Getting immediate lifting results with a PDO thread lift in West Palm Beach can sound sort of like a miracle. In less than an hour, sagging skin and misplaced volume can be somewhat altered and repositioned without the use of a scalpel, and without pain.
PDO stands for polydioxanone. Polydioxanone is a monofilament suture that was first introduced in 1982 and has been used in medicine for decades. The PDO threads that we use for the non-surgical thread lift are altered with tiny cutouts (sometimes called “barbs”) that can adhere to the subcutaneous tissue once inserted through a cannula. A cannula is a needle-look-alike device that has a blunt end and is the delivery method for the thread under the skin. The cannula is then removed and the threads that are now engaging with the tissue can be pulled to tighten and realign the skin. The result is a bit of altered tissue that has been strategically directed. The outcome may improve a bit with time because your body starts to cover the thread with your own newly produced collagen. This collagen is tightly wound, compared to the older, aging collagen. This newer collagen gives the realignment not only extra support but an extra tightness to help the result last longer.
How Many Threads Are Needed?
The number of threads that are required depends upon the desired outcome and realistic expectations. The consultation is the key to the discovery of what may be needed. During that time, I listen to what troubles you, then I will gently maneuver your skin around to see what is possible, and finally give you an estimate of how many may be needed. Sometimes we will add a bit of filler to the procedure to achieve the desired outcome.
It must be recognized that the results most likely will show improvement, but this is not a surgical facelift. If there is too much redundant skin, or too much fat in a certain area, an actual facelift would be beneficial to achieve the desired outcome. Occasionally, if there is an overabundance of fat tissue, we will melt a bit of it out with a product called Kybella. This is deoxycholic acid: a bile acid that occurs naturally as a byproduct of intestinal bacteria. Kybella is, of course, synthetic, but your body will not recognize it as foreign since the molecule is the same.
During the consultation, I will pull the skin in various directions. If the skin has next to no movement, then threads most likely will not achieve anything. But if my fingers can realign the skin somewhat significantly, then the placement of the threads will most likely achieve a degree of success. I pull the skin in various directions called vectors. Sometimes two or three threads are needed for one vector. When it comes to realigning neck skin, the threads need to be placed in various positions that will allow for excess in order for the anterior part of the neck to be lifted and smoothed.
The minimum number of threads on someone who really has very little tissue to maneuver is 8: 4 on each side. More often, it is 5 to 7 on each side in order to achieve a “wow”, which is what most patients desire. Because the area is anesthetized prior to placing the cannula, the only feeling one has is a tiny bit of pressure as the cannula is inserted. The cannula comes out immediately, and then the thread is cut, with the end of it being buried in the subcutaneous space. There is no outward evidence of any thread, nor is there an incision.
Understanding what may be needed and what can be achieved is the key to a successful thread treatment. Call our office at 561-833-4122 to schedule your consultation!