PDO Lifting Threads — Full Face

PDO (polydioxanone) thread lift for the full face — a minimally invasive procedure that inserts absorbable barbed and smooth threads beneath the skin to physically lift sagging tissue and stimulate long-term collagen production along the thread tracks.

The PDO thread lift at Bona Dea is a minimally invasive structural treatment that bridges the gap between injectable volumisers and surgical facelift. Polydioxanone (PDO) threads — the same biocompatible, absorbable suture material used in cardiac and orthopaedic surgery for decades — are inserted beneath the skin using fine cannulas or needles, creating an internal scaffolding that physically repositions sagging tissue and provides an immediate lifting effect. Two types of threads are used in combination during a full-face treatment. Barbed (cog) threads have tiny directional hooks along their length that grip the subcutaneous tissue and pull it upward when the thread is anchored and tensioned — these provide the visible lift. Smooth (mono) threads are placed in a mesh pattern beneath the skin surface to stimulate collagen formation; as the body's wound-healing response activates around each thread, a sleeve of new collagen forms along the thread track, providing structural support that persists long after the thread itself has dissolved. The procedure takes approximately 60 minutes for a full face. Local anaesthetic is injected at the entry and anchoring points. The physician maps the lifting vectors before treatment, marking the insertion points and the direction of pull tailored to the patient's facial anatomy and areas of maximal laxity — commonly the mid-face, jowls, jawline, and nasolabial region. Patients feel pressure and mild discomfort during insertion but the procedure is well-tolerated under local anaesthesia. Post-treatment swelling, mild bruising, and a feeling of tightness are normal for the first 5 to 7 days. Patients are advised to avoid extreme facial expressions, sleeping face-down, and vigorous exercise for 2 weeks. The PDO threads dissolve completely over 6 to 8 months, but the collagen matrix they stimulate remains, providing structural benefit for 12 to 18 months. Bona Dea's physicians have extensive experience with thread architecture and will advise on whether threads are the optimal approach or whether HIFU or fillers may better address the patient's concerns.