Sagging skin, wrinkles, and fine lines can be concerns for many as they age and as their skin becomes thinner and less elastic. Seeking effective treatments that offer rejuvenation without surgical intervention can become a priority for those wanting to address these issues. PDO thread lifts can be one non-surgical option for enhancing the texture and appearance of face and neck tissues.
Serving Cape May Court House, NJ, and the surrounding areas, we are always looking for the least invasive and most effective ways to meet your aesthetic goals. At South Jersey Aesthetics, we leverage advanced techniques and prioritize client education and finding treatments that fit each person’s unique situation. When you contact us for a consultation, we can determine whether a PDO thread lift might be a good fit for you.
What Is a PDO Thread Lift?
A PDO thread lift is a non-surgical cosmetic technique designed to lift and tighten sagging skin tissues. Using biodegradable sutures made from polydioxanone (PDO), this treatment offers a less invasive way to rejuvenate the facial structure. The threads, once introduced beneath the skin, create a supportive meshwork, giving an immediate lifting effect with additional long-term benefits.
Polydioxanone is both more pliable and stronger than other monofilament sutures, meaning it can retain its strength for longer periods of time while dissolving. This combined flexibility and strength is important because it allows the material to conform to your natural contours while lasting long enough to stimulate various healing processes. Read on for a more comprehensive breakdown of how this non-surgical facelift treatment improves skin elasticity, firmness, and more.
How Do PDO Threads Work?
When the PDO threads are inserted into the skin layers, they act as a framework that supports the lifting and tightening of the skin. As these threads gradually dissolve over several months, they stimulate the body’s natural healing process. This leads to increased collagen and elastin production, essential proteins for maintaining skin’s elasticity and firmness. As a result, not only do patients experience an immediate lift, but the skin also continues to improve in texture and tone in the following months.
What Type of Thread Lifts Do We Offer?
We specialize in offering NovaThreads for our thread lift treatments. NovaThreads are FDA-approved and made from a biodegradable material that has a long track record in the medical community. What sets them apart is their adaptability; they come in various lengths and types, allowing for a customized treatment plan. Whether you’re looking for a subtle lift or more pronounced rejuvenation, NovaThreads can provide you with versatile options to meet your aesthetic goals.
What Can Nova Thread Lifts Treat?
- Facial Sagging: Using PDO threads, sagging facial skin can be effectively lifted and repositioned. This technique provides a rejuvenated appearance without surgical intervention.
- Neck Laxity: Addressing neck laxity becomes more achievable with PDO threading. By strategically placing these threads, the neck area can be tightened and neck bands can be smoothed out.
- Drooping Brows: For those struggling with drooping brows, a PDO brow lift offers a promising solution. The insertion of these threads can elevate the brow area, enhancing the overall facial symmetry and promoting a bright, lifted appearance.
- Fine Lines and Wrinkles: A thread face lift doesn’t just lift — it also promotes collagen production, a protein vital for skin elasticity. As collagen increases, fine lines and wrinkles can noticeably reduce.
- Tired Eyes: Revitalizing the area under the eyes can make a difference. Using PDO threads under the eyes, we can target the sagging skin, reducing the appearance of fatigue.
- Sagging Jowls: Enhancing the definition of the jawline is possible with jawline PDO threads. By introducing these threads, jowls can be lifted, offering a more defined and sculpted look.
- Nasolabial Folds and Marionette Lines: Deep-set lines around the mouth, such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines, can be minimized with a thread face lift. By stimulating the skin from within, these threads can soften the prominence of such lines.
- Skin Texture: A PDO thread lift not only tackles sagging but also improves skin texture. As the threads dissolve, they can help the skin rejuvenate itself leading to skin that has a smoother and more elastic texture.
What Are the Benefits of a PDO Thread Lift?
Biodegradable Composition
Used for various medical applications, especially in cardiothoracic procedures, polydioxanone fully decomposes through hydrolysis within a span of four to six months, leaving no scar tissue behind. This foreign material prompts collagen production, maintaining the skin’s improved structure for an additional 12 to 15 months.
Needle-Based, No Surgical Cuts
NovaThreads come as needles pre-filled with a PDO thread. The technique involves introducing the entire needle into the sub-dermal tissue, aligning it with the skin’s surface, and then carefully withdrawing it, leaving the PDO thread in place beneath the skin.
Quick and Comfortable Recovery Process
Considerably less invasive than a full (or even a mini) facelift, PDO thread lift procedures require much less downtime when it comes to the recovery process. Less invasiveness also means a lower risk of serious side effects, though like any procedure, side effects are still possible.
Immediate Lifting Effect
Upon receiving a PDO thread lift, patients often notice an immediate lifting and tightening of the skin. This prompt result is due to the supportive meshwork the threads create beneath the skin, pulling it subtly upward.
Long-Term Collagen Stimulation
The benefits of PDO threads extend beyond just immediate results. Because the body responds to the sutures by sending more fibroblasts to the area, the rejuvenation effects can last for many months.
Reversibility
While we are confident that you will be delighted with the results of your PDO thread lift procedure, you still have the option to have the threads removed if this isn’t the case.
PDO Threads vs. Dermal Fillers vs. Facelifts: Which Is Right for You?
Every patient is unique, both in their own aesthetic and in their vision for how to best enhance it. As part art and part science, cosmetic procedures are less involved with “right” and “wrong” in an absolute sense, but rather, what is right for you. To be sure, there’s no shortage of options at this stage of the game, so consider this overview of PDO threads, fillers, and facelifts to get the context you need for a more informed decision.
