For most people, one of their beauty goals is to maintain youthful looking skin with minimal wrinkles, tighter skin, and defining features. A skin care routine may be helpful in reducing the progression of wrinkles, but there are little-to-no skin care products that can diminish the inevitable effects of aging skin. Such effects of aging include fine lines, volume loss, or sagging skin.
In more youthful skin, there is an abundance of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. These vital proteins support the skin structure and elasticity, resulting in a more firm and youthful appearance. As age progresses, the amount of proteins in the skin begins to decline because it takes a longer time for the body to produce these essential components, ultimately leading to sagging skin.
Greater skin laxity, or more saggy skin, is demonstrated by more noticeable features such as nasolabial folds, prominent jowls, hollows under the eyes, and more. As the face ages, the skin begins to deteriorate, deflate, and descend. Prevention is the best way to maintain your skin’s firmness and elasticity.
MATERIALS
One way to minimize sagging skin is through PDO threads. PDO stands for polydioxanone, which is a synthetic polymer that degrades through hydrolysis. Once dissolved in the skin after about 4-6 months, excess material is excreted in the urine or exhaled as CO2. The absorbable surgical suture is proven to be one of the safest materials to be implanted in the body and triggers a bodily response to produce more collagen. With an increase in collagen, the skin increases its elasticity, resulting in more firm and defining features.
TYPES OF THREADS
Different types of threads contribute to various outcomes. Smooth threads generate collagen and elastin to improve fine lines and texture. Cannulated smooth threads target pigmentation and improve dark circles.
Mesh threads provide a volumizing and rejuvenating effect. This type of thread can be simultaneously used with dermal filler. The pre-cannulated mesh fill is attached to the end of a filler syringe and, once inserted, the meshwork is left behind, encased in filler material. Through this process, the filler lasts longer and prevents the filler from migrating to other areas.
PROCEDURE
Before the procedure, topical numbing cream is applied to the face and the patient is instructed to wait 30-45 minutes for the numbing cream to take effect. Once numbed, local anesthetic is gently injected into entry points for the threads. Using a blunt cannula, the PDO threads are introduced to the skin through the entry point. The blunt cannula is carefully removed while the thread remains in the skin. Multiple threads can be inserted at the same point of entry, which are then tied together and cut. Once tied, the skin appears to be more lifted and skin laxity is reduced. The duration of the procedure typically takes about 30 minutes and results are visibly noticeable immediately. Optimal results are typically seen after two weeks. There is a quick recovery time with mild side effects, so everyday activities can be resumed in a couple of days. Great results can also be achieved by combining PDO threads with dermal fillers or neuro-modulators.
Who can benefit
Patients with a more hollowed face, looking to increase face volume can use fillers to create a more voluminous face. Other patients with more skin laxity can use PDO threads to lift, contour, and reshape to face to gain more defining features.
Benefits
PDO threads effectively improve the quality of the skin, redefine the contour of the face, reduce roundness, reduce wrinkles, lift sagging skin in the cheeks, jowls and neck, enhance the volume of the lips, and stimulate collagen production. PDO threads offer a great alternative to a surgical facelift by repositioning sagging skin for a refreshed and youthful rejuvenation.
The thread lift procedure has a primary benefit of lifting the face with other advantages including:
- lifting the upper eyes and nose
- reducing fine lines and bags under the eyes
- sharpening and defining the jawline
- softening smile lines
- defining cheekbones
- reduce fine lines on the cheeks & chin
- double chin reduction
- reduce wrinkles of neck and skin laxity
Results
- nasolabial fold depth reduction
- Results can last for up to one year
- Lower cost than surgery
- Procedure takes on hour to complete
- Minimal scarring left from nonsurgical method
- Short downtime so daily life can be resumed
- Results from barbed threads are immediate
- PDO stimulates collagen production over time
- Can be combined with other treatments
Before and After Pictures
Areas of Treatment
Forehead (brow lift), upper and lower cheeks, nasolabial folds, smoker’s lines, lips, marionette lines, jawline, neck, arms, décolleté, abdomen, buttocks, thigh, nose, eyes
Nose Lift
Nose thread lifts with PDO threads can help you attain a higher, straighter, and better-defined nose. These aesthetic changes to the nose are possible without the need for surgery, implants, or dermal fillers. This is a quick and simple nonsurgical procedure with minimal downtime and beautiful results.
PDO threads help redefine facial contours and induce collagen production. Stimulation reaches full effect about 3 months after treatment, once collagen has naturally formed around the thread. A recent study by The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery showed that the thread is safely absorbed within 4-6 months, and by month 7, the collagen present in the treated area increases by 100%. Results may last between 8 and 14 months.
If you have any questions about this treatment, or want to schedule an appointment, call our office at (855) 611-9116 or e-mail us at info@sleep-wellness.org.
References
- Thread Lift (PDO Threads). Amoderm. (n.d.). Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://www.amoderm.com/cosmedical-services/thread-lift/
- Yetman, D. (2021, February 18). PDO thread lift procedure, benefits, and side effects. Healthline. Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/pdo-thread-lift#benefits-of-pdo-threads
