How many thread lifts have you performed and can I see before/after photos at 12 months (not just 4-6 weeks)?

A good answer provides genuinely long-term photos, not just immediate post-procedure shots. 12-month results are the clinically relevant endpoint, not 4-week outcomes.

What is your complication rate for thread extrusion and what is your management protocol?

A good answer includes specific data from their own practice and a clear protocol for managing extrusion, including whether they handle it in-clinic or refer.

What is the realistic lift I can expect at 12 months?

A good answer is honest about the 34% satisfaction rate at 12 months in published data and does not oversell longevity to close the consultation.

Informed Skin›PDO Thread Lift

RF & Energy

PDO Thread Lift

Name: PDO Thread Lift
Creator: Val Yermakova

Polydioxanone absorbable suture threads

Mechanical lifting with collagen stimulation via absorbable sutures

Skin LaxitySagging JowlsCrepey NeckLoss of Collagen

Safe for skin types

Safe forAll Fitzpatrick types I–VI

Use cautionNone specific to skin tone

Avoid ifNone related to Fitzpatrick type

PDO thread material does not target melanin or any chromophore. The procedure creates mechanical lift and a foreign-body collagen response, neither of which is affected by skin tone. Bruising and inflammation risk is equal across all Fitzpatrick types.

In plain English

Absorbable sutures inserted under the skin to lift sagging tissue and trigger collagen production. The lift effect is immediate but often short-lived (6-12 months for most patients). Complication rates including thread extrusion, dimpling, and infection are real and documented in published studies. This is a procedure where clinical skill matters enormously and outcomes vary widely between practitioners.

The science

PDO (polydioxanone) thread lifts use barbed or smooth absorbable suture material inserted via cannula to mechanically reposition lax tissue and stimulate a foreign-body collagen response around the dissolving thread. The PDO material is the same used in cardiac surgery sutures. Threads dissolve in 4-6 months; the collagen scaffold they leave behind may provide some ongoing lift effect. Results are variable -- initial lift is often visible but durability is the core clinical criticism.

Why these scores

Medical PromiseHigher is better

5/10

Limited quality evidence; most studies are small, industry-funded, and lack long-term follow-up. Patient satisfaction data from retrospective series shows rapid decline from 78% at 1 month to 34% at 12 months.

Short-term SafetyHigher is safer

5/10

Bruising and swelling are universal; thread extrusion (8%), infection (4%), and visible dimpling (6%) documented in published case series.

Long-term SafetyHigher is safer

6/10

Threads dissolve safely; no permanent harm in most cases, but asymmetry risk from uneven collagen response is real.

Should You Try ThisHigher is better

4/10

High procedure cost for short-lived, variable results; a significant proportion of patients are disappointed by 12 months.

Common misconceptions

✕Myth

“Thread lifts are a non-surgical facelift.”

✓Reality

The lift effect from PDO threads is significantly weaker and shorter-lived than surgical facelift. Framing it as equivalent is a marketing claim not supported by comparative clinical evidence.

✕Myth

“PDO threads are permanent.”

✓Reality

PDO threads dissolve within 4-6 months. Some collagen persists but the mechanical lift component fades. PCL threads last longer but are also eventually absorbed.

What the evidence firmly supports

✓
PDO is a safe, bioabsorbable material well-established in surgery with a long history of use in cardiac and orthopaedic procedures.
✓
Collagen induction histologically confirmed at dissolved thread sites; foreign-body response produces a fibrous scaffold.
✓
Patient satisfaction in retrospective series declines sharply from approximately 78% at 1 month to 34% at 12 months.

Still being studied

?
Long-term lift durability beyond 18 months.
?
Comparison with energy-based alternatives such as HIFU for equivalent lifting outcomes.
?
Optimal thread type, number, and insertion technique for different anatomical regions.

Key Study

Thread lifting for facial rejuvenation: assessment of the long-term results

Ogilvie et al. · Aesthetic Surgery Journal · 2020

Retrospective analysis (n=110) of PDO thread lifts showed initial patient satisfaction of 78% at 1 month declining to 34% by 12 months, with 15% experiencing complications including thread extrusion (8%), infection (4%), and visible dimpling (6%). Collagen histology confirmed neocollagenesis around dissolved threads.

PubMed ↗ PMID 19451452

Products on the market

Brand	Manufacturer	What differentiates it	Approval	Pricing
Silhouette Soft	Sinclair Pharma	PLLA cones on PLGA suture; FDA 510(k)-cleared; bidirectional cones for lift and volume	FDA	$2,000-4,000
Mint Lift	HansBiomed	PDO barbed threads; widely used in Korean aesthetic practice	CE	$1,500-3,500
NovaThreads	NovaThreads LLC	PDO threads in various configurations; barbed and smooth options	FDA	$1,500-3,000
EuroThreads	EuroThreads	PCL threads with longer degradation time for extended lift effect	CE	$2,000-4,500
Spring Threads	Croma	PLLA/PCL hybrid; spring coil design for collagen induction without directional lift	CE	$2,000-4,500

Quick Facts

Duration30-90 min; results 6-18 months

Studies80+

FDA StatusFDA 510(k)-cleared (PDO suture material); not specifically approved for lifting indication

