The benefits of PDO threads and the procedures that they’re used in have been talked about swirling around the aesthetic medicine industry for the last few years now. It’s gotten to the point where more and more potential patients are taking notice, and inquiring about what a procedure that uses PDO threads could do for them.
The answer is quite simple, actually: PDO threads can help you replicate the results of a traditional facelift, without the invasive surgical procedure, the long downtime and extended recovery.
PDO threads are very popular today because they are a completely biocompatible product that your body will break down naturally once they’re inserted into your skin. They’ve been used as dissolvable surgical sutures for more than 50 years now, and have made their way into aesthetic medicine procedures over the last 20 years or so.
If you’ve never had a procedure that uses PDO threads, though, it’s understandable if you’re a little hesitant. You might wonder what the procedure is going to feel like and what the PDO threads themselves actually look like.
Below, we’ll answer those questions, and some more, to help you feel more comfortable about getting a PDO threads procedure.
The polydioxanone protein is woven into what is a thin thread to create a PDO thread. Once it’s created, it will look a lot like human hair — at least in terms of the thickness. Some PDO threads will have barbs on them. These are basically little pieces that are attached to sections of the PDO thread that are meant to grab onto parts of your skin once inserted to help “lift” it up.
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Medically reviewed by: Elizabeth Williams RN
Updated: 8/5/2024
What Are PDO Threads?
PDO threads are essentially thin threads that are pre-loaded into what’s called a canula so they can be inserted into your skin. They are made out of polydioxanone — which is where the PDO threads get their name from — which is a protein that’s found naturally in your body.
This is why PDO threads are so safe. Because the material that they’re made from is naturally-occurring in your body, it’s completely biocompatible. That means that there’s a very low likelihood that your body will reject them once they’ve been inserted into your skin.
What your body will do, though, is recognize that a “foreign” element has been put into the skin or your face. It will then work to break down the PDO threads in a natural process. They are the same as dissolvable surgical sutures, which means that they won’t have to be removed and will be broken down by the body over time.
This happens by producing extra collagen in the treated area, which has a two-fold effect. First, it speeds up the process of showing results. Second, it gives a long-lasting effect, since extra collagen helps to smooth out the skin and support quality skin overall.
What Do PDO Threads Look Like?
The polydioxanone protein is woven into what is a thin thread to create a PDO thread. Once it’s created, it will look a lot like human hair — at least in terms of the thickness.
When described this way, it often eases the mind of many people who haven’t had the procedure done before. Human hair is very thin and so, too, are the PDO threads that are inserted into your skin.
Some PDO threads will have barbs on them. These are basically little pieces that are attached to sections of the PDO thread that are meant to grab onto parts of your skin once inserted to help “lift” it up.
In PDO threads procedures where the patient wants a lifting effect — such as to create definition around lips or to lift sagging skin in the neck or under the eyes — practitioners will use barbed PDO threads. The barbs are so small that you would need a magnifying glass to see them.
Sometimes, though, the patient isn’t looking for a lifting effect. Instead, they might just desire a more youthful glow in their skin, which can be accomplished through the extra production of collagen.
For these types of procedures, smooth PDO threads are often used. These do not have any barbs on them, and are just smooth threads that are contiguous from end to end.
PDO Threads are divided into two main categories and a few sub categories. They are as follows:
Smooth Threads
- Smooth Thread
- Smooth Twisted Thread
- Smooth Mini Thread
Lifting Threads
- Arte 1 Lifting Thread
- Arte 2 Lifting Thread
- Arte 3 Lifting Thread
- Barb Star Lifting Thread
What is a Cannula?
A cannula is a tube that’s used in many different medical procedures. It’s very thin and is inserted into a body cavity or vein. It’s used to insert surgical instruments into the body — which is basically what a PDO thread is.
They’re also used to administer medicine through a basic shot or an IV, and to drain fluid from an area.
In other words, cannulas are not specialized equipment that are used just in PDO threads procedures. They are used all the time in multiple medical environments — everything from a primary care physician’s office to an operating room at a hospital.
In fact, it’s highly likely that you’ve seen a cannula many times in your lifetime but never knew that it was called that.
Use PDO Threads Provided by V Soft Lift
Now that you know what PDO threads look like, you can see that there’s nothing to worry about. The threads themselves are not only extremely thin, but they are made of a protein that’s naturally occurring in the body. This is why they’re considered biocompatible and so safe to be inserted into your skin.
If you’re looking to get the best results from a PDO threads procedure, you should make sure that you visit a practitioner that you can trust and that has great reviews in the industry. In addition, search for a provider that uses PDO threads produced by V Soft Lift.
We separate ourselves from other manufacturers in the business by offering the highest-quality PDO threads, and many different types of PDO threads that can be used for specific people and their specific skin type.
For more information, contact us today.
