A PDO thread lift uses dissolvable polydioxanone threads placed under the skin to lift sagging tissue mechanically and stimulate collagen along their path.
A PDO thread lift uses dissolvable polydioxanone threads placed under the skin to lift sagging tissue mechanically and stimulate collagen along their path. The lift is immediate, the threads absorb over about six to nine months, and the collagen they leave behind maintains the result for roughly 12–18 months.
Threads occupy a real gap between injectables and surgery: they reposition tissue rather than adding volume. They suit mild to moderate sagging in patients who are not ready for a facelift and have not got the result they wanted from filler alone.
Founder & Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Founder of BUTEX Medical Spa in Frisco, Texas, and a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who has been treating patients across North Texas since 2012. She performs every assessment and treatment personally.
Last reviewed
Appointment time
45–75 minutes
Downtime
Swelling and possible bruising for 3–7 days
Results appear
Immediate lift; collagen builds over 3 months
How long it lasts
12–18 months
Sessions needed
One; repeatable
The process
How PDO Threads works
01
Planning the vectors
We mark the direction of lift before anything is placed. Vector planning is what separates a natural lift from a pulled look.
02
Local anaesthetic and placement
Threads are introduced through a fine cannula or needle. Barbed threads grip tissue to lift; smooth threads stimulate collagen without lifting.
03
Collagen along the thread path
As the polydioxanone absorbs, the body lays down collagen along its track — which is why the result outlasts the thread itself.
04
Aftercare
Avoid wide mouth-opening, dental work and facial massage for two weeks, and sleep on your back while the tissue settles.
Is PDO Threads right for you?
You have mild to moderate sagging of the jawline, cheeks, brow or neck
You want lift rather than volume
You are not ready for, or do not want, surgery
You can accommodate up to a week of swelling and some restrictions for two weeks
Benefits
Immediate, visible repositioning of tissue
Fully absorbable — nothing permanent is left behind
Collagen stimulation continues after the threads dissolve
Combines well with filler for volume and Ultherapy for skin quality
Non-surgical lifting and tightening compared
These treat different depths. A consultation is about matching the depth of the problem to the depth of the device.
Treatment
Reaches
Sessions
Results appear
Ultherapy
SMAS and deep dermis (ultrasound)
Usually one
2–3 months, building to 6
Fotona 4D
Inner cheek, dermis and surface (laser)
3–4, spaced monthly
Gradual, over the series
Radiofrequency tightening
Dermis
4–6, spaced weekly to monthly
6–12 weeks
PDO threads
Subdermal — mechanical lift plus collagen
One
Immediate, then improves for 3 months
Common questions
PDO Threads questions, answered
How long does a PDO thread lift last?
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Roughly 12–18 months. The threads themselves absorb in six to nine months; the collagen laid down along their path is what carries the result beyond that.
Is a thread lift painful?
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Local anaesthetic is used, so the procedure itself is comfortable. Expect tightness, tenderness and some swelling for several days afterwards.
Can threads replace a facelift?
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No. Threads suit mild to moderate laxity. Where tissue is heavy and clearly descended, a surgical lift gives a result threads cannot match — and we will say so.
What are the risks?
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Bruising, swelling, temporary dimpling or asymmetry, and rarely thread visibility or extrusion. Most settle as tissue relaxes over the first weeks.
This page is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace an in-person assessment. Results vary between patients, and no outcome is guaranteed. Suitability, risks and alternatives for pdo threads are discussed at consultation. Call (469) 432-0868 to book.
Book a consultation
Ask us about PDO Threads
A consultation covers whether pdo threads suits you, what it will cost, and what it realistically will and will not do. No obligation to book treatment on the day.
PDO Threads is performed at our Frisco clinic on Dallas Parkway, serving Plano, McKinney, Allen, Prosper, Little Elm, The Colony, Celina and North Dallas.