Level of Invasiveness
- PDO Thread Lifts are typically classified as a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure (or a “non-surgical facelift”). The needles used in this treatment approach are very fine, and all of the work is done at a very superficial level.
- Dermal fillers are also considered non-invasive, and, depending on the case, a dermal filler session can be completed in as little as a half hour with little to no downtime after the fact.
- Facelifts, while they produce the most transformative and long-lasting results, are surgical procedures that require multiple incisions, anesthesia, and a significantly longer recovery period than the above treatments.
Result Quality and Duration
- PDO Thread Lifts provide a moderately lifted and tightened appearance to the affected tissues that is typically visible immediately, and can last as long as 12-18 months depending on several factors.
- Dermal fillers also tend to produce immediately noticeable results, though it may take a few days or more for the results to fully settle as any initial swelling is resolved. Lifespan of results can vary significantly depending on the type of product used, spanning between 6-18 months.
- Facelifts produce results that can last upwards of a decade when properly maintained. As mentioned, facelifts are typically able to create the most dramatic results, and can address a wider range of common facial aesthetic concerns.
Downtime and Recovery
- PDO Thread Lifts usually require less than a full week (sometimes, as little as 1-2 days) of recovery time before patients can resume their full schedules. Mild-to-moderate swelling and bruising is expected.
- Fillers require very little or no downtime depending on the type of filler used, the amount, the body’s reaction to treatment, and other factors. Most filler patients can return to work the same day or the next day at the latest.
- Facelifts require a significantly more extensive recovery period than the above treatments, both in terms of total recovery time and aftercare protocols. Typically, patients will experience at least 1-2 weeks of full downtime, after which various activities and elements will be gradually reintroduced.
Key Takeaways
Deciding on the most appropriate facial rejuvenation technique for you requires taking a carefully calculated look at a range of subjective and objective factors. Your desired results, the amount of time you’re willing to set aside for recovery, how long you want the results to last, and more should all factor into your decision.
If you need any guidance when deciding on a surgical or non-surgical skin tightening procedure, our team at South Jersey Aesthetics of Cape May Court House is happy to answer any questions you have and provide any recommendations based on your presentation and preferences. Contact us for a consultation today, and we’ll get you started on your journey towards beautifully renewed skin.
PDO Threads Before and After
A Closer Look at Our PDO Thread Lift Treatment Process
Before a PDO thread lift, a consultation helps us customize the treatment plan. Then, on the day of treatment, the area is cleaned, and a local anesthetic is applied for comfort. Using a fine needle, the NovaThreads are carefully introduced beneath the skin, leaving the thread in place as the needle is extracted. Slight adjustments ensure optimal positioning of the threads.
Post-treatment, mild swelling or redness might be present, but this generally subsides quickly. Patients often feel a gentle pulling sensation during insertion and adjustment, but the procedure is designed to be as painless and comfortable as possible.
What Does the PDO Thread Lift Recovery Process Look Like?
Immediately following your thread lift procedure, you will likely notice one or more of the following:
- Mild swelling
- Mild redness or bruising
- Tenderness at the thread insertion site(s)
- A feeling of tightness
In the majority of cases, patients do not require more than cold compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers to manage any initial discomfort.
As for the timetable, the swelling and discoloration typically subside within the first week. During this time, it’s important to avoid highly strenuous activities (including gym workouts). It’s also typically recommended that you refrain from applying pressure to the area, including massage.
Swelling should be fully resolved within 2-3 weeks, during which time the collagen-boosting effects of treatment should manifest in smoother and more refreshed-looking skin. Final results are visible within 3-6 months following treatment.
PDO Thread Lift Cost Considerations
Both surgical and non-surgical skin tightening treatments can vary considerably in cost based on a wide number of factors, including the extent of the treatment, the provider’s expertise and credentials, the geographic location of the treatment facility, any specific facility fees that apply, and more. This includes PDO thread lift procedures.
Not to mention, patients differ in how many (if any) supplemental treatments they receive, as well as their follow-up schedule. Contact us for a consultation with Dr. Dan Fancis of South Jersey Aesthetics to get a more accurate pricing picture.
Finally, insurance rarely covers PDO thread lifts, as they are classified as elective procedures. If, however, thread lifts are used for reconstructive purposes, then there is a greater chance that the patient will receive coverage. In either case, coverage is not guaranteed, so make sure to consult your policy before making any further commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions About PDO Threads
How Long Do PDO Threads Last?
The effects of a PDO thread lift can be noticeable for up to a year or more, depending on individual factors such as skin type, age, and the specific area treated. Even after they are absorbed, the collagen stimulation they provide can extend the visible benefits beyond this period.
Who Is the Right Candidate for a PDO Thread Lift?
Those seeking a non-surgical solution to address sagging skin, wrinkles, or reduced skin elasticity might find PDO threading to be an ideal choice. It’s best suited for individuals in good health, without severe skin laxity, and those who have realistic expectations from the treatment. Consulting with us can help determine individual suitability.
Achieve a Rejuvenated and Youthful Appearance With NovaThreads
Achieving a rejuvenated appearance without surgical intervention is now more attainable than ever with a PDO thread lift. At South Jersey Aesthetics in Cape May Court House, we love the results that PDO threads can give to our patients. If you’re considering this option or have more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out or call us at (609) 846-5115. You can also complete our online form to start the conversation.