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Impressive Anti-Aging Results

When patients want to turn back the clock without going under the knife, they often think of facial paralytics like botulinum toxin or dermal fillers like Juvederm, which are safe and effective treatments that yield beautiful results when applied correctly. A PDO thread lift can often be used alongside – or in lieu of – injectables to achieve impressive anti-aging results, combating facial sagging, minimizing lines and wrinkles, and tightening up the skin.

Why Choose Dr. Jonathan Sykes?

Dr. Jonathan Sykes is one of the top facial plastic surgeons in the world, with over 37 years of experience, double board certification, and a wealth of knowledge that he applies to each procedure. His level of artistry is unparalleled, making him a highly sought-after expert in facial anatomy.

Having studied and practiced the most advanced techniques, Dr. Sykes is a renowned educator who shares his expertise from decades of practice with aesthetic practitioners and medical professionals worldwide at his teaching institute, Sykes Face Sculpting Institute.

Knowing that you are receiving a PDO thread lift from a physician who teaches other physicians how to achieve flawless results, you can trust that Dr. Jonathan Sykes will give your complexion a new life while maintaining the foundational natural features that are uniquely you.

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What is a PDO Thread Lift?

Polydioxanone or PDO threads are special medical-grade threads, much like sutures, and are made in varying diameters and thicknesses. When larger PDO threads are used, the threads can be used for lifting various parts of the face and body. When smaller diameter threads are used, these threads volumize much like injectable filler is used to create facial volume. The PDO threads act as a sort of mini facelift. They can help correct sagging skin, relax the muscles that cause wrinkles, and stimulate the body’s natural production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. 

Benefits of PDO Threads

The benefits of PDO thread lifts are thus two-fold in many cases. The stitching itself gives a slight, natural-looking lift to the facial features. Meanwhile, the substances in the threads, and the micro-trauma from the procedure, prompt the body to create more of its own age-defying resources at the threading site. The result is firmer, younger-looking skin with reduced sagging and wrinkling.

Dr. Sykes uses both lifting threads and volumizing threads. The term thread lift is used when the thread is inserted to create lifting of soft tissues. Micro-barbs welded to the thread allow the tiny barbs to keep the tissue from falling. Dr. Sykes explains this to his patients as though the barbs on threads are like metal parking lot devices that prevent drivers from re-entering a parking lot after exiting.

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Let me explain. Imagine you’re leaving a parking lot, and you’re driving over the angled metal teeth that prevent you from re-entering the parking lot. What we do with these barbs is to place these underneath the skin, then we pull the skin up and over the barb, and the skin “sticks” to this, preventing it from descending. The only difference is that instead of large pieces of metal, the micro-barbs hold the tissue up.

Dr. Jonathan Sykes

Am I a Candidate?

PDO thread lifts are safe and effective for many people; however, you may not be a good candidate for a PDO thread lift if you have active acne, broken skin, or are prone to cold sores. Always tell your practitioner if you are pregnant, diabetic, have an infection, or have an autoimmune disease.

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Where Can PDO Threads Be Used?

The uses for these threads are up to the imagination and resourcefulness of the practitioner. They can be placed in the forehead to elevate the brow, in the cheek to lift the soft cheek tissues, or along the jawline to further define the neck. The smaller threads can be used to volumize. 

While PDO thread lifts are especially popular for periorbital rejuvenation (the area around the eyes and eyelids), they are used for various applications on the face, neck, and body.

PDO thread lifts are often used to correct the following:

  • Drooping cheeks
  • A sagging jawline
  • Wrinkles and folds around the chin and on the neck
  • Sagging eyebrows
  • Vertical and horizontal forehead wrinkles
  • Hooded upper eyelids or depressions under the lower eyelids
  • Crow’s feet
  • Nasolabial folds
  • Marionette lines
  • Fine lines around the lips

What is the Procedure Like?

With a PDO thread lift, lidocaine or another numbing agent is first injected at the threading site so that the patient feels little to no pain during the procedure. The PDO threads are inserted under the patient’s skin, subcutaneous fat, or underlying facial muscles, depending on the target area and the type of threads used. When done by an expert, the PDO threads will not be visible, and they will dissolve naturally over time.

Different types of PDO threads are used for other purposes. Barbed threads are used to lift the skin, whereas twist threads are used to add volume to sagging areas, depressions, or deep creases. Smooth threads can help fix more superficial lines in thinning or crepey skin. An expert PDO thread practitioner can use a combination of threads on different face and neck areas to achieve the patient’s desired results.

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The Recovery Process

If possible, blood-thinning medications should be avoided before treatment to cut down on any bruising and bleeding from a PDO thread lift. You’ll want to avoid alcohol, extreme temperatures, and rubbing or touching the affected area for a week or so after your procedure. As always, follow your doctor’s pre- and post-care instructions closely. 

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When Can I See the Results?

PDO threads are made of biodegradable material that dissolves within 12 weeks, so the absorbable sutures will not need to be removed once they’ve been placed. You will see some noticeable differences immediately after the procedure, but it will take about 10-14 days for initial results to truly show up. This is when the process of natural protein synthesis starts to occur at the threading site. The additional collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid produced by your body begin revitalizing sagging skin, giving it extra firmness and structure and diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Results will improve gradually after a PDO thread lift, usually peaking at about six months and lasting up to two years.

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PDO Thread Lift Before & After

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FAQ

What’s better, PDO threads or fillers?

Are PDO threads dangerous?

Are PDO threads as effective as surgery?

What’s better, PDO threads or fillers?

PDO threads may be used alone or in combination with dermal fillers and botulinum toxin. Combining different treatments can often achieve maximum non-surgical facial rejuvenation, so PDO threads versus fillers is not necessarily an either/or proposition. That said, fillers are best for areas that require added volume, like the lips, cheeks, and chin. PDO thread lifts, by comparison, are used more for lift than volume. While PDO threads can plump and firm up the skin by stimulating increased collagen production, they generally do not add actual volume to the treatment site. If you want to create the appearance of fuller cheeks or lips, a filler is your best option. If you’re going for overall facial rejuvenation rather than feature modification, a PDO thread lift may be a better bet.

Are PDO threads dangerous?

PDO threads are FDA-approved and have been used safely and successfully in a wide variety of surgeries for over a decade. PDO thread lifts pose very few serious risks, and the fact that no incisions or general anesthesia are required makes it a safer alternative to invasive surgery. However, results will be less dramatic and long-lasting. The main risks of PDO thread lifts have to do more with poor technique or non-sterile conditions. Complications like visible sutures, migration, asymmetry, puckering, or infection are possible. But you can reduce these risks by going to the most experienced plastic surgeon in your area. Generally speaking, PDO thread lifts are quite safe and well-tolerated.

Are PDO threads as effective as surgery?

PDO threads do not work as well as traditional surgery because the tissue planes are not as fully separated as they are in standard surgeries. However, the advantages include lower cost, less downtime, and virtually no scarring. The patient only needs to know that the PDO thread lift will not work as well, nor as long as traditional surgery results. The lasting time is related to when the thread dissolves. Most PDO threads dissolve completely within 12-18 months.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

In terms of non-surgical anti-aging treatments, PDO threads offer patients long-lasting results with no anesthesia risks and no lengthy recovery time. During your consultation, Dr. Sykes carefully evaluates your facial anatomy, building a plan to help you achieve a more youthful complexion. If you’re ready for some non-surgical anti-aging magic, call our office today or use our online form to schedule your consultation for our PDO thread lift in Beverly Hills with Dr. Jonathan Sykes.

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