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We all notice it eventually, the skin on our face or neck doesn’t seem as “bouncy” or firm as it once did. You might be frustrated with this change, but surgical options are too much. This is a common feeling, and it’s why so many people are looking for effective, non-surgical options like PDO Threads. At Bella NYC Aesthetics, we see clients all the time who want a real lift, and PDO Threads in Great Neck, NY offer a fantastic solution.
What Are PDO Threads?
PDO Threads are a treatment where fine threads made of a biocompatible material called polydioxanone (PDO) are inserted under the skin. If that material sounds familiar, it’s because it has been used safely in medicine for decades, particularly for absorbable surgical sutures or stitches. This means the body knows how to handle it, and it dissolves naturally and safely over several months.
The treatment is a popular non-surgical facelift alternative because it skips the scalpels, general anesthesia, and significant downtime. It’s not about surgically removing skin, but about repositioning it and, more importantly, helping your skin rebuild itself. It’s a clever way to get ahead of skin laxity and restore structure from within.
How Threads Do the Heavy Lifting?
It’s helpful to know that “PDO Threads” is a category, not just one single thing. An experienced provider will use different types of threads to get different results, and we often use a combination to address your specific goals.
The “lifting” threads, often called barbed or cog threads, are the workhorses for a noticeable lift. They have tiny, almost invisible barbs that gently grip the skin’s underside. When placed, the thread can be used to pull the skin into a more lifted, youthful position. These are amazing for addressing sagging cheeks, defining the jawline, or lifting the jowls.
Then you have the “rejuvenating” threads, which are typically smooth (mono) or twisted (screw) threads. These are fantastic skin tightening threads.
They don’t provide the same immediate physical lift as barbed threads. Instead, they are placed in a mesh-like or cross-hatch pattern. Their main purpose is to act as a scaffold and stimulate a large-scale collagen response. This makes them ideal for improving skin texture, strengthening crepey skin, and providing a more general skin firmness treatment on the neck, under the eyes, or even around the mouth.
What Are The Advantages?
The benefits go far beyond what a single cream or serum can do because this treatment works on a structural level.
1. The Immediate Lift
The most obvious, right-away benefit comes from the lifting threads. Your provider strategically places these threads to create a support system for skin that has started to droop. By gently repositioning the tissue, we can redefine contours, soften nasolabial folds, and lift the jowls. You walk out of the office, seeing a visible, yet completely natural-looking, change.
2. The Long-Term Gain
This is the long-term prize and the core of skin elasticity improvement. As your body slowly and safely absorbs the PDO material over 4-6 months, it floods the area with fibroblasts, which are your body’s collagen-producing cells.
This process, called neocollagenesis, builds a new matrix of collagen and elastin exactly where you need it. So, long after the thread itself is gone, you are left with your own, new, strong tissue, resulting in skin that is genuinely firmer, thicker, and more elastic.
3. Softening Fine Lines and Wrinkles
All that new collagen has another wonderful effect. It helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. While lifting threads pull, the smooth threads plump. By building up the skin’s dermal layer from within, the skin becomes stronger and smoother. This helps to soften etched-in lines, smooth out crepey texture, and restore a more youthful appearance to the skin’s surface.
What Areas Can PDO Threads Help?
One of the best things about PDO Threads is their versatility. Because there are different thread types, we can use them almost anywhere on the face and even some parts of the body.
The most popular areas are on the face. We can use lifting threads to address sagging in the mid-face (cheeks), helping restore the “V-shape” contour. They are also extremely effective for defining the jawline and lifting heavy jowls. A “fox eye” or brow lift is another popular request, in which threads are used to open the eye area.
Beyond lifting, we use smooth threads to address areas with texture and laxity. The neck is a prime example, where a mesh of threads can significantly tighten “turkey neck” or smooth horizontal neck lines. They are also a great option for the delicate under-eye area to improve hollows and crepey skin, as well as for the area above the knees and on the arms.
Are You a Good Candidate for a Thread Lift?
This treatment is a fantastic option for many people, but it’s not for everyone. The ideal candidate is typically someone who is starting to see mild to moderate skin laxity. This might be a man or woman, often in their late 30s to 50s, who feels their skin is “falling” or “sagging” but who isn’t ready for the cost, downtime, or intensity of a full surgical facelift. It’s for the person who wants a noticeable improvement and a long-term collagen boost, not a dramatic alteration.
It’s also important to have realistic expectations. PDO Threads provide a lift, but they do not remove excess skin. If skin laxity is very significant, a surgical consultation might be a better route. People with active skin infections, autoimmune disorders, or who are pregnant should not get this treatment. The only way to know for sure is to come in for a consultation, where we can assess your skin and talk about your goals.
Answering Your Top Questions About PDO Threads
It’s smart to have questions, and we’re happy to answer them. Here are a few common ones we hear.
Is a PDO thread lift painful?
This is the number one question! Because we use a powerful topical numbing agent, the treatment is very well-tolerated. You’ll be numb before we begin. Most people describe the sensation as pressure or a weird pulling feeling, but not as sharp pain.
How is this different from a surgical facelift?
A surgical facelift is a major operation that involves general anesthesia, large incisions (often around the ear and hairline), and the physical removal of excess skin. It has significant downtime. A non-surgical facelift with PDO Threads involves no skin removal, no general anesthesia, and minimal downtime. It’s a less invasive procedure focused on repositioning and, crucially, regenerating the skin.
Will I look “pulled” or unnatural?
This is a common fear, but the goal of PDO Threads is to look like you, just refreshed. The lift is natural and repositions your own tissue back to its original position. It doesn’t create the “wind-tunnel” look that people fear. Choosing an experienced, skilled provider is the most important factor in getting a beautiful, natural result.
What happens to the threads?
The threads are made of the same material (polydioxanone) used to dissolve surgical stitches. Your body’s natural processes break them down completely over 4 to 6 months. They dissolve and are safely metabolized, leaving behind that strong, new matrix of your own collagen.
Ready for a Firmer, More Lifted Look?
If you feel like your reflection doesn’t match how you feel inside, PDO Threads are an amazing option. It’s a forward-thinking treatment that provides an immediate lift while also investing in the long-term health and firmness of your skin. You get to fight gravity and stimulate your own collagen, all without the downtime of surgery.
If you’re curious and want to learn more about PDO Threads in Great Neck, NY, the team at Bella NYC Aesthetics is here to help. Enhance Your Natural Beauty Without Surgery by scheduling a friendly, no-pressure consultation.
