Question 1

What are PDO threads and how do they work?

Accepted Answer

PDO stands for polydioxanone, a synthetic absorbable suture material that has been used in surgical procedures, including cardiac surgery, for decades. Its safety profile in the body is exceptionally well established. In aesthetic medicine, PDO threads are introduced into the skin and subcutaneous tissue using fine needles or cannulas, where they produce their effect through two distinct mechanisms simultaneously.

The immediate lift is visible from the day of treatment. The biological collagen stimulation develops over the following weeks and months as the thread gradually absorbs, leaving behind a network of new collagen in the tissue.

This dual mechanism is what distinguishes PDO threads from most other non-invasive lifting treatments. You are not simply stimulating collagen production and waiting for it to show. You are repositioning tissue immediately and then consolidating that result biologically over the following months.

Question 2

What areas can PDO threads treat?

Accepted Answer

PDO threads are one of the most anatomically versatile treatments in the non-surgical aesthetic toolkit, precisely because they can be placed at varying depths and configurations across a wide range of facial and body areas.

The lower face and jawline are the areas where I see the most consistent and clinically significant results from PDO threads at Juvenology.

Jowling and loss of jawline definition are among the most common concerns that bring patients to my clinic, and threads address the mechanical cause of that change, descended tissue, rather than simply filling around it.

Question 3

Does it hurt and is there significant downtime?

Accepted Answer

PDO thread treatment involves needles and cannulas being passed through the skin and into the subcutaneous tissue, so honesty about the experience is important.

The procedure is performed under topical anaesthetic and in some cases local anaesthetic injections are used at entry points for additional comfort. Most patients find it manageable. The level of discomfort varies significantly with the area treated and the depth of placement.

I always tell patients to plan PDO thread treatment for a time when they have at least a week before any significant social or professional commitment. Not because the result looks bad, but because the swelling in the early days does not reflect the final outcome and I do not want patients judging the result before it has settled.

Question 4

How long do PDO thread results last?

Accepted Answer

PDO threads produce results that last through two overlapping phases, the mechanical lift phase and the collagen stimulation phase, and understanding both helps set realistic expectations.

The result does not disappear when the threads absorb. The collagen that has formed along the thread path continues to provide structural support after the thread itself is gone.

What I consistently find in clinic is that patients who maintain PDO thread treatment regularly develop progressively better structural support over time, because each course of treatment is building on the collagen foundation established by the previous one.

Question 5

Who is a good candidate for PDO threads and who is not?

Accepted Answer

PDO threads are most effective for patients with mild to moderate skin laxity who want mechanical lifting and collagen stimulation without surgical intervention. The ideal candidate has enough skin elasticity and tissue quality to respond well to the repositioning and to support the collagen remodelling that follows.

One of the most important parts of the consultation is being honest about where threads sit on the spectrum between non-surgical and surgical options for a given patient.

PDO threads can produce genuinely impressive results for the right patient. For a patient with significant tissue descent and skin excess, they will produce a modest improvement that may not justify the investment and the experience. I would rather tell you that at consultation than after treatment.

Question 6

Can PDO threads be combined with other treatments and if so which ones?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and combining PDO threads with complementary treatments is where the most comprehensive and lasting results are achieved. Threads address the mechanical lifting component. Other treatments address the skin quality, volume, and cellular repair components that threads alone cannot.

The sequencing principle at Juvenology is to perform threads before filler in the same session where both are planned, repositioning the tissue first and then assessing whether and where volume restoration is needed in the new position.

Placing filler before threads can result in the filler being displaced or the thread result being different from what was planned. Order matters.

Question 7

Are PDO threads safe and what are the risks?

Accepted Answer

PDO threads have a well-established safety profile when performed by a practitioner with thorough anatomical knowledge and appropriate clinical training.

The material itself, polydioxanone, has been used in surgical sutures including cardiovascular surgery for decades and its biocompatibility is not in question.

