The concept of using barbed sutures for skin improvement, also known as thread lift, has been around the beauty industry since the 1990s. It has since risen in popularity to become one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures.
So if you are struggling with sagging skin and an uneven skin tone, thread lift is the best remedy for these concerns. It is a safer, non-invasive, and an effective alternative to surgery.
But, minimal risk does not always mean no risk. As with any procedure that involves breaking the skin, there are several PDO thread lifts complications you must be aware of.
If thread lift is your preferred cosmetic treatment, here is everything you need to expect, with special focus on the risks, complications,and side effects.
What is It?
Thread lift is a non-surgical skin treatment that involves placing clinical-grade thread under the outer skin layer. This pulls the skin into position, eliminating sagging and aging, and promoting collagen synthesis to give the skin that much-desired youthful glow.
Advancements in the material and techniques used for thread lift have increased the procedure's popularity, especially among people with ailments that discourage general anesthesia, which is used during surgical facelifts. Moreover, it is less painful with a quick recovery period, making it easier to combine with other procedures for optimum results.
How Does Thread Lift Work?
The procedure doesn't work in just one but two proven ways, and the first is straightforward. During the treatment, your practitioner will inject temporary sutures, which produce a modest but noticeable lift on the treated area. This process of 'stitching up' portions of the skin instead of surgical removal pulls the sagging skin back and tightens it.
Once the barbed wire is under the skin, it tricks the body into triggering its healing mechanism and deploying it around the treated area. This is a crucial step in the process as the body produces surges of collagen, which is essential to overall skin health.
Apart from its wound-healing properties, collagen helps to keep the skin firm and voluminous, and just like that, you will achieve the benefits of PDO thread lift, including radiant, youthful skin without undergoing surgery.
Types of Thread Lifts and Targeted Areas
The threads can be grouped into various categories, depending on the targeted areas. The most common types of PDO thread lifts are:
- Thread Facelift - The transformational facelift is the most common type of thread lift. This is no surprise, as the face is the most affected by loose skin and fine lines as we age. The procedure uses a drawstring effect to pull the loose skin and make it tight again. It also promotes collagen synthesis, which is essential to restoring the skin's plumpness.
- Mini Butt Lift - When applied to the buttock, PDO threads reduce laxity and pull the loose skin without using invasive methods. They also shape your backside by holding up the skin and reinforcing the structure.
- Fox Eye/Ponytail Lift - Fox eye thread lift transforms your appearance by changing the eyes' shape. The sutures lift the eyebrows slightly to the temple, giving you natural-looking results, close to the look you get by pulling hair into a solid ponytail on top of your head.
- Nose Thread Lift - A nose thread lift is a popular alternative to surgical means of changing nose shape. If you are not content with your nose's current look, your doctor will inject the temporary sutures to shape up or straighten it.
- Neck Thread Lift- If you are worried about a double chin as a result of skin laxity and wrinkles around the neck, a neck thread lift will tighten the skin and make it look younger.
- Knee Lifts - The area just above the knees is significantly affected by fine lines and loss of volume on the skin as we age. Luckily, you can also use PDO threads to lift the skin, improve its tone, and make the knees look younger.
Am I Eligible for a Thread Lift?
Generally, the best candidates for thread lifts are individuals who fall victim to early aging and have signs such as mild skin sagging, especially on the face. This could result in wrinkles and fine lines around the chin, eyes, and nose, which are usually frustrating.
However, dermatologists use consultation to narrow down to the most ideal candidates, depending on various factors. These include active skin conditions, ongoing medication, expected results. Therefore, if you're not expecting dramatic results, the procedure might just be what you need, as it produces temporary and subtle results. This is why it's crucial to consult with a skin expert before settling on thread lift as your preferred skin treatment.
The Thread Lift Procedure
A thread lift procedure may vary depending on the area that you intend to treat. However, the constant basic technique is:
- Before the procedure, your doctor will explain everything you need to know and what to expect from the thread lift. This is crucial to help you manage your expectations and avoid surprises along the way. Then, they will apply a local anesthesia, meaning that you'll be conscious but feel no pain.
- The doctor or surgeon will prepare and use the small needle or cannula to insert the threads beneath the skin. This will take anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour, as every injection requires utmost precision.
- Immediately after the procedure,you may feel some tightness around the treated area. Unless you experience any mild reactions afterward, you are free to go home immediately after the procedure. Moreover, ensure you get detailed instructions on how to take care of your skin.
What to Expect Afterwards
The results of a thread lift are apparent immediately after injecting the threads, but they will be more noticeable with time. Therefore, you can go back to your daily activities after the procedure.
