Thread lifts have become a minimally invasive alternative to the facelift for patients who are not ready to undergo more aggressive treatment options. Although the effects from a thread lift will be temporary and not as dramatic as a facelift, improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles can be seen gradually as the procedure stimulates natural collagen production.
PDO sutures are a type of material used for thread lifts. PDO, which stands for polydioxanone, is an absorbable polymer that is flexible and durable for minimally invasive thread lifts. Depending upon your aesthetic goals and evaluation, a treatment plan will be customized specifically to address your concerns.
What to Expect During Treatment
Before treatment, your skin will be marked for insertion and direction of the inserted threads. Once marked, the insertion points will be anesthetized. Multiple threads can be inserted through the same point in the skin. PDO threads are attached to a long cannula. The cannula will be pushed through the tissue beneath the skin. When the thread has reached its predetermined end point, the thread will be released and the cannula removed. Once inserted into the appropriate layer of skin, the sutures act as anchors as the skin is lifted upwards. This process will be repeated until the desired lift has been achieved. Any extra thread will be trimmed. The threads will be massaged to ensure the tissue is smooth and no dimpling is present.
There are three actions the insertion of these sutures achieves. First, it mechanically results in instant skin lifting. Second, it contracts fat tissue to result in instant skin tightening. Third, it promotes collagen production and neovascularisation to renew your skin at the cellular level. All of this works together to give you enhanced skin texture, fewer fine lines and wrinkles and more elastic skin.
One of the best things about this treatment is it only takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on your treatment protocol. After that, you’re free to go back to work or whatever else you had scheduled for the rest of your day. You may experience some swelling or bruising in the areas, but recovery is minimal for most patients.
Before treatment starts, we will apply a topical numbing agent and/or a local anesthetic to the treatment site. The needle used during this treatment is so fine it will not cause any pain. However, we provide anesthesia to ensure you feel no discomfort during the treatment.
This treatment is completely safe. It is approved by the FDA for safety and efficacy. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of treatments have been performed and there are no reports of allergic reactions, sensitivities to the threads, or serious side effects or risks.
Since PDO thread lifts are non-invasive, there isn’t a lot you need to do to prepare. However, there are some precautionary measures you can take to ensure the best results from your treatment. Here are things you should avoid 3 to 7 days before treatment::
-Aspirin, Alcohol, Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), Blood-thinners, Steroids, Vitamin E, Ginseng, Garlic, Ginko, Omega Fish Oil Supplements or Neuromuscular blockers (these should be avoided for a few days post treatment as well)
After Care & Results
There are not a lot of special after-care requirements to this treatment. However, you should hold off on any dental treatments for the first two weeks after your PDO thread lift. Holding your mouth open for an excessive period of time can affect the results of your treatment. Moreover, you’ll want to sleep on your back for the first couple of weeks. This ensures you don’t put too much pressure on one side of your face. And you should avoid high-intensity workouts and steam rooms and saunas for 2 to 3 days after your procedure.
Because a PDO thread lift is so versatile, it can treat virtually any area of the face. These include the:
+ Neck
+ Jowls
+ Jaw line
+ Nasolabial folds
+ Crow’s feet
+ Undereye area
+ Eyebrows
+ Cheeks
+ Marionette lines
+ Any “Crepey” Skin on the Face
The cheeks and the lower face/neck region are the most commonly treated. The cheeks and lower face are great regions to treat because they lend themselves so well to synergistic skin lifting treatments with various laser therapy treatments. Other areas of the body can be treated as well such as knees, elbows, abdomen, breasts, thighs, buttocks, and arms
How long the PDO threads last depends on a number of factors, including the thickness of the threads, the quality of the threads and your body’s rate of metabolism. However, most patients find that the threads have dissolved within nine months
Some results of the treatment, such as skin lifting and some of the contouring effects, are visible immediately after treatment. In fact, your skin may look tighter when you walk out of our office than it will a week later. Full and final results of the treatment should be seen within 1-2 months.
If you’re looking to correct lines, wrinkles, gaunt facial features or skin laxity of the face, you are a good candidate for a PDO thread lift. You are a particularly good candidate for this treatment if you want an instant facial lift but don’t have the time commitment or financial commitment that a traditional facelift requires.
In summary, the PDO thread lift is a game changer in the aesthetic world. By lifting the skin, tightening the skin, and causing cellular rejuvenation, these threads reposition facial and neck tissue to restore and rejuvenate youthful proportions and appearances to the face. Bring on the fountain of youth!!!!
*Individual Results May Vary
Serendipity Medical Spa 23 Main Street, Suite #102 (Palmetto Office Suites) Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Main Office : 843.342.2639 | Fax : 843.342.2609