The risks associated with PDO threads are real and worth discussing honestly, because this is a procedure that involves passing threads through the subcutaneous tissue of the face and the complications that arise are almost always technique-related.

I trained as a cardiac nurse before I trained as an aesthetic practitioner. The anatomical precision and respect for what lies beneath the surface that cardiac nursing demands is the same precision I bring to every thread treatment.

Knowing exactly where vessels run, where nerves sit, and how tissue planes behave in a given area is not optional in PDO thread treatment. It is the clinical foundation on which safe outcomes depend.

Question 8

What should I do and avoid after PDO thread treatment?

Accepted Answer

The aftercare period following PDO threads is more specific than most other aesthetic treatments and following it properly directly affects both the comfort of your recovery and the quality of your result.

The dental treatment restriction is the one most commonly overlooked and the one with the most significant potential to affect the result. Dental appointments involve opening the mouth widely and applying pressure to the jaw and surrounding tissue. This can displace recently placed threads before they have fully integrated into the tissue. Four weeks is the minimum interval I recommend.

Question 9

How is PDO thread treatment at Juvenology different from a thread lift at a beauty salon?

Accepted Answer

This is a question I feel strongly about because the difference is not cosmetic. It is clinical and it is significant.

PDO threads involve passing suture material through the subcutaneous tissue of the face in close proximity to facial nerves, blood vessels, and anatomical structures whose disruption can produce serious and in some cases lasting complications. This is not a treatment that can be safely performed without thorough anatomical training and a clear understanding of what lies beneath the surface in every area being treated.

Beauty salons offering thread treatments at significantly lower prices are not offering the same treatment. They are offering the same material delivered without the clinical foundation that makes the treatment safe and the results predictable.

At Juvenology, PDO thread treatment is performed by Nurse Marina, NMC Registered, JCCP Verified, and BACN Member, with the anatomical knowledge that six years of cardiac nursing and years of aesthetic medicine training produce. The thread is the smallest part of what you are paying for.

Question 10

Will PDO threads affect future MRI scans or medical procedures?

Accepted Answer

No. This is one of the most common concerns patients raise before committing to thread treatment and the reassurance is straightforward.

PDO, polydioxanone, is a non-metallic, fully absorbable synthetic material. It contains no metal, produces no magnetic signal, and creates no interference with MRI scanning equipment. You can have an MRI at any point before, during, or after your thread treatment without any modification to the scanning protocol or any risk to yourself or the equipment.

The one practical consideration worth mentioning is surgical procedures in or near the treated area while threads are still present, typically within the first four to six months before absorption is complete.
If you are planning any surgical procedure in the face or neck area, inform your surgeon that you have had PDO threads placed and when. This is not because the threads create a safety issue but because a surgeon who knows threads are present can take that into account in their approach and their planning.

Beyond that specific consideration, PDO threads place no restrictions on any future medical procedure and require no disclosure beyond what routine medical history taking would capture anyway.

JUVENOLOGY CLINIC, MAIDSTONE KENT

PDO Thread Lift

Experience a face lift without surgery.

Treatment Details

What are PDO threads and how do they work?

What areas can PDO threads treat?

Does it hurt and is there significant downtime?

How long do PDO thread results last?

Who is a good candidate for PDO threads and who is not?

Can PDO threads be combined with other treatments and if so which ones?

Are PDO threads safe and what are the risks?

What should I do and avoid after PDO thread treatment?

How is PDO thread treatment at Juvenology different from a thread lift at a beauty salon?

Will PDO threads affect future MRI scans or medical procedures?

Frequently Asked Questions

Further reading on PDO threads and facial lifting

Related services at Juvenology

Not sure where to start?

Book a Consultation

Skincare Developed by Dermatologists

Where is Juvenology Clinic located?

How do I get there by train?

Is there parking near the clinic?

How do I reach you by car?

Are you accessible by bus?