Are you looking to give your face, or other skin throughout your body, a lift without surgery? Our team at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging of Knoxville, TN, offers a range of treatments to help our patients look and feel their best. PDO threads can be an especially great choice for patients looking to smooth out wrinkles and address skin laxity. Today, we’re going to take a look at some common questions surrounding this treatment.
Who Is a Good Candidate for PDO Threads?
Patients With Skin Laxity
Patients who are noticing visible signs of aging throughout their skin can be very good candidates for PDO threads. Laxity can be due to early aging, or just the natural toll of time on the body. Either way, this treatment is very versatile and can be used for a wide range of needs, and for patients of almost any age.
In general, we recommend this treatment for those who are dealing with mild or moderate skin laxity. Patients of any gender can benefit from a thread lift. Many patients want to have the skin of their face or neck treated, but we can treat other areas as well.
Consultations Are Key
A consultation is an important step in helping you decide on the right treatment. We want to make sure we have a good understanding of your needs, skin health, and aesthetic goals. After we talk with you and examine the skin you’d like treated, we can let you know if this or one of our various other treatments has the best chance of giving you the results you’re looking for.
During your consultation, we’ll explain the treatment process to you. This will include what you can expect during and after your treatment. This is also a great time to ask us any questions you have, and we’d be happy to answer them for you.
How Does This Treatment Work?
Correction and Rejuvenation
PDO threads are made of a thin, safe, absorbable material. They are injected under the skin and are used to both physically correct skin laxity and encourage skin rejuvenation. That means they can help address wrinkles while also improving your skin’s overall strength, texture, and elasticity through collagen production.
What Is the Treatment Like?
Getting Ready
Once you’ve had your consultation, and if we feel like this is the right treatment for you, we can start getting you ready for your appointment. Each patient will be given personalized advice, based on their unique case. We’ll get your appointment scheduled and you’ll be set to head home until it’s time for your treatment.
The Process
The first step will be to either apply an injectable or topical anesthetic, based on your needs and the area of treatment. We’ll be following what’s called a grid injection pattern, which will help make the lifting power of your threads as effective as possible.
The threads themselves are gently injected with a hollow needle. Once injected, the threads will attach themselves under the skin, which allows us to carefully pull and manipulate the underlying skin.
The Length
Life is busy, and just about everyone is dealing with a packed schedule. If you’re worried that this treatment is going to take too much of your valuable time, we have good news. This treatment can generally be carried out in 45 to 60 minutes, depending on what area you’re having done. There’s no necessary downtime for it either, so it’s easy to fit into a busy schedule.
The Results
This treatment allows most patients to see immediate improvements. Your skin should look tighter, and as a result this can greatly improve the appearance of skin laxity, wrinkles, and fine lines.
The immediate results aren’t the only benefits this treatment has to offer. This treatment encourages collagen production. You should continue to see your results improve for up to six months after your treatment, and your body will continue to produce extra collagen for about 15 months. This boost in collagen helps the results last for up to two years. That said, some patients opt for yearly treatments to keep their skin in ideal condition.
What Areas Can Be Treated?
Nasolabial Folds
Nasolabial folds were one of the original concerns this treatment was developed for. Threads are an excellent option for patients who want to reduce the appearance of either nasolabial folds or marionette lines. Both types of folds can deepen with age, with nasolabial folds extending from behind the nose, and marionette lines starting at each corner of the mouth.
Jowls
The skin often begins to lose both shape and structure as collagen levels decrease. The effect of age and the wear of gravity can contribute to the formation of “jowls.” Jowls is the term used to describe loose skin along the jawline or chin that extends to the neck.
Some patients find themselves dealing with premature jowls due to rapid weight fluctuations. The appearance of jowls can be greatly improved with a thread lift.
Eye Area
The skin around our eyes is notoriously thin and delicate, so finding the right treatment can be tricky. Threads are a wonderful solution for patients who want to improve the appearance of their eyelids, or gently smooth fine lines and bags under the eyes.
Forehead
Foreheads tend to develop wrinkles quickly. The forehead is heavily used when we make facial expressions. If you think about it, every time you move your eyebrows, you’re using the muscles around your forehead. The more we use these muscles, the more likely we are to see wrinkles.
Another reason wrinkles can show up early is due to sun exposure. Many patients find themselves regretting the carefree days they didn’t wear sun protection, as sun damage is a leading contributor to aging skin. Unfortunately, even those who religiously wear sun protection still can’t delay the onset of wrinkles forever. If you find yourself with permanent lines across your forehead, or a lowering brow, this treatment can help.
Brows
As our skin loses its structure, our eyebrows can begin to sink closer to the eyes. This treatment can help lighten your expression by gently raising your eyebrows while smoothing over fine lines at the same time. This can help patients look more youthful and alert.
Lips
Horizontal and vertical lines are common concerns when it comes to lips. “Smoker’s lines” in particular respond well to PDO threads.
Neck
When we think of wrinkles and skin laxity, we often think of the face first. But many patients find that their necks age just as fast or sometimes even faster than their faces. Sun damage and collagen loss can take their toll on the skin of our necks. That can leave us with laxity, and both horizontal and vertical wrinkles to deal with.
Threads can be used as a non-surgical “neck lift,” to restore a more youthful appearance to the neck.
Other Areas
This may be commonly seen as a facial treatment, but it’s far more versatile than that. Other areas that can be treated include the following, and more:
- Abdomen
- Arms
- Hands
- Chest
- Thighs
- Buttocks
- Armpits
- Knees
What Are the Benefits?
Natural Appearance
Some patients are hesitant to seek out cosmetic treatments. They’re concerned that they could end up with a face that doesn’t look like their own anymore.
Our team is dedicated to giving you quality results that respect your natural beauty. Threads are a gentle treatment, meant to work with your natural face shape and correct skin laxity. With skilled application, you should simply look like you stepped back in time.
No Surgery
Not everyone is ready to commit to the recovery time or cost of a facelift. Facelift surgery is well-known for its ability to both remove excess skin, and reposition facial skin to achieve a younger appearance. It’s very effective, but it’s not the only option.
For patients who don’t want or can’t get surgery, PDO threads can be used to manipulate the skin and achieve similar results. For patients who are considering a facelift in the future but aren’t ready to commit, a thread lift can give them a “sneak peek” at their results and what they could expect from surgery.
No Scarring
Scars are usually unavoidable when it comes to surgical facelifts, but a skilled surgeon can hide these scars around your ears and hairline. That said, some patients are worried that their scars could remain visible, or limit their hairstyle options. If you want a treatment that doesn’t involve incisions, a thread lift can be a good alternative.
We’re Ready for Your Questions
Do you have more questions for us? We’re ready for them! We know how important it is to feel comfortable, excited, and confident about your treatment options. Reach out to our knowledgeable team at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging of Knoxville, TN, today to get your consultation set up!