THREADS: what are they, why did I do them and what was it like?
WHAT: PDO threads are polydioxanone, which is a surgical suture that is designed to be absorbed by the body. It is frequently used in open-heart surgery and is therefore very safe. PDO will be absorbed fully in four to six months without scarring.
HOW: After numbing and infusion of local anesthetia, the PDO threads are inserted via sharp or blunt tip needles (called cannulas) into different layers of the skin. Once inserted, the threads anchor the skin and lift it upwards. The excess threads are then cut off.
WHY: Threads work to LIFT the deeper layers of skin back to a more youthful position without adding any volume to the face. After the threads dissolve in approximately four to six months, results can last up to one year due to the collagen formation.
In my photos you’ll see the progression from before I got it done, to right after, and to now over a month post procedure. I only did 2 on each cheek which resulted in lifting around my mouth, lifting around cheekbones and a more ❤️ shaped face.
So, what is it actually like?
I’m going to be totally honest here. I have gotten a LOT of procedures done, from botox and filler and lasers to several facial surgeries. I was not prepared for this. I was, as the kids say, SHOOKETH. Now I want to preface this by saying I didn’t take the painkiller provided beforehand, nor did I use the nitrous so I had nothing to take the edge off except for local anesthesia. But I was still not prepared for the discomfort.
There is a big difference between uncomfortable and painful and this procedure leans more towards the former but it definitely hurts. I think this varies from person to person; I also had a skin tightening laser done in April so my fascia was especially tight, making it more difficult to thread the needle through. Ouch!
The procedure itself is pretty short (depending how many threads you get) and afterwards I was kind of in shock; it is just a strange feeling having sutures in your face. I was really stiff and swollen the first day and was thinking “what have I done?!”
The next few days after the procedure were a little challenging in that I really couldn’t move my face much but I loved how the threads looked. I am one of those people who loves being swollen right after procedures, and when the swelling goes away I’m disappointed. So, I was fine with a little discomfort for the amount of lift I saw. I had tiny bruises where the needles went in but other than that you couldn’t tell I’d had anything done. My husband still doesn’t know I did it!
Swelling went away after about a week as did most of the discomfort, except when I smile really large or move my face a certain way. The aesthetic results are subtle but I like that threads provide a lift without volume; so many practitioners just use filler as a solution to everything which can yield some really unfortunate results. Trust me, I’ve been there.
So – is it worth it? I’d say it depends on your goals and your face. Also, if you’re squeamish, this might be challenging for you. It is pricey and it is not permanent so if you’re older and are looking for a longer term solution I would go the surgery route. If you just want a little refreshing and can deal with some discomfort, threads may be a great solution for you!
Head over to my instagram post with any questions you have!