With the non surgical aesthetic market working its best to advance new solutions to achieve our desired look, it’s easy to get lost in translation and not to understand what all that terminology means! We want to give you a comprehensive guide to understanding PDO threads and whether it’s the right option for you.

WHAT ARE PDO THREADS USED FOR?

A skin tightening treatment, PDO threads are a great skin rejuvenation option because of the number of areas that can be treated with it. These mainly include:

PDO threads for forehead
PDO threads for neck
PDO threads for cheeks
PDO threads for jawline
PDO threads for jowls

PDO threads are not limited to the above treatments. They can be used for almost any kind of skin tightening :

• treating wrinkles
• contouring the face
• reducing a double chin, among many others.

WHAT ARE PDO THREADS MADE OF?

Barbed threads (COG) provide an instant mechanical lift. It continues to provide a lifting effect on your skin for up to 4 months, even after its application. It is used for issues such as slimming the jaw, where we can combine it with Botox to achieve the best results.

They differ from plain mono threads, which are inserted in your tissue to provide better levels of collagen and neo-vascularisation. Your muscles relax, once the mono threads are inserted . They are best used when you don’t wish to have a loss of muscle function.

Furthermore, as we age, many things change the aspects of our face and skin. These include loss of collagen and fat, as well as connective tissue ptosis and skin laxity. Therefore, sometimes barbed threads alone cannot resolve the tissue and are better used as a combination with mono threads.

IS PDO THREADS FOR ME?

Many of my patients usually have high expectations when it comes to PDO threads treatment. They think it will replace a real surgical face lift, which is not. I always recommend that the patient undergoes a thorough analysis with me for us to be able to identify the best treatment for them.

Depending on the patient’s degree of sagginess or wrinkles, they should be ready to understand PDO threads are not a replacement for a real surgical lift. However, it is a fantastic alternative to be used when preventing long-term sagging skin and wrinkles, making sure to avoid the need for surgery in the future.

FOR WHAT RESULTS?

According to the kind and number of threads inserted, the effect will go from rejuvenation :

• improving skin quality
• smother
• tighter with reduced wrinkles

to:

• a more lifting effect with the potentiality of volumising (the cheek for example)
• or even reducing fat (under the chin for example)

From the same treatment plan, results may also differ from one patient to another.

There is an immediate tightening effect after the procedure. After two months, the skin will look firmer, tighter, smoother, and more radiant. Threads are resorbable and will be replaced by new collagen fibers. For a more lifting effect, I recommend the use of a mix of different threads (mono threads combined with pulling threads) and the repeat of the procedure 6 to 9 months after the first one.

It is the perfect procedure for men and women who do not want the downtime of real facelift surgery and want to keep a fresh look with a defined jawline.

ARE THERE ANY COMPLICATIONS TO PDO THREADS?

There are rarely any allergic reactions and long term complications after the use of PDO threads. The effects of the procedure last up to 8 months before it is replaced with fibrosis.

I advise my patients to have regular maintenance of PDO threads every six to nine months, in order to maintain the effects of the treatment. Treatment in itself usually lasts up to eight months, but it depends on the lifestyle and quality of tissue of each patient.

For the aftercare, this involves abstaining from alcohol for the first three days after application. Any Vitamin E should not be consumed for at least a week before the treatment. Arnica and paracetamol can aid any slight discomfort you might experience, but ibuprofen should be avoided. Avoid going to the steam room, sauna, and avoid heavy physical exercises. Make sure that you are not on any undergoing dental treatment, which requires you to open your mouth excessively. Finally, wear lots of SPF 30 after the application of treatment as it will avoid any post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation!

CAN I ONLY GET PDO THREADS DONE?

It is always the case that patients think that PDO threads alone will solve the area of concern of the patient. However, I partake in perfecting the patient’s face in harmony and synergy, which usually requires it to be complemented with alternative treatments.

The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment in combination with PDO threads, increase the benefits of neo-vascularisation and collagen regeneration. It makes it the best combination for a full treatment. I also like complementing PDO threads with Botox, Profhilo (a skin booster), or fillers when necessary. It depends on each patient’s case. The sky is the limit with anti-ageing and we’ll make sure you reach the skies!

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