men and women aged 30-65 years and possess light to medium sagginess, wrinkles, and lines in the forehead, face, neck, under-eyes, or jowls are typically great candidates. Suitable people have skin that is not very heavy or too thin in texture, is not extensively damaged, has minimum sun exposure, and possesses no open wounds. The perfect candidate for this approach also has sensible expectations regarding the outcomes. They understand that the results are quick and will develop over time but will not be permanent and will not transform the person into someone else.
How can you extend the durability of this process?
Realistically, you cannot control how fast your body will absorb the threads. Although, various determinants might increase the longevity of the treatment, such as not smoking, drinking in moderation, and wearing sunscreen.
Conclusion
PDO thread lift provides people with a highly safe, non-invasive, cost-effective, and customizable treatment. Hence, if you’re suffering from dull skin, uneven skin tone, wrinkles, fine lines, drooping cheeks, then this procedure is the best option for your problems. You deserve a little time out of your hectic schedule for some self-care, so get your hands on this treatment to give your skin the love it deserves!