Thread Lifting — PDO & PLLA Non-Surgical Lift

Thread lifting at FaceExpert uses resorbable PDO, PLLA, and P(LA/CL) threads inserted under the skin to mechanically lift sagging facial contours and simultaneously stimulate collagen production. Performed by MUDr. Zuzana Macko — a MINT thread system-certified international trainer — the treatment is fully outpatient with minimal recovery. FaceExpert offers a tiered range from focused single-zone lifts (Foxy Eyes brow lift at 16,900 Kč, nose lifting, Nefertiti neck variant) through comprehensive facial lifts that address the mid-face, jawline, and overall facial laxity in a single session. Unlike barb-free smooth threads which only stimulate collagen, FaceExpert's lifting threads provide an immediate, visible repositioning effect — the lifted position is further supported over the following 2–3 months as new collagen forms along the thread scaffold. The result typically lasts 18–24 months. MUDr. Macko's MINT certification signals mastery of the most demanding thread techniques and is directly transferable to patient outcomes in her clinic.

Thread lifting is a minimally invasive facial rejuvenation technique in which resorbable barbed sutures — made from PDO (polydioxanone), PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid), or P(LA/CL) (poly-L-lactic-co-caprolactone) — are inserted through micro-punctures under local anaesthesia or numbing cream and tensioned to mechanically reposition descended facial tissue. At FaceExpert, MUDr. Zuzana Macko holds MINT certification — an international standard for barbed thread lifting that covers advanced placement techniques, anatomical safety corridors, and complication management. She teaches these techniques to other physicians through the Dr. Macko Academy, meaning her clinical proficiency is validated not just by certification but by instructional performance. **Thread materials and their differences:** - PDO threads: Fastest-dissolving (4–6 months); provide immediate collagen induction; used for smooth biostimulating threads and lighter cog threads. - PLLA threads: Persist 12–18 months; stronger biostimulatory signal; the sustained presence extends the collagen-stimulation phase and is preferred for more significant lifting cases. - P(LA/CL): A copolymer combining PLLA rigidity with polycaprolactone flexibility, allowing thicker thread diameters that carry more tissue without fracturing during tensioning — used in the most demanding lifting cases such as the Complete Full Lifting. **Procedures offered at FaceExpert:** *Eyebrow Lifting / Foxy Eyes (16,900 Kč):* Barbed threads inserted via the hairline lift the lateral brow and outer eye corner, creating the elongated upward-angled 'almond eye' silhouette. The Foxy Eyes aesthetic has become particularly sought-after, and thread technique is its non-surgical equivalent to surgical brow pexy. *Nose Lifting (16,900 Kč):* Threads placed at the nasal tip to elevate a drooping tip and create a more refined nasal contour — often combined with non-surgical rhinoplasty using HA fillers for a comprehensive nose reshaping without surgery. *Mid-face Lifting (from 19,900 Kč):* The mid-face is the zone most visibly affected by gravitational descent — falling cheekpad volume descends along the nasolabial groove, deepens nasolabial folds, and creates a lower face jowl. Threads inserted from the hairline and anchored to the temporal fascia reposition the cheek tissue upward and laterally, reducing nasolabial depth and restoring the cheekbone apex. *Jawline Contouring (from 19,900 Kč):* Threads placed along the mandibular vector tighten the skin and platysma overlying the jawline, reducing jowl projection and restoring a defined mandibular border. *Complete Light Lifting (from 25,900 Kč):* A multi-zone thread protocol addressing the full face with a lighter thread load — appropriate for patients with early-to-moderate facial ptosis who want comprehensive improvement with a shorter procedure time and faster recovery. *Complete Full Lifting (from 29,900 Kč):* The most comprehensive thread lifting option — using a higher thread count and multiple insertion vectors to achieve maximal lift across the brow, mid-face, jawline, and neck. Comparable in scope (though not permanence) to a minimal-access facelift; the Full Lifting protocol is the ceiling of what thread technique can achieve without surgery. **Collagen biostimulation:** Beyond the mechanical lift, all resorbable thread materials trigger a foreign-body collagen response. Fibroblasts are recruited to the thread track and deposit new collagen type I and III along the thread scaffold. This 'biological bonus' means the clinical result actually improves over the first 2–3 months after the procedure as collagen matures — and continues to provide structural support for months after the threads themselves have dissolved. **Recovery:** Mild swelling, bruising, and occasional skin surface irregularity at entry points for 5–10 days. Patients are advised to avoid wide mouth opening, chewing hard foods, and dental procedures for 2 weeks. Exercise, saunas, and facial massages are restricted for 4 weeks. **Contraindications:** Active skin infection, pregnancy, autoimmune disease, severe skin laxity requiring surgical facelift, keloid tendency, blood clotting disorders.