However, if you experience severe bruising and swelling after the procedure, take a break and take care of the treated area. Additionally, avoid rubbing your face vigorously, sleeping on your side, and do not use makeup and moisturizer for the recommended period.
The results of the treatment will become more noticeable about two weeks after a thread lift procedure , mostly after the swelling and bruising subside. The improved skin elasticity and tightness are also not permanent, and will stop showing as the skin tissue absorbs the threads over time. Moreover, there are various short-term and long-term complications that you must be aware of.
8 Potential PDO Thread Lifts Complications to Look Out For
Thread lifts have been proven to be safe, but like any other medical procedure, they carry various risks and complications. Here are some likely complications and how to manage them.
1. Discomfort
While thread lift is less invasive, that doesn't mean that it is entirely pain-free. Therefore, most patients still report experiencing some level of pain and discomfort during the procedure.
This can be the normal irritation or a result of poor injecting techniques and you can manage it by choosing an experienced and skilled practitioner. Applying a local anesthesia to numb the area being treated can help minimize the pain.
2. Hematoma
In rare cases, a surgeon may unintentionally puncture and injure a blood vessel as they inject the threads. This causes the blood to spill on the surrounding tissue, clot, and cause swelling. The cannula may also injure a nerve and cause permanent immobility, although it is extremely rare.
It is crucial to find a qualified doctor who will perform the thread lift safely, and in case of a hematoma, your doctor should inject kenalog after the procedure. You can also use a cold pack on the bruised area and let it heal on its own after a week or two.
3. Infection
Infections after skin treatment are not uncommon, as most procedures leave open injuries. To eliminate the risk of infection during a thread lift, get your procedure in a hygienic clinic and ensure that the area you intend to treat is clean. Additionally, your surgeon should sterilize every reusable equipment thoroughly before and after using it on your skin.
4. Swelling and Bruising
After a PDO thread lift, you should expect some bruising and inflammation around the treated area. This is only short term, and should go away in a few days if you use ice packs and takeaway prescribed medication.
However, if the swelling persists past two weeks, ask your doctor for ways to reduce swelling after thread lift, as it could be a sign of underlying complications and side effects.
5. Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to cosmetic procedures and treatments are common, as they involve introducing foreign matter into the body. If you experience signs of an allergy or prolonged side effects such as swelling, you may be allergic to the threading material, and you may have to remove the threads altogether.
Again, this emphasizes the importance of consultation before the procedure, as a skin expert will identify potential allergens in the threads and discourage you from the procedure.
6. Thread Migration
PDO threads are fragile in nature, in that they easily lose strength when exposed to humidity. This may cause them to break after insertion and move through the tissue away from the intended skin area. our practitioner can avoid it by ensuring that they don't inject threads that have been stored improperly for a long time.
Upon noticing thread migration, you have to notify your doctor immediately so that they can dissolve with hyaluronic acid or remove the threads entirely if necessary.
7. Asymmetry
Facial symmetry is as important to appearance as flawless skin, However, injecting more threads on one side of the face of thread migration can lead to an asymmetry face. Luckily, you can address this by simply adding more threads to the other side of the face to keep the features balanced.
8. Dissatisfaction
While it is not usually counted as one of PDO thread lifts complications, differences between the results of a thread lift procedure and your expectations can be a major cause for concern. However, you can manage it with your doctor right from the consultation stage by being on the same page on what to expect from the treatment.
Despite these complications, the general feeling about thread lifts is that they are one of the safest and modern skin treatments with satisfactory results. After all, most of these complications and side effects are rare or easy to manage when they show up.
When to Call a Doctor
While recovering from a thread lift, it is normal to experience temporary side effects that go away after some time. However, there is the question of how long the signs of PDO thread lifts complications have to persist before you contact your doctor and go in for assessment.
That said, infections are arguably the most common risk that thread lift procedures come with. Therefore, you should contact your healthcare provider if you experience persistent headaches, fever, and swelling that lasts more than two days. These may be signs of an infection, which could prove dangerous if not treated.
Takeaway
If you're looking for the perfect skin treatment to deal with sagging skin, you don't have to look further than thread lift. However, you should be aware of PDO thread lifts complications as discussed in this article and understand how to manage them.
Your journey to the perfect refreshed and younger-looking skin begins with a simple consultation with a certified skin expert, so ensure you provide all the necessary details and follow the doctor's instructions to avoid falling victim to these PDO thread lifts complications.
For all things beauty, you need a partner that understands your cosmetic needs and concerns,and at Diaminy, we are all that and more. We have everything you need to prepare yourself for a thread lift, from threads for various body parts to informative sources and advice from seasoned skin experts.
Reach out to us with your enquiries and we will set you on the right path to realizing your skin's full potential with a thread lift procedure.a
