How do PDO Threads Work?

People have turned to plastic surgery for years to help them look more youthful and to improve parts of their body that they are unhappy with. But, there are a lot of downsides to plastic surgery, including its cost, the associated recovery and downtime, and the potentially exorbitant cost.

Today, there’s a very viable alternative: PDO threads. These sutures are made with polydioxanone (PDO) and are naturally dissolvable¹. Procedures that use the PDO threads are non-invasive — since they don’t require surgery — can be done in about an hour and cost significantly less than plastic surgery.

In many ways, PDO threads seem to be a magic tool that practitioners can use to give you a more youthful look, helping to rejuvenate and tighten your skin in a number of ways.

So, how do PDO threads work? We’ll dive deeper into that topic below.

PDO threads help stimulate the production of collagen. Upon insertion the body recognizes them as a foreign substance. The body responds by producing extra collagen in the area. This gives you the supplemental benefit of having more collagen, which will help to give you that “glow” and youthful look you desire. In addition, the extra collagen will help the results from the PDO threads procedure to last longer.

Table of Contents

Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

Medically reviewed by: Elizabeth Williams RN
Updated: 7/3/2024

What are PDO Threads?

As mentioned, PDO stands for polydioxanone². These thin threads are essentially dissolvable sutures that are inserted in your body. In fact, PDO threads have been used in surgical procedures for years now, since the body can easily and safely absorb them in time.

It’s only within the last 20 years or so that they have made their way outside of surgical procedures for non-surgical procedures such as PDO face lifts. Some of these threads are designed just like the ones used in surgeries, while others are slightly different — with “barbs” on them to help lift the skin.

What Happens During a PDO Threads Procedure?

Unlike plastic surgery, PDO threads procedures are not surgical. That means you don’t have to be administered general anesthesia.

Before the procedure takes place, your practitioner will simply numb the area that is going to be treated. This can be done with small needles and/or numbing cream in the area.

Once the area is sufficiently numb, the procedure can begin.

The practitioner will use a specialized tool called a cannula so that they can put the PDO threads in the proper location for your particular procedure. Then, they will move them along your face in your skin until they’re in the right place.

The PDO threads will stay in your body, and slowly over time, your body will break them down using natural processes. This means that you won’t have to return to the office to have them removed.

How Do the PDO Threads Work?

The PDO threads work in a variety of ways depending on the type of thread that’s being used.

If you’re looking to have part of your face “lifted,” then the practitioner will used barbed threads. These barbs that are located on the thread itself will grab onto your skin and pull it up. This is particularly good if you’re looking to give more definition to your lips or to address saggy under eyes, for example.

Smooth threads won’t have the barbs on them, and are used in treatments where you’re looking to create more glowing skin and/or tightening. These threads will give you a great youthful look wherever they’re used.

Both types of PDO threads will help to stimulate the production of collagen as well. This happens because when the threads are inserted, your body will recognize that there’s a foreign substance there.

It responds by producing extra collagen in the area. This gives you the supplemental benefit of having more collagen, which will help to give you that “glow” and youthful look you desire. In addition, the extra collagen will help the results from the PDO threads procedure to last longer.

Learn more about the difference between different types of PDO Threads

What Happens After a PDO Threads Procedure?

There is only minimal downtime and recovery associated with a PDO threads procedure, which is one of the main advantages it has over plastic surgery.

When your procedure is over, you may experience minor swelling and soreness in the treated area. You can help to reduce the swelling and soreness, you can apply ice and also take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.

Unlike plastic surgery, you’ll be able to resume almost all of your normal daily activities once you leave the office. You will be given specific instructions on some things you should avoid, including getting facial massages and engaging in strenuous physical activity for a couple weeks.

Other than that, though, you should resume your daily life as normal, and begin to see the amazing results of the PDO procedure in short order.

V Soft Lift Provides the Best PDO Threads

PDO threads are undoubtedly the preferred method of rejuvenating your skin and lifting parts of your face compared to plastic surgery. The cost of these procedures are considerably less, they’re much less invasive, and the downtime and recovery period is almost nothing.

When you’re choosing a medical practitioner to do your procedure, consider their experience and trustworthiness, as well as where they get their PDO threads. The PDO threads provided by V Soft Lift are the most reliable on the market. They are also the most versatile, as we have created many different types of PDO threads to be used in a number of areas and for various skin types.

For more information, contact us today.

References

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/pdo-thread-lift
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/polydioxanone