A PDO thread lift places thin, absorbable polydioxanone (PDO) threads under the skin with a fine needle or cannula to lift sagging tissue and stimulate collagen. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, PDO threads stay in place for about 4 to 6 months before they slowly dissolve. Cleveland Clinic puts results at one to three years.
Written by Kiara DeWitt, BSN, RN
Medically reviewed by Dr. Josh Allen, D.O., Medical Director on November 5, 2026
Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Results vary by individual. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before beginning any medical treatment or aesthetic procedure.
A PDO thread lift is a nonsurgical procedure that uses thin, dissolvable threads to lift and support sagging skin. The threads are placed under the skin with a fine needle or cannula, where they hold tissue in a lifted position and stimulate collagen as they dissolve, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Common treatment areas include:
PDO stands for polydioxanone, an absorbable suture material that’s been used in surgery for decades. The FDA classifies absorbable polydioxanone surgical sutures as Class II medical devices under 21 CFR 878.4840.
PDO threads come in a few shapes: smooth (mono), twisted (screw), and barbed (cog) threads with small hooks along their length. Each shape does a different job, and the mono, screw and cog threads compared side by side show how.
Barbed threads have small hooks that grip the tissue under the skin. Once the threads are placed, the barbs hold the tissue in a new, lifted position.
As the threads dissolve, they trigger the body to produce collagen around them, according to Cleveland Clinic. This new collagen helps support the skin after the threads themselves are gone.
PDO threads aren’t FDA-approved. They reach the US market through a process called 510(k) clearance, and each product’s clearance names its own intended use.
Those uses vary a lot between products:
So the label “PDO threads” alone doesn’t tell you what a product is cleared for. Ask your nurse injector which thread will be used and what it’s cleared for.
According to Cleveland Clinic, a thread lift generally suits people who:
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes thread lifts as a fit for mild to moderate skin laxity. People with more significant sagging usually get better results from surgery.
A thread lift isn’t right for everyone. Your nurse injector reviews your health history, your medicines, and your skin before recommending one, and may suggest waiting or another option.
A thread lift takes about an hour, according to Cleveland Clinic, and you can go home right afterward. You may have bruising and swelling for up to five days. Most people return to work right away, though Cleveland Clinic notes your provider may recommend waiting about two weeks before vigorous exercise or other activities that could loosen the threads.
Cleveland Clinic also notes that common aftercare steps can include sleeping in a propped-up position and avoiding washing your face for 24 hours. Your nurse injector will give you instructions specific to your treatment.
Your look keeps changing as swelling settles and new collagen builds, and the full PDO thread lift before and after timeline walks through what changes week by week.
A 2025 review of facial thread lift complications groups the risks by how often they occur:
| How often | Possible effects |
|---|---|
| Common | Bruising, pain, swelling, bleeding, and dimpling of the skin |
| Less frequent | Infection, granuloma (a small lump of inflamed tissue), thread migration, and injury to a nerve or the parotid (salivary) gland |
Call your provider right away if you notice signs of infection, which Cleveland Clinic lists as fever, a headache that won’t go away, or swelling that lasts longer than 48 hours. Choosing a licensed, trained nurse injector and asking which thread is used helps lower the risks.
A nurse injector checks your skin laxity and goals and explains which thread would be used and why.
PDO thread lifts are priced at your consultation.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, PDO threads stay in place for about 4 to 6 months before they slowly dissolve, and results can last a year or more. Cleveland Clinic puts thread lift results at one to three years, after which you can have another treatment if you liked the outcome. Skin quality, age, and the threads used all play a part in how long a PDO thread lift lasts.
At InjectCo, PDO thread lifts are nurse-led and performed under the medical direction of Dr. Josh Allen, D.O., Medical Director. Every treatment starts with a consultation, where your nurse injector checks your skin laxity, talks through your goals, and explains which thread would be used and why. Our PDO thread lift treatment is priced at your consultation, and you can ask about payment options then too.
Questions before you book? Call us at (817) 533-7676. Hablamos Español at all locations. Spanish line: (469) 804-9964.
PDO threads are thin, absorbable threads made of polydioxanone, a suture material used in surgery for decades. Placed under the skin, they lift sagging tissue and stimulate collagen as they dissolve.
The threads stay in place for about 4 to 6 months before they slowly dissolve, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, but the results last longer. Cleveland Clinic puts thread lift results at one to three years.
You may feel some discomfort, and Cleveland Clinic notes you can take an over-the-counter or prescription pain reliever for several days afterward until it goes away. Your nurse injector will explain how comfort is managed during treatment.
No. PDO threads reach the market through 510(k) clearance rather than FDA approval, and each product’s clearance states its own intended use, so ask your nurse injector which thread is used and what it’s cleared for.
A thread lift isn’t right for everyone, and people with significant skin sagging often get better results from surgery, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Your nurse injector reviews your health history before recommending one.
Yes. According to Cleveland Clinic, if you don’t like your results, the threads can be removed.
A facelift is surgery that can last up to a decade, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, while a thread lift lasts one to three years. A thread lift has a shorter recovery, but surgery gives a bigger change for significant sagging.
Ask your nurse injector about candidacy, the thread used, risks and aftercare.
Priced at your consultation.
In this fillers, lips and threads series: Previous, What Is Russian Lip Filler?.
Dr. Josh Allen, D.O., is InjectCo’s Medical Director. He oversees the clinical standards behind every treatment InjectCo offers and supports its nurse injectors across all nine Texas locations. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency in emergency medicine with Texas A&M.
Dr. Allen earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency with Texas A&M. As Medical Director, he reviews InjectCo’s treatments, protocols, and patient education content for accuracy and safety across all nine Texas locations.
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PDO THREAD LIFTS
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PDO THREAD LIFTS
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