- Treatment area
- Face only, mainly sagging cheek skin
- Results
- Lift is visible right away; long-term results are not well established
- Threads dissolve
- The body absorbs PDO in about 6 months
- Recovery
- Most people are presentable in 3 to 5 days
- Numbing
- Local numbing medicine at small entry points
What is a PDO thread lift?
A thread lift uses thin, absorbable threads (sutures) made of polydioxanone, or PDO. The threads are placed under the skin with a needle or cannula. Tiny barbs or cones along each thread hold sagging tissue in a lifted position for a while.
PDO has been used in medical devices since the early 1980s. Your body absorbs it over time: PDO sutures are fully absorbed in about 182 to 238 days, or roughly 6 months.
What a thread lift can and cannot do
- It can give a lift in sagging cheek skin that is visible right away.
- It is temporary. In a 2025 review of 12 studies with 818 patients, the longest follow-up was 2 years, and the authors noted that long-term data are lacking.
- It is not a replacement for a surgical facelift.
- Manufacturers say threads stimulate collagen around them. Whether that gives a lasting benefit is not well proven, and a lift that lasts after the threads dissolve has not been shown.
The thread lift described here is for the face only. Results vary from person to person.
The thread lift timeline
- Right away — A lift in sagging cheek skin is visible
- 3 to 5 days — Most people are presentable
- About 6 months — The body absorbs the PDO threads
- 2 years — Longest follow-up in a 2025 review of 12 studies
Questions to ask before you decide
- Which thread brand will be used, and what is its FDA-cleared use?
- How many threads are planned, and where will they be placed?
- What should I do if a thread shows, feels uneven or pokes through the skin?
- What other options could I consider for sagging cheek skin?
What to expect at your visit in Torrance
Consultation and exam
Dr. Shin assesses your skin, the degree of sagging and your health history to see whether a thread lift fits your goals.
Numbing
Local numbing medicine is injected where the threads will enter the skin.
Thread placement
Threads are guided under the skin with a needle or cannula and positioned to lift the tissue.
Right after
Your face may feel numb, and your mouth may look uneven for a few hours until the numbing wears off.
Recovery
Most people are presentable in 3 to 5 days. Follow your aftercare instructions and call us with any concerns.
Side effects and risks
In a 2025 review of 19 studies with 1,406 patients, the most common problems were bruising, swelling and tenderness. Bleeding under the skin, numbness or tingling, and infection were less common.
Other reported problems include:
- dimpling or uneven skin, and small dents where threads enter
- a thread that can be seen or felt, shifts, breaks or pokes through the skin
- an uneven (asymmetric) look
- irritation or injury of a facial nerve
Call our office right away if you notice signs of infection or a thread coming through the skin.
Who should not have a thread lift, or should talk to Dr. Shin first
Tell Dr. Shin before treatment if you:
- have a bleeding problem or take blood thinners
- have an active skin infection on your face
- have an autoimmune disease
- tend to form keloids or thick scars
- have had fillers, threads or other procedures in the area
If you have significant sagging, keep in mind that a thread lift is not a substitute for a surgical facelift. Dr. Shin can talk with you about other options.
Common questions
How long does a thread lift last?
The lift is visible right away, but how long it lasts is not well established. In a 2025 review of 12 studies, the longest follow-up was 2 years, and the authors said long-term data are lacking. The PDO threads themselves are absorbed in about 6 months. Results vary from person to person.
Is a PDO thread lift FDA approved?
Not exactly. PDO threads are FDA-cleared medical devices, which is different from FDA approval. Each brand is cleared for specific uses. Some are cleared to temporarily hold the cheek in a lifted position, while at least one PDO thread is cleared only for bringing tissue together, not for lifting. Ask which brand is used.
Is a thread lift the same as a facelift?
No. A facelift is surgery. A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure that places dissolvable threads under the skin through small entry points. It can temporarily lift sagging cheek skin, but it is not a replacement for a surgical facelift, and its long-term results have not been well studied.
What is recovery like after a thread lift?
Most people are presentable in 3 to 5 days, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Bruising, swelling and tenderness are the most common problems, and your face may feel numb for a few hours. Follow your aftercare instructions, and call us right away about signs of infection or a thread coming through the skin.
Can a thread lift be combined with fillers or Botox?
Dr. Shin may discuss combining treatments, such as fillers or Botox® Cosmetic, in a plan for your goals. The FDA notes that using fillers together with Botox or other treatments has not been evaluated in a controlled clinical study, so any combination deserves a careful discussion.
Important information
- FDA status: PDO threads are FDA-cleared (510(k)) medical devices, not FDA-approved, and cleared uses differ by brand. Only some brands are cleared to temporarily hold the cheek in a lifted position. Ask which brand we use and what it is cleared for.
- FDA clearance and off-label use: The FDA clears thread products brand by brand, and each brand has its own cleared use. For example, MINT™ PDO threads are cleared for soft tissue approximation and for face suspension surgery to temporarily hold the cheek tissue in a lifted position. Another PDO thread’s clearance states that it is not intended for lifting and supporting tissues. Using a thread outside its FDA clearance is off-label. Ask Dr. Shin which brand will be used, what it is cleared for, and about the evidence, risks and other options.
Sources & further reading
- 510(k) K220549: MINT PDO Product Family, indications for use and summary (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- 510(k) K190245: PDS Barbed Suture / PDO MAXX Threads, indications for use (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- Update on Absorbable Facial Thread Lifts (Riopelle et al., 2025) (opens in a new tab) — Dermatologic Surgery
- An Assessment and Comparison of Adverse Effect Rates in Differing Absorbable Thread Lift Suture Materials (Ojha et al., 2025) (opens in a new tab) — Dermatologic Surgery
- Thread Lift Results and Recovery (opens in a new tab) — American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Polydioxanone implants: a systematic review on safety and performance in patients (Martins et al., 2020) (opens in a new tab) — Journal of Biomaterials Applications
- PDS II (polydioxanone) Suture (opens in a new tab) — Johnson & Johnson MedTech
- Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers) (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Last updated October 2026. This page is educational and does not replace a visit with a clinician.
