PDO Threads
What is PDO Thread Lift? PDO thread lift is a minimally invasive alternative to a facelift and a more natural looking alternative to over-filling the face. This procedure can be done alone or in conjunction with Botox and dermal fillers.
Why Would I Need A Thread Lift?
As we get older, we experience volume loss in the face area due to collagen and elastin loss. Collagen is a protein that gives the skin its structure and elasticity. Loss of collagen is one of the main causes of aging skin. The older you are, the more your body will break down collagen at an increased rate and produce it at a lower rate compared to younger people. Studies have shown that this process starts as early as age 20 and contributes to aging signs like loose skin, sagging skin, a loss of volume, and wrinkles.
If you’re looking into aesthetic procedures or even surgery to help tighten sagging skin throughout your face, a PDO thread lift could be a great place to start as an alternative to plastic surgery. A PDO thread lift can treat most parts of your face that are experiencing signs of aging. The most popular areas we treat are around the cheeks, jaw, smile lines, marionette lines, and neck.
What Are PDO Threads?
PDO threads are biodegradable sutures made of polydioxanone (PDO), which can be injected into the skin in a specific area and pattern for skin tightening benefits. There are several types of PDO threads, including those with tiny barbs or multiple intertwined threads, that produce different results than so-called PDO mono threads, which are aimed at stimulating collagen production.
The PDO threads used at AustinMD are resorbable surgical sutures fully absorbed by the body in 4-6 months. Although not as dramatic as the results of a facelift, a thread lift is much less invasive and requires no downtime.
PDO Twist Threads
We offer two types of PDO threads at AustinMD: PDO smooth and PDO twist threads. Smooth and twist threads can both be used to smooth out lines that are etched in various regions of the face and neck, such as neck lines, forehead lines, frown lines, and more. They can also be used to form a base on which collagen grows in hard-to-treat areas such as under the chin, neck, chest, lower face, and more!
Twist threads are just what they sound like, twisted versions of PDO smooth threads. They require a more delicate technique when injecting them so as not to uncoil them, but the benefit of twisted threads is that they have a greater surface area to interact with the skin tissue more dramatically. During a consultation and examination at AustinMD, you’ll receive professional medical advice about which type of PDO thread or other medical procedure is best to help you achieve the tighter skin you’ve been looking for.
The PDO Lift Procedure
Your unique procedure will be different according to your current skin condition, age, desired results, and other factors. In general, you’ll be seated in a comfortable position and given a local anesthetic prior to injecting the threads. Then, our nurse injector will insert a cannula in the desired treatment area, through which the thread can be inserted. She will then hold the thread in place and pull the cannula out, making sure it’s secured in the right position before moving on to the next thread placement.
Thread Lift Side Effects
Immediately after your procedure, it’s not unusual to see redness, mild swelling, or bruising for the first day or two. Other than these symptoms, there’s no downtime or restrictions for your normal routine except the following:
- Avoid pressing or rubbing your face for a week
- Don’t make extreme facial expressions for about a week
- Avoid intense exercise and overly humid environments like saunas for up to two weeks
PDO Thread Lift Results
Our nurse injector, Cat, customizes treatments to each patient’s unique anatomy to achieve the desired results. The PDO thread lift technique produces immediate lifting and contouring results, while also stimulating long-term collagen and elastin production due to the presence of the threads in the tissue triggering cells called fibroblasts to produce more collagen.
The instant results of a PDO thread lift procedure continue to improve over months. The thread dissolves over time, leaving an intact fibrous collagen protein matrix that continues to lift sagging skin even after the thread has been absorbed by the body. People undergoing a thread lift can experience lifting, tightening, toning, smoothing, and plumping of the skin. Maintenance procedures are recommended every 18 months.
Our office is only 20 minutes southeast of Leander, and 30 minutes from North Austin. Schedule a consultation today.
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PDO Threads Before and After
What to Expect
With PDO Thread lifts, the results are immediate, and they improve as collagen production continues for months. Results last 15-18 months.
With Smooth and Twist threads most patients start to see results at 2 months out and full results at 6 months. Oftentimes 2-4 sessions are recommended for best results.
Am I a Candidate?
Call us at 512 593 5605 to schedule your free complimentary 15-minute consultation to see if PDO Thread Lift is right for you!
PDO Thread FAQ
Please review the frequently asked questions below. If you don’t find the answer to your question, feel free to contact our patient coordinator via email and set up a FREE discovery consultation.
Polydioxanone (PDO) threads are a medical grade, thinner than hair, thread made of a polymer protein. They are used as surgical suture threads in biomedical applications such as cardiothoracic surgery, because they dissolve, leaving no scars. The presence of the threads in the tissue triggers Fibroblast cells to produce more collagen and elastin.
They are made of colorless polyester that breaks down in the body after about six months, but in the meantime, it helps to regenerate collagen and elastin in the areas it’s inserted in.
The skin structure created by threads will hold for 12-15 months. It does take a keen eye to place these threads in the most suitable location for best results. Maintenance procedures are recommended every 15-18 months.
PDO Threads is the common name for this procedure. Sometimes these are referred to as the following.
- PDO Thread Lift
- PDO Thread Lifts
- How Nonsurgical Face-Lift
- How Nonsurgical Face-Lifts
- Polydioxanone thread
- Polydioxanone threads
- Threadlift
- Threadlifts
A thorough medical history will be reviewed at consultation to assure that you are a good candidate for this procedure.
Your medical files and treatments are held in the strictest of confidence; all correspondence is handled through our HIPPA secure patient portal.
We believe in bringing about improved wellness and teaching others about the importance of diet, exercise, hormones and stress relief on your internal and external wellbeing.
We do not accept any form of medical insurance or Medicare. We do encourage you to use your insurance for lab work, however some tests may not be covered. You may also use pre-tax dollars from a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Care Credit to pay for your consultations and supplements used for specific health problems.
A Health Savings Account (HSA) enables you to pay for medical expenses on a tax-free or pre-taxed basis. For more information and to see if you qualify, you will need to speak with your medical insurance provider.
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