What it is
PDO (polydioxanone) threads are absorbable sutures placed under the skin to either lift soft tissue (barbed threads) or stimulate collagen along a scaffold (smooth threads). The material is the same as some surgical sutures and is fully absorbed by the body over months.
How we approach it
PDO threads suit a specific patient profile: mild-to-moderate laxity, a clear lift target (jowl, mid-cheek, brow), and acceptance that lift duration is shorter than a surgical option. Candidacy includes a candid conversation about whether threads will deliver enough lift for your starting structure — for significant laxity, surgical lift is the appropriate option.
Placement is mapped in front of a mirror in your normal posture. Entry points are anesthetized; thread vectors are placed to reposition tissue along defined anatomical lines.
What to expect
The procedure itself is thirty to sixty minutes. Swelling and tenderness for three to five days. Bruising at entry points is common. Sleep elevated for the first two nights. Avoid extreme facial expressions for a week.
Lift is visible immediately, becomes more refined as swelling resolves over two to three weeks. Lift typically lasts six to twelve months; the collagen response continues beyond that.
Candidacy
Best for mild-to-moderate laxity in suitable areas. Not for significant laxity (consider surgical lift), patients on anticoagulants without clearance, active infection in the area, or pregnancy.