Do PDO threads hurt?
My own experience
I recently had PDO threads for the first time. I was super nervous because honestly the videos I’ve seen are terrifying! As a provider it’s super important to me to experience any procedure I’ll be performing on others, not to mention I really needed a lift. Losing weight, approaching 40, and my previous sun damage have taken a toll on my face and despite all the other boat load of anti-aging treatments I’ve had, I still have deep nasolabial folds and jowling. My face is falling and it can’t get up!
After training we had some extra time and before I had the chance to come with a good excuse not to, I was setting in my own chair getting numbed and drawn on like a surgical patient.
Injections of lidocaine with epinephrine at the insertion sites help with any discomfort and minimize bleeding.
The vectors we draw onto the face help to determine where the threads need to be placed to get the best lifting effect.
PDO (polydioxanone) threads are bio-absorbable sutures that have been used in surgery for decades. In recent years, they have gained popularity in the field of aesthetics due to their ability to stimulate collagen production and provide a natural-looking lift to the skin. PDO threads come in different types and configurations, allowing for customized treatments based on individual needs.
The threads I received were the Levo threads from PDO Max. These threads have tiny barbs that help to grab the tissue and reposition it giving a lifting effect. There was a total of 10, 5 on each side of my face all going from the top side of my face to the corner of my mouth and a little below my chin. I was blown away at how painless and quick the actual procedure was. I say painless, there were times of discomfort but also times I felt nothing at all. It was not anything like I expected, in a good way!! It took maybe 20 mins total. I also got to sit up in between and see the treated side vs the non treated side.
The results are immediate but because the threads create collagen the best result comes months later and can last years!
Treated vs Untreated with PDO threads
I do think it’s important to mention that though the procedure was pretty comfortable, the recovery was a little more significant than I expected. I went home and went about my day as normal, it in no way kept me from mom duties, shopping or church in the following days. However I was very tender that evening and the following day. Doing my skin care that night was difficult, opening my mouth to eat was challenging, my head ached a little and sleeping wasn’t easy. I iced in the middle of the night which helped a ton!
The next morning I was less tender, but there was some swelling under my eyes and they seemed dark, like a black eye. I was able to eat better but smiling was pretty limited. I also noticed a few poking sensations randomly, the manufacturers call “zingers”.
Today I’m 4 days post procedure. The tiny insertion areas are healed up, swelling is still present but improved, and I’m noticing more movement in my face again! The lift is still there which is awesome and I’m lm obsessed with that part! The expectation is that within 2 weeks swelling will be gone, full movement of my face will return and any other unwanted effects will be resolved.
I can’t wait to continue to watch the results improve and keep you updated on the progress!
What I’m most impressed with from this service is just how much lift I was able to get and how natural it looks. Other aesthetic services can give the illusion of a lift but do not actually give a lift!
If you feel like threads could be the right fit for you or you’d like to learn more, we are offering free consults and an intro price that is heavily discounted for the first 10 clients that book the service.
In addition to the lifting threads we also offer smooth threads. Smooth threads are less invasive but used in larger quantities to produce collagen, tighten and smooth. They can be used in the glabella, jowling, neck, undereyes, literally anywhere we need to create collagen!
