What Are They and What Do They Do?

One of the main questions our patients ask us about and seek treatment for is skin laxity – or sagging skin. Innovative advances in medicine have fashioned a nonsurgical method to lift the skin, giving traditional facelifts a run for their money. So, what exactly are PDO threads and what do they do?

Thread lifting has been on the market for quite some time now. When first appearing on the market, threads were permanent, non-absorbable and were eventually pulled by the FDA due to many complications and side effects. Since then, a more versatile suture has been brought to the market. These new PDO threads are a great way to tighten sagging skin, reduce wrinkling, are semi-permanent, and are absorbed into the skin, generating new collagen. Here at Allure Aesthetic Center we use NovaThreads which are approved by the FDA and are made in America. These threads are made up of polydioxanone (PDO) which is the same material that is used in cardiac surgeries, proving to be very safe and reliable.

There are different types of threads for different lifting and skin tightening procedures. Smooth PDO threads, as the name implies, are smooth in appearance with no texture and can be used to tighten and repair skin texture. Barbed PDO threads are what we mainly use here at Allure Aesthetic Center and are threads that are textured with small barbs that help grab hold of the skin, producing a lifting and tightening effect.

Once the threads have been introduced into the skin they produce 3 effects in the skin:

The effects from a threading procedure are visible immediately and improve over several months. As the thread dissolves over time, new collagen is formed resulting in improved appearance. Although threads are not permanent, these results can last for up to two years. Downtime is minimal with PDO threads and results can be enhanced when combined with other volumizing procedures such as fillers.