PDO Threadlift: Your Questions Answered
PDO threads have become a popular aesthetic treatment for those searching for a natural ‘tweakment’ that effectively addresses signs of ageing. Though it’s perhaps lesser known, a thread lift treatment can achieve more dramatic results than fillers or botulinum toxin alone, with combinations of all three treatments used to achieve fantastic results.
In this blog post, we’ve answered commonly asked questions about PDO thread lifts to help you decide whether it’s the right treatment for you, and embark on the journey to feeling confident in your own skin…
What challenges can a PDO thread lift help you overcome?
PDO threads are becoming increasingly popular due to the broad number of concerns they can effectively alleviate. Threads can be applied to a number of different areas in the face and neck to help tackle signs of ageing and create a more plump and youthful appearance overall.
The different areas include:
PDO brow lift - threads in the brow area can benefit saggy brows, heavy eyelids and in some cases, improve forehead lines.
PDO cheek lift - this is a common problem area due to volume loss and gravity. A PDO cheek lift can reverse sagging, stimulate more tissue plumpness and rejuvenate the face for a more youthful appearance.
PDO cheek and jowl lift - this combines the benefit of a PDO cheek lift with additional threads to the jowls. Jowls are exceptionally hard to address with other injectable aesthetics treatments so a thread lift can be a very effective method if this area is a concern
While the lifting effect of the treated areas can be immediately visible following treatment, collagen stimulation is a slower process which can take several months to achieve - although these results can last for up to 18 months.
What is a PDO thread lift and how does it work?
PDO thread lifting is a state-of-the-art treatment that creates instant lifting and tightening of the skin. Long term, thread lifting increases collagen production and blood supply to the skin, which improves skin elasticity, plumpness and creates a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance.
The two main types of threads are made of either Poly L lactic acid (PLA) or polydioxanone (PDO). Both have collagen stimulating properties and dissolve over time to leave tighter ‘repair’ tissue to prolong the result. The threads are either smooth (monos) for improving skin texture or consist of barbs, cogs, anchors or screws to successfully reposition the tissue and enhance the results.
Are PDO thread lifts better than a face lift?
Although both treatments aim to lift and tighten facial tissue, thread lift treatments offer a number of benefits over the more commonly known face lift. Opting for a face lift means undergoing an invasive surgical procedure with permanent results - which means there are more risks involved, a longer recovery time and a higher price tag.
PDO thread lifts, on the other hand, offer a much less invasive alternative to a face lift, allowing you to tackle signs of ageing and feel more confident in your own skin, with a lower level of expense and risk involved.
Not only that, a PDO thread lift can be performed in under 45 minutes with fairly minimal downtime after your treatment. This means you don’t have to worry about going under general anaesthetic for surgery and the lengthy recovery time that follows, but instead get back to life as you know it almost immediately and take pride in your new enhancement.
There are limitations however to what a thread lift can achieve so we recommend a thorough consultation in the first instance.
Will a PDO thread lift completely change my face or look unnatural?
Since the results are not as permanent as those of a surgical facelift, a PDO thread lift allows you to achieve a more natural enhancement of the face and neck, lifting the face by just a few millimetres to create a rejuvenated, youthful look that is still very much ‘you’.
By stimulating the ongoing production of collagen over time, you can benefit from a subtle yet effective lift of the skin when you opt for a PDO thread lift, without completely altering your appearance in one drastic step.
Who is a PDO thread lift best suited to?
As mentioned, PDO thread lifts are an effective treatment for tackling signs of ageing in the face and neck, creating a plump and rejuvenated appearance. With this in mind, the ideal candidate for a thread lift would be someone in their late thirties to early fifties who have experienced early signs of facial ageing, such as a loss of volume and elasticity in their skin, and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Although results will be more profound in this age bracket, PDO thread lifts can also be an effective treatment to surgery for those over the age of 55, who either don’t want to undergo surgery or can’t because of age-related conditions such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
What happens at a PDO thread lift treatment?
At your treatment, a nurse practitioner will place the desired number of threads to the face and neck - which may range from a single thread per side to 50 threads or more - and entry points will depend on your face shape and requirements.
To make the procedure as pain free as possible, the nurse practitioner will apply local anaesthetic for your comfort. The threads are then introduced with a needle or a blunt ended cannula which is removed once the threads have been positioned.
If your treatment involves repositioning the skin, the ends of the threads will protrude after insertion but will be trimmed to below the level of the skin once the desired lift has been achieved.
Ready to begin your journey in feeling more confident within your skin? Find out more about our PDO thread lift treatment and book a consultation with our expert practitioners below…