Reviewed by Dr. Caio Trentin, MD ·
What a PDO thread actually is
PDO stands for polydioxanone — a material used in surgical sutures for decades. In aesthetic use, fine PDO threads are placed under the skin through a needle or cannula. Some carry barbs or cones that grip tissue and shift it; others are smooth and act mainly as a stimulus. Over the following months, the threads dissolve. The skin metabolizes them and is left with the tissue response they triggered. There is nothing permanent embedded in the face afterward. That impermanence is the point: the lasting result comes from your own collagen, not from the thread itself.
What threads can do
Threads do two distinct things. First, a mechanical effect: barbed threads can lift and reposition soft tissue, softening early jowling, a heavy brow, or a slackening jawline. The change is immediate but modest — a few millimeters of repositioning, not a dramatic redraping. Second, a biostimulatory effect: as the PDO dissolves, it provokes a low-grade healing response that recruits collagen along the thread path. This shows up gradually as firmer, better-supported skin over weeks to months. Threads are best suited to mild-to-moderate laxity in someone whose skin still has reasonable elasticity. They pair naturally with other treatments — neurotoxin, filler for volume, or collagen-building work like Sculptra or microneedling — rather than replacing them.
What threads can't do
Threads are not a facelift. They cannot remove excess skin, and they cannot reproduce the degree or durability of a surgical lift. Significant sagging, deep jowls, or substantial loose skin are outside their scope — in those cases threads underdeliver and a surgical consultation is the more honest answer. They do not add volume; that is filler's role. The lift is subtle and temporary, and the biostimulatory firming, while real, is gradual rather than instant. Anyone promising a dramatic, surgery-equivalent result from threads alone is overselling them. Candidacy, realistic extent, and whether threads are even the right tool are determined at consultation, not assumed.
What recovery looks like
Thread placement is done under local anesthetic in the office, with no general anesthesia and no incisions. Expect some swelling, tenderness, and occasionally mild bruising for a few days to a couple of weeks. Many people feel a tightness or a faint pulling sensation early on, which settles as tissue relaxes around the threads. Dimpling or puckering can appear initially and typically resolves. You will be asked to avoid heavy exercise, facial massage, and extreme facial movement for a short window so the threads can settle. Specific aftercare and downtime depend on how many threads are placed and where, and are reviewed with you directly.
How long results last
The PDO material itself dissolves over months, so the mechanical lift it provides is not permanent. What persists is the collagen response — and how long that lasts varies with age, skin quality, and how the threads were used. Results are individualized; no specific duration can be promised in advance. Threads are best understood as one maintenance tool within a longer plan, often repeated or combined with other treatments over time rather than treated as a one-time fix.
Deciding if threads fit your plan
Threads reward the right candidate and disappoint the wrong one. The deciding factors are the degree of laxity, your skin's remaining elasticity, and what you actually want to change. At FORMA, Dr. Trentin examines your face, explains honestly whether threads, another treatment, or a surgical referral makes more sense, and builds a plan around realistic outcomes — never a scripted upsell. Every consultation and treatment is performed by Dr. Trentin personally, not a delegated injector. If subtle lift and gradual firming are what you're after, a consultation is the place to find out whether PDO threads earn a role in your plan.
Questions
Are PDO threads a replacement for a facelift?
No. Threads provide a subtle repositioning and a gradual collagen response, not the degree or durability of surgery. They suit mild-to-moderate laxity. Significant sagging is better addressed surgically, which Dr. Trentin will tell you honestly at consultation.
How long do PDO thread results last?
The PDO material dissolves over months, so the immediate lift is temporary. The lasting benefit comes from the collagen your skin builds, and that varies by individual. No fixed duration can be promised in advance; this is discussed at your consultation.
Is there downtime with PDO threads?
There are no incisions and no general anesthesia, but expect some swelling, tenderness, and occasionally mild bruising for several days to a couple of weeks. You'll avoid heavy exercise and facial massage briefly. Specific aftercare depends on your treatment and is reviewed with you directly.