PDO threads are quickly emerging as a leading aesthetic medicine treatment. It’s a top minimally-invasive alternative to surgical facelifts, providing an affordable and accessible option that produces amazing results with little to no downtime and recovery time.
These benefits are something that today’s clientele desires, which is why they’ve become so popular in recent years. PDO threads can address many of the common signs of aging — such as fine lines and wrinkles, sagging or drooping skin, and lack of definition — without the need to undergo surgery.
There’s also another aspect of PDO threads that also tugs on the heartstrings of many clients — environmental impact. In this article, we’ll discuss how opting for PDO threads isn’t just a good choice from a results perspective but also from a carbon footprint perspective.
PDO thread treatments don’t require much “excess,” especially compared to surgical facelifts. The tools that are used in PDO threads are the threads themselves and the cannulas they are preloaded into.
Medically reviewed by: Elizabeth Williams RN
Updated: 7/24/2025
The Procedure
PDO thread treatments are most commonly performed in cosmetic medicine clinics. Since they only take about an hour to complete, they are conducted in single treatment rooms of the clinic and only typically require the time of the practitioner and maybe an assistant.
Local numbing agents are all that are needed to make patients feel comfortable during the procedure. The room itself just needs to be well-lit, but doesn’t require some of the high-powered and specialized lighting that is necessary in surgical rooms.
The setting of PDO thread treatments and what’s required from a power perspective results in much lower energy consumption compared to surgical facelifts. Basically, all that is required is a room that’s normally lit and comfortable from a climate perspective, unlike a surgical room, which requires specialized lighting, cooling and high-powered general anesthesia machines always running.
| Treatment Stage | Description | Environmental Load | Comparison to Surgery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procedure | Performed in a standard clinic room with local numbing; minimal equipment used. | Low – minimal power usage and no specialized lighting. | Surgical facelifts require high-powered lighting, anesthesia, and cooling systems. |
| Materials & Tools | Threads and single-use cannulas; antiseptic wipes and gloves. | Low – limited materials needed per treatment. | Surgery requires a large number of single-use tools and equipment. |
| Disposal | Cannulas and gloves disposed of; threads remain in the face. | Low – minimal biohazardous waste. | Surgical procedures generate significant medical waste and fluid disposal requirements. |
| Recovery | No hospitalization; minimal medications or follow-ups required. | Very low – self-managed recovery and limited resource use. | Surgery often requires antibiotics, painkillers, travel for follow-ups, and energy usage. |
Disposal
Another important aspect of environmental impact is disposal of the tools and materials involved in the procedure.
PDO thread treatments don’t require much “excess,” especially compared to surgical facelifts. The tools that are used in PDO threads are the threads themselves and the cannulas they are preloaded into.
The practitioner will use antiseptic wipes to clean the treatment area before inserting the threads and will wear disposable medical-grade gloves when doing so. Both of those things are waste produced by the treatment, but there’s not much else that gets thrown away.
The cannulas are single-use, so they will need to be disposed of, but the threads themselves will remain in the patient’s face. Since there often isn’t much bleeding, not much gauze will be needed, and there won’t be much biohazardous fluid that will need to be collected and disposed of.
This is obviously a far cry from surgery, which uses a lot of items that are single-use and that generates a lot of medical waste.
Recovery
The recovery period for PDO threads is relatively short. Once the procedure is over, patients can leave the clinic on their own and immediately resume most of their daily activities.
While they will be given post-care instructions, none of them requires intensive resources. The main things they need to do is avoid strenuous activities, deep facial cleansing or massages, and taking certain medications for a few weeks following a treatment.
Most patients will experience minor bruising and/or swelling following a PDO threads treatment, but that will usually resolve itself in about a week’s time. They can use ice packs to help in the meantime.
Surgery, by comparison, requires extensive recovery, which requires extensive resources. Many patients need to stay in a hospital setting overnight. Even those who don’t require the use of antibiotics and painkillers, both of which leave a big carbon footprint behind in the manufacturing, packaging and shipping processes.
There are many follow-ups typically needed with surgery, too, which requires travel to and from an office that contributes to carbon emissions.
V Soft Lift’s PDO Threads Have Minimal Environmental Impact
With environmental impact being at the forefront of many people’s minds today, it’s good to know that PDO threads produce a very minimal carbon footprint. This is true for every aspect of the process — from the materials and tools used, to the treatment itself and the recovery period.
Compared to surgical facelifts, PDO threads stand head and shoulders ahead in terms of environmental impact.
When you’re getting your PDO threads treatment, you should choose a provider who you can trust and is reputable and experienced in the field. You should also choose one who uses high-quality threads such as the ones produced by V Soft Lift.
We have a long line of PDO threads, allowing providers to choose the best ones for each patient based on the treatment area and skin type. This helps ensure the best results possible.
For more information, contact us today.
