Thread Lift: PDO & PLLA

Absorbable Suture Suspension

Also known asMint PDO ThreadsSilhouette InstaLift (PLLA/PLGA)PDO Threads

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

Dissolvable threads are placed beneath the skin to gently lift sagging tissue.

Downtime: 5 days
Sessