PDO Threads

Minimally Invasive Support for Facial Laxity

PDO Threads are absorbable threads placed beneath the skin to provide support to selected areas of facial tissue. Depending on the type and placement of thread used, treatment may be intended to create a degree of mechanical lifting, stimulate a tissue response around the thread or combine elements of both.

At YT Medical, PDO Threads are considered for selected patients with mild to moderate tissue laxity who want a minimally invasive treatment and have realistic expectations about the degree of change that threads can provide. They should not be viewed as a non-surgical equivalent of a facelift, particularly where there is substantial skin excess or more advanced tissue descent.

How Do PDO Threads Work?

PDO stands for polydioxanone, a biodegradable material that gradually breaks down within the body. Threads are introduced beneath the skin through small entry points and positioned according to the area being treated and the type of support required. Some lifting threads incorporate features designed to engage with the tissue, while other thread types may be used primarily within collagen-stimulating treatment approaches.

Once positioned, the threads provide temporary internal support while a local healing response occurs around them. The threads themselves are gradually absorbed, and any longer-term improvement depends partly on tissue response and collagen remodelling rather than the physical thread remaining permanently in place.

What Areas Can Be Treated?

PDO Threads may be considered for selected areas of the lower face, jawline, cheeks and other regions where mild tissue laxity affects definition. Suitability depends on skin quality, thickness, facial anatomy and the degree of tissue descent.

Where skin laxity is more pronounced, another treatment such as EndoFibre Lift or surgical lifting may provide a more appropriate degree of correction. Patients whose principal concern is volume loss or declining skin quality may similarly benefit more from a regenerative or structural treatment than from threads alone.

Treatment, Recovery and Risks

PDO Thread treatment is minimally invasive but still involves placing a medical device beneath the skin. Temporary swelling, bruising, tenderness, tightness and local irregularity can occur during recovery, and some patients experience temporary pulling or puckering while the tissues settle.

Less common complications can include infection, persistent asymmetry, visible or palpable threads, thread extrusion, prolonged discomfort or unwanted contour changes. Thread procedures therefore require careful patient selection, appropriate technique and a clear understanding that the result and recovery can vary between individuals.

What Results Can I Expect?

A degree of change may be visible relatively soon after treatment, with further tissue response developing during the following weeks and months. The result is temporary and will vary according to the threads used, treatment area, degree of laxity, skin quality and individual healing response.

The most suitable candidates are generally those seeking a subtle improvement rather than a dramatic surgical lift. During consultation, we will assess whether PDO Threads are likely to provide a worthwhile result or whether another treatment would better address the concern.