PDO Threads: The Secret to Lifting Sagging Skin Without Surgery

For many years, face-lift surgery was the only choice for addressing sagging skin like jowls or drooping cheeks. That’s mainly because lax skin doesn’t respond well to firming treatments. Skin that’s stretched out often has a hard time snapping back, especially as you get older. 

But what if you don’t have the means or desire to undergo a full-on surgical procedure? That’s where polydioxanone (PDO) thread lifts enter the picture. A PDO thread lift gives the appearance of a face-lift but only takes about 45 minutes and requires no downtime. 

At Enrich Health and Wellness in Boerne, Texas, Maria Cole, APRN, FNP-C, and the rest of our team are passionate about helping you feel your best. PDO thread lifts are just one of the ways we can rejuvenate your appearance and boost your self-confidence.

Here’s what you need to know about this innovative cosmetic treatment.

Understanding PDO thread lifts

A thread lift is a cosmetic procedure that uses dissolvable stitches (sutures) to give your face a visible skin lift. It gives you the look of a face-lift; however, instead of removing the loose skin, we simply suspend it with the stitches. 

Not only does the stitching give you a more youthful look, but the procedure also triggers a healing response from your body, which produces more collagen. The more collagen your body produces, the more supple and full your skin looks.

A PDO thread lift is a specific type of thread lift, getting its name from the stitches used. There are three types of PDO threads:

• PDO mono: smooth sutures that rejuvenate skin through collagen production
• PDO cog: threads with barbs that support and lift sagging areas

• PDO screw: intertwined threads that add volume in sunken areas

The kind we use depends on your aesthetic needs. 

What can a PDO thread lift address?

There aren’t many things a PDO thread lift can’t address. Popular areas tending to age quickly that we treat at Enrich Health and Wellness include cheeks, jaw, neck, and eyes. 

Since a PDO thread lift isn’t a major surgery and won’t give you drastic results like a face-lift, you can combine your thread lift with other treatments such as Botox® or dermal fillers. 

What to expect from a PDO thread lift

When you come in for a PDO thread lift consultation, our team assesses your skin and asks about your goals before determining if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. 

Starting about five days before your procedure, make sure you avoid alcohol, tobacco products, aspirin, green tea, and omega-3 fatty acids. These can increase your risk of swelling afterward. 

On the day of your PDO thread lift, after you’re seated in a reclining chair, we disinfect the treatment area and apply a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable. We then use a thin needle called a cannula to insert the threads underneath your skin at the treatment site. 

Recovery from a PDO thread lift should be quick with only minimal swelling and bruising around the treatment area. Avoid washing your face for about a day, and don’t wear makeup or moisturizers for a couple of days afterward. 

If you’d like to learn more about PDO thread lifts or one of our many other cosmetic treatments, call our office or schedule an appointment online today.