PDO threads: what they lift, what they don't, and who they suit
Sold as a non-surgical facelift, which they are not. What they genuinely do is narrower — and useful — if you know which type you are being offered.
Alla Yusim, RN, MSN, FNPAesthetic medicine · 7819 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11214Threads get marketed as a lunchtime facelift. They are not that, and expecting that is why people come away disappointed. What they are is a way to reposition tissue modestly and stimulate collagen along the line the thread sits, using an absorbable suture that dissolves over months.
The three types, and why the price differs so much
| Type | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mono threads | Smooth, no barbs — collagen stimulation only, no lift | $40 each |
| PLLA screw threads | Twisted, adds localised volume and stimulation | $50 each |
| PDO COG threads | Barbed — physically grips and repositions tissue | $150 each |
This is the distinction that matters most and is most often blurred in advertising. Only cog threads lift. Mono and screw threads improve skin quality and add a small amount of firmness along their line, but they do not reposition anything. A cheap "thread lift" quoted at a few hundred dollars is almost certainly monos.
What a cog thread lift realistically achieves
- A few millimetres of repositioning along the jawline, cheek or neck
- Best on mild to moderate laxity in someone with reasonable skin quality
- Immediate visible change, which then relaxes slightly over the first fortnight
- Nine to twelve months of effect; the collagen benefit outlasts the thread
How it actually goes
Local anaesthetic at the entry points, then threads passed through a cannula along pre-marked vectors. Thirty to sixty minutes depending on the number. Expect tightness, some puckering that settles within a week or two, and bruising. You sleep on your back for a fortnight and avoid wide mouth opening — no dental appointments, and no vigorous face massage.
Who should not have them
- Anyone with substantial skin laxity — this is a surgical problem
- Very thin skin, where barbs can become palpable or visible
- Active infection or inflammatory skin disease in the area
- Anyone expecting a facelift result at a thread price
Threads versus the alternatives
For laxity, radiofrequency and threads solve overlapping problems differently: RF tightens by remodelling collagen across an area, threads reposition along a line. For a soft jawline with decent skin, XERF alone is often the better single answer. Where threads earn their place is a specific vector that will not respond to tightening — a drooping brow tail, a defined jowl on one side, a mid-face that has descended but not deflated.
Common questions
Do the threads dissolve?
Yes. PDO absorbs over four to six months, PLLA over longer. The collagen laid down along the thread path is what remains after that.
Can I feel them?
For the first couple of weeks there is often tightness and occasional pulling on wide movement. Feeling a thread through the skin long-term is a sign it was placed too superficially.
How many threads will I need?
For a jawline, commonly four to eight cogs in total. The count is decided at the consultation after marking the vectors — anyone quoting a number before looking at your face is guessing.
Can they be removed?
In the first days, sometimes. After that they are integrating with tissue and removal becomes difficult. This is why they suit conservative, well-planned use.
This guide is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace an in-person assessment. Treatments described are performed by Alla Yusim, RN, MSN, FNP at Skin in Focus LLC, 7819 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11214.
Ask Alla Yusim directly.
A consultation is thirty minutes, complimentary for new clients, and ends with a plan and a price — not a package you did not ask for.