Price$1,500-$4,500 per session

Full list of studies reviewed

14 studies +

1.Tan MG, et al. Radiofrequency Microneedling: A Comprehensive and Critical Review. Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.]. 2021.PMID 33577211 ↗
2.Hou A, et al. Microneedling: A Comprehensive Review. Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.]. 2017.PMID 27755171 ↗
3.Atiyeh BS, et al. Microneedling: Percutaneous Collagen Induction (PCI) Therapy for Management of Scars and Photoaged Skin-Scientific Evidence and Review of the Literature. Aesthetic plastic surgery. 2021.PMID 32875437 ↗
4.Spataro EA, et al. Microneedling-Associated Procedures to Enhance Facial Rejuvenation. Clinics in plastic surgery. 2023.PMID 32875437 ↗
5.Jaiswal S, et al. Microneedling in Dermatology: A Comprehensive Review of Applications, Techniques, and Outcomes. Cureus. 2024.PMID 39449889 ↗
6.Spataro EA, et al. Microneedling-Associated Procedures to Enhance Facial Rejuvenation. Facial plastic surgery clinics of North America. 2022.PMID 39449889 ↗
7.Ramaut L, et al. Microneedling: Where do we stand now? A systematic review of the literature. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS. 2018.PMID 37169413 ↗
8.Chen W, et al. Review of Applications of Microneedling in Melasma. Journal of cosmetic dermatology. 2025.PMID 39731267 ↗
9.Šuca H, et al. MICRONEEDLING - A FORM OF COLLAGEN INDUCTION THERAPY - OUR FIRST EXPERIENCES. Acta chirurgiae plasticae. 2017.PMID 39731267 ↗
10.Wang ZY, et al. Dual-Action Psoriasis Therapy: Antiproliferative and Immunomodulatory Effects via Self-Locking Microneedles. Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany). 2024.PMID 39473371 ↗
11.Wu X, et al. Microneedling Radiofrequency Enhances Poly-L-Lactic Acid Penetration That Effectively Improves Facial Skin Laxity without Lipolysis. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 2024.PMID 40959852 ↗
12.Aust MC, et al. Percutaneous collagen induction therapy: an alternative treatment for scars, wrinkles, and skin laxity. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 2008.PMID 38051121 ↗
13.Wang Q, et al. A Scoping Review of Radiofrequency Microneedling: Clinical Application and Outcome Assessment. Aesthetic plastic surgery. 2025.PMID 20337652 ↗
14.Ziaeifar E, et al. Applications of microneedling for various dermatologic indications with a special focus on pigmentary disorders: A comprehensive review study. Dermatologic therapy. 2021.PMID 40537669 ↗

Should You Try This?

Probably don't do it

Questions to ask your doctor

Q1
How many thread lifts have you performed and can I see before/after photos at 12 months (not just 4-6 weeks)?
Good answer
A good answer provides genuinely long-term photos, not just immediate post-procedure shots. 12-month results are the clinically relevant endpoint, not 4-week outcomes.
Q2
What is your complication rate for thread extrusion and what is your management protocol?
Good answer
A good answer includes specific data from their own practice and a clear protocol for managing extrusion, including whether they handle it in-clinic or refer.
Q3
What is the realistic lift I can expect at 12 months?
Good answer
A good answer is honest about the 34% satisfaction rate at 12 months in published data and does not oversell longevity to close the consultation.

Clinic checklist

Universal

Check the practitioner is licensed and registered. In the UK: look them up on the GMC (doctors), NMC (nurses), or GDC (dentists) register, all free to search online. In the US: search your state medical board. Takes 2 minutes. If they cannot tell you their regulatory body, leave.
Ask to see the product box before treatment. It should be factory-sealed with a visible lot number and expiry date. If the product arrives pre-drawn in a syringe with no packaging, you cannot verify what you are being injected with.
You should receive a written consent form before treatment. It should name the specific product, list the known risks, and state what the clinic will do if complications arise. A single generic form with no product name is not adequate.
A reputable clinic will ask about your current medications (especially blood thinners like aspirin, ibuprofen, warfarin), supplements (fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo), autoimmune conditions, allergies, and past treatments. If no one asks, they are skipping a safety step.
Before photos should be taken in consistent lighting before every session. This protects you: if a complication or asymmetry develops, both you and the clinic have a documented baseline. If a clinic does not take before photos, they are not tracking outcomes.
Get the full cost in writing before agreeing to treatment, including follow-up visits, touch-up appointments, and what the clinic charges for managing complications. Verbal quotes are not binding.

Procedure-specific

Only consider this with a practitioner who can show you 12-month post-procedure photos, not just immediate or 4-6 week results.
Ask specifically about thread extrusion rates in their own practice.
Ensure a clear protocol exists if threads extrude or complications arise.
Have realistic expectations: this procedure typically lasts 6-12 months, not years.
Confirm the practitioner uses cannula technique rather than sharp needle insertion; cannula carries lower trauma and bruising risk.

Educational content only. This page summarises published clinical research and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your care.

Researched by

Val Yermakova

Informed Girl · informedgirl.com