PDO Thread Lift : A Note from Brian Whaley, ARNP-BC
I have spoken here before about the importance of maintaining facial volume to offset the effects of aging. Fillers have been an important part of this therapy and the types and uses of fillers vary. I am a proponent of bioactive products because of the longevity and efficacy of them. Many years of many patients who are happy with their results have proven this to be true.
The one drawback that can occur is when a person becomes overfilled, also known by the slang terms “pillow-face” and “cat eyes”. With a skilled provider this dreaded side effect is usually avoidable and is anticipated long before it ever occurs. Measures such as decreasing the amount of filler used or the frequency of use can help to avoid this effect.
I have found that the best way to avoid this effect and to improve an already great volume correction is to use the PDO Thread Lift technique. This ligature lifting technique has been around for more than two decades. The suspension of tissues throughout the body has always been part of surgical corrections. Recently however, better instrumentation and technology has made this a non-surgical office procedure and the benefits are similar. This lifting and filling combined is one of the most anti-aging corrections I have ever encountered.
PDO (polydioxanone) technology lifts sagging skin by using dissolvable sutures and small needles placed subcutaneously in specific areas to tighten and contour all over body. The face is an obvious place to use these tools but also the décolletage, above the knees, underarms and neck. They can be used as a filler around the lips or a way to lift the brows. The uses are practically unlimited.
These lifts will last six months to a year but what is left behind is the collagen your body makes as they are absorbed so over time less and less is required. This is a bioactive material, so the body benefits from its own regeneration abilities. The goal is that we maintain the contour of our best adult faces longer into our later years. We maintain our bodies very well these days and contour our bodies better than many people half our age. The idea of maintaining our facial contours is just as important if not more so, to our sense of wellbeing socially and emotionally long into our golden years.
Every year brings new things and I have strived to keep up with current technologies and apply what I think is best for you and me as well. I want to just give a hint as to what’s next this new year. The FDA has allowed the use of Embryonic Stem Cells in many types of pathology and the science is breathtaking in what is being accomplished. I have had great success as a patient and a provider in the alleviation of pain using Embryonic Stem Cells, while practicing in Seattle. We have recently developed protocols in wellness and anti-aging using Embryonic Stem Cells, here at Essentials and we’ll be rolling out our program early in this new year.
So from my desk to you and your whole family, Happy New Year and may GREAT health be yours for years to come!
Best of health,
Brian Whaley, ARNP-BC
Rejuvenation Director
PDO Thread Lifts: an Exciting New Service Offered at Essentials Medispa and Salon in Melbourne, FL
What is a PDO thread lift?
A PDO thread lift is a minimally invasive cosmetic technique that lifts and tightens sagging skin tissue through the use of polydioxanone threads (PDO). A POD thread lift is the latest viable alternative to the costly and invasive option of a facelift. In a PDO thread lift, very fine, absorbable surgical suture threads are implanted into the subcutaneous layer of the skin to provide an intentional grid for targeted collagen production. These threads remain embedded in the skin causing micro-injuries that stimulate collagen growth and tissue contraction. In a matter of 6-8 months, the threads are absorbed into the body leaving new threads of your body’s collagen in their place.
How is a PDO thread lift performed?
A local anesthetic (usually lidocaine) is injected into the treatment area to minimize the discomfort of the procedure. Next, a small stylist is used to permeate the skin and insert the PDO threads. Through precise placement, the PDO threads are internally anchored under the surface thereby creating external effects which mimic a plastic surgeon’s re-draping procedure. However, because the procedure is minimally invasive, the entire process takes between 45-60 minutes to complete and requires nominal recovery time. Hence the marketing verbiage of “have a facelift over lunch.”
What issues are addressed by a PDO thread lift?
A PDO thread lift can be used to address issues of structural improvements, volume improvements and overall lifting of the skin. Also, a PDO thread lift improves the amount of collagen in the skin as the PDO thread converts directly to collagen. Often a PDO thread lift is the next level of solutions once fillers and injectables are no longer sufficient.
What is the PDO thread lift process at Essential Medispa and Salon?
At Essential Medispa and Salon, an initial consultation occurs with our ANRP Brian Whaley in which your specific issues and concerns are addressed. Because every face is unique and individual, Brian will create a long term treatment plan to help you achieve your desired results. Visit our Facebook page for a Live interview with Brian in which he explains the process in further detail.
