Who Invented PDO Threads?

PDO threads are commonly used in many aesthetic medicine procedures today, especially those in the face. In many ways, it has enabled more people to achieve a more youthful look, since the procedure is more accessible, significantly less expensive and less invasive than a traditional facelift.

Most PDO threads procedures are completed in less than an hour, which is why they’re often referred to as the “lunchtime facelift.” There’s also minimal downtime that’s required, meaning you can resume most of your daily activities immediately after your procedure is over.

The results from PDO threads last a while, too, which is another huge benefit they provide. This means that you won’t have to repeat the procedure as often as some other minimally-invasive alternatives, which stretches your dollar even further.

PDO threads can be used to lift parts of the face up, to give more definition to the lips, under eyelids, neck and more. They can help create skin that’s smoother, plumper and more youthful through the production of extra collagen.

There’s so much to like about PDO threads, especially when compared to some of the other options on the market. But, where did they come from and who invented PDO threads?

Let’s dive deeper into the history of PDO threads below.

In the 1980s, PDO threads were first introduced into surgical procedures. The threads, made from a biodegradable polymer known as polydioxanone, began to be one of the most commonly-used surgical sutures. At the turn of the century, South Korean doctors started to use PDO threads in non-surgical facelift treatments. What they did was insert the PDO threads in the skin, which helps to tighten and lift sagging skin.

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Medically reviewed by: Elizabeth Williams RN
Updated: 8/26/2024

History of the Facelift

Doctors have been performing facelifts now for more than 100 years. It was in 1916 that surgeon Erich Lexer performed the first of these procedures.

That facelift involved pulling the sides of a patient’s face up until the skin was in a new position. This would create excess skin, which would then be removed before the surgeon used sutures to hold the skin in its new place.

While the procedure certainly worked, it gave only a certain “look.” This is because the procedure didn’t address the face’s underlying structure and simply moved the skin up unilaterally.

Still, this approach to facelifts was being used as recently as the 1980s.

The Facelift Evolves

A maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Paul Tessier from France became well-known in the 1970s for his work with bone grafts and clefts and some innovations he created in ophthalmology.

In time, he would become known around the world as “the father of modern craniofacial surgery.” He used techniques from neurosurgery, maxillofacial and plastic to revolutionize how facelifts were performed.

Dr. Tessier emphasized how important it was to utilize the face’s soft tissue in these procedures, as it would help to reduce wrinkles and sagging. With the tissue repositioned, it could help to brace the skin, which gave a look that was much more refined.

In essence, his approach to facelifts allowed doctors to personalize the procedure to each patient’s anatomical needs, as opposed to just doing the same thing for every patient.

PDO Threads Introduced

Around the same time, in the 1980s, PDO threads were first introduced into surgical procedures. The threads, made from a biodegradable polymer known as polydioxanone, began to be one of the most commonly-used surgical sutures.

It was a great invention, as it was considered completely safe since the surgical sutures were absorbable by the body, with low reactivity. This means that the body was able to naturally break down the sutures over time through a process called hydrolysis.

At the time that they were introduced into the medical field, PDO threads were used in a variety of surgical procedures. Eventually, some doctors found new uses for them.

PDO Threads in Non-Surgical Facelifts

At the turn of the century, South Korean doctors started to use PDO threads in non-surgical facelift treatments. What they did was insert the PDO threads in the skin, which helps to tighten and lift sagging skin.

In the beginning of these procedures, the PDO threads themselves were quite simple. They were monofilament threads and were left in their place once they were inserted.

The body would dissolve the threads over time, in the process producing extra collagen that also resulted in the tightening and lifting effects lasting longer.

These initial iterations of PDO threads for facelift procedures did have limitations, though, since they could be used only in particular parts of the body and face.

In more recent years, manufacturers such as V Soft Lift have become innovators in the field, creating many different types of PDO threads that can be used for different types of procedures and different skin types.

Barbed threads, for example, grab onto the skin and lift it up. Smooth threads are used to give more definition and generate extra collagen production.

There are even different PDO threads that are used for different parts of the body, which makes the procedures more personal and more effective.

Visit a Practitioner Who Uses V Soft Lift PDO Threads

The facelift procedure has come a long way in the last 100 years, evolving to have even non-surgical options through the incredible innovation of PDO threads. Today, PDO threads are one of the best ways to achieve a more youthful look in the face, without needing to undergo a surgical procedure.

When you’re searching for a medical practitioner for your PDO threads procedure, make sure that you choose one who has years of experience in the field and who you can trust. Also make sure that they use PDO threads produced by V Soft Lift.

Our threads are customized to accomplish every PDO threads procedure imaginable, for all different skin types. This gives every patient the best and most optimal results they could wish for.

For more information, contact us today.