What is the PDO Threadlift / Fine Thread Contouring?
Recently, a couple of my patients very kindly gave their permission for me to use their ‘before and after’ photos to highlight the positive effects that a PDO Threadlift (Fine Thread Contouring) can give. Since then, I’ve had quite a few people asking ‘What is the PDO Threadlift’ or ‘What is Fine Thread Contouring?’ so I thought I would put together this blog to help clarify things a little!
"I've had this treatment with Clare, and I notice a definite improvement in facial tautness. Clare gave me lots of information on what I should expect from this treatment. She was (and is) always happy to reassure me and I feel I'm in safe hands with her."
Sally Bell, Thame
“Clare was with me every step of the way. Having never done anything like this before, I was very nervous both before and after the procedure. Clare was always at the end of the phone to reassure me, whatever the time of day. The results of the PDO Threadlift have been great, particularly with my jaw line, and I have had many people comment on how fresh faced I am looking!”
Judith, Great Missenden
The PDO Threadlift or Fine Thread Contouring (FTC) Therapy is a cosmetic technique that uses absorbable threads to lift and tighten sagging skin tissue in order to redefine the youthful contours of the face in areas that have lost definition — areas such as the cheeks, jowls, neck, and eyebrows. However, the effects of the treatment aren’t just limited to the ‘lifting’ ability of the threads; as the threads are absorbed, they promote the production of collagen in the treatment area, which helps to maintain the ‘lift’ effect after the threads have been absorbed. Often, patients can see the positive effects of an FTC treatment up to 2-3 years’ post-treatment.
When a patient comes to me for a PDO Threadlift — FTC with PDO (Polydioxanone) threads — the first thing we do is assess the potential treatment area and discuss medical history to ensure that the PDO Threadlift is an appropriate and realistic treatment for the patient. If it is, the patient returns for their treatment once they are happy to proceed and feel fully informed about the details about the procedure. The treatment itself can take an hour or so to complete, in which time a number of threads are introduced into the treatment area using a cannula or micro-needle after a local anaesthetic has been administered.
There are several different types of threads that can be used in FTC treatments, and I have found that some of the best results can be seen from treatments using barbed ‘cog’ threads. These tend to result in higher levels of inflammation following a treatment, but this carefully controlled ‘damage’ to the skin causes a greater rate of fibroblast conversion as the area heals, which in turn causes a greater amount of collagen to be produced in the treatment area. As a result, patients who undergo the PDO Threadlift with cog threads tend to see a longer lasting and more visible effect after a single treatment than with traditional threads.
As with all non-surgical aesthetic treatments, there is a small risk of a patient experiencing side effects following a PDO Threadlift treatment — a risk that is reduced by ensuring that a qualified and experienced nurse practitioner carries out the treatment. Minor side effects include swelling and bruising of the treatment area, and some people experience a mild pulling sensation that can last for several weeks.
I hope this blog helps to explain the treatment a little!
If you would like any more information about the PDO Threadlift / Fine Thread Contouring, please take a look at the FAQ’s page on our website, and here’s a useful video too.
Visit Clare's page on Comparethetreatment.com
