WHAT IS A THREAD LIFT?
Most thread lifting procedures today are non-invasive. While there are many different types of thread lifts, the PDO thread lift is amongst the most popular today. The threads are made in South Korea, and is one of the most commonly performed skin lifting procedures today.
What is a PDO Thread Lift?
The PDO Thread Lift is a treatment which lifts and tightens sagging skin tissue, using threads made of Polydioxanone (PDO). The threads introduces them into the deeper layers of the skin. Once introduced, the threads produce 3 effects in the skin:
• Instant Skin Lifting through mechanical effects
• Cellular Renewal, through Collagen stimulation, and neovascularisation to improve skin texture, fine lines and elasticity
• Skin Tightening, by contracting fat tissue.
About 6 months after the procedure, the PDO threads will disappear through simple hydrolysis (they are absorbable). The lifted facial contours will remain for about 3-6 months more, due to the cellular rejuvenation effects. Your skin cells are stimulated to produce new collagen, and new blood vessels to improve skin microcirculation. At the same time, the PDO threads cause the fat tissue to contract, producing a skin tightening and facial slimming effect.
A PDO Thread Liftis a minimally invasive procedure. After numbing the treatment area PDO threads are inserted via blunt tip needles (called cannulas) into different layers of the skin. Once inserted, the threads anchor the skin and lift it upwards. The excess threads are then cut off.
Depending on the areas treated, the procedure takes 15-30 minutes.
PDO threads can be used for lifting, rejuvenation (improving skin texture and wrinkles), volumising, and even reducing fat.
Are There Different Types of PDO Threads?
PDO threads come in different thickness and length. This will affect their quality, effectiveness, and of course, the price of your treatment.
Your practitioner may choose to use different threads for you, depending on your skin lifting and rejuvenation needs.
Mono threads are smooth threads without barbs. This thread type is usually placed into the face in a mesh-like fashion for skin tightening effect. Skin tightening usually improves after collagen starts forming around the threads. The treatment areas are normally neck lines or sagginess, forehead and under eyes. Between 10 to 20 mono threads are usually inserted for each treatment area. In order to sustain a lift, the threads are attached to an “anchoring point” on the scalp or face. Mono threads tighten the skin but without significant lifting; therefore they have to be used with cog threads for an overall improvement in face tightening and rejuvenation.
Cog threads are essentially mono threads with barbs to hook to the underside of the skin. The barbs form a support structure that lifts the sagging tissue. Unlike mono threads, cog threads do not need anchoring points. Collagen formation can also occur around the threads and their barbs. Cog threads are most effective for jawline lifting and slimming.This treatment is surprisingly safe.
Screw threads can come in the form of one or two threads intertwined together around the inserting needle. Screw thread has the effect of giving volume on a sunken area of the skin. “Multi Screw” – when intertwining two threads are used – has a stronger effect than just screw thread. Screw threads are often used for general face lifting and volumizing.
What Areas Can Be Treated with PDO Thread Lift?
The PDO thread lift is very versatile, allowing practically all areas of the face to be treated, including the:
• Under eye area
• Eyebrows
• Crow’s feet (wrinkles around eyes)
• Cheeks
• Nasolabial folds
• Naso jugal folds
• Wrinkles around mouth
• Jaw line
• Jowls
• Neck
After Care
Most people are able to continue with normal activities with immediate improvement in their appearance. Some will have a little redness, pin prick marks, and some degree of swelling, possibly indentations at the insertion or exit points and a little tenderness. The immediate side effects are expected to settle within 2 weeks.
It is generally advised to:
◦ Try to sleep on your back for 5 nights
◦ Make-up should not be worn for 12 hours
◦ No facials or facial massage for 10 days
◦ To attend a review appointment
◦ Avoid alcohol, vigorous exercise, sun bathing, and extremes of heat or cold for 14 days post treatment. These activities have been found to increase and prolong swelling.
◦ Swelling may worsen in the first 24 hours, and then will settle. Cold packs can be helpful in reducing swelling.
◦ Bruising may take a few days to appear, arnica can be helpful in clearing bruising. It is advisable to avoid aspirin and alcohol for 12-48 hours after treatment.
◦ Tenderness will settle as swelling goes down.
What Results Can You Expect After a Treatment? How Long Do They Last?
Your skin is immediately lifted after a procedure, as the threads provide support to lift skin in its new position. You may look slightly tighter than the final result, but in about a week, you will begin to look much more natural.
The rejuvenative effects kick in after 1 to 2 months – you will notice better skin texture, firmer and smoother skin. Your practitioner may concentrate more on either skin rejuvenation, or skin lifting during your procedure. Depending on the technique and which is used, the results will vary from person to person.
Approximately 6 months after the treatment the threads will have dissolved, but the results will still continue for many more months. By repeating the treatment 6-9 months after the first procedure it will allow for a long lasting result of up to 3 years.