PDO Lifting Threads — Face

Absorbable polydioxanone (PDO) threads inserted beneath the facial skin to provide mechanical tissue lifting and stimulate long-term collagen production along the thread tract. Addresses mid-face sagging, jowls, and nasolabial folds.

PDO thread lifting at SCM Estetic uses absorbable polydioxanone sutures — the same material used in cardiovascular and orthopaedic surgery for decades — to achieve a dual effect: immediate mechanical lifting of sagging tissue and progressive collagen biostimulation along each thread's path. The procedure bridges the gap between non-invasive treatments (which cannot physically reposition tissue) and surgical facelift (which many patients wish to delay or avoid). The practitioner selects from several thread types depending on the treatment goal. Barbed (cog) threads have tiny directional barbs that grip the subcutaneous tissue, providing immediate physical lift when tensioned — these are used for mid-face lifting, jawline definition, and jowl reduction. Smooth (mono) threads are thinner and placed in a mesh pattern to stimulate collagen in areas needing firmness and texture improvement without significant lift. Screw threads, twisted for additional volume, may be used in areas requiring both structural support and volumisation. The procedure takes approximately 60 minutes. After marking the insertion points and vectors, the practitioner applies local anaesthesia and inserts each thread via a thin cannula or needle. The threads are positioned in the subcutaneous fat layer — deep enough to achieve tissue repositioning but superficial enough to avoid nerve structures. Once placed, the threads are anchored and the cannulas removed. The immediate lifting effect is visible as soon as the threads are placed. Over the following 2-6 months, the PDO material triggers a fibrotic healing response: fibroblasts migrate to the thread and deposit collagen along its entire length, creating a scaffold of new structural tissue. The PDO itself dissolves completely within 6-8 months, but the collagen scaffold persists for 12-18 months beyond that. The total duration of the lifting and firming effect is typically 12-24 months depending on thread type, number placed, and individual healing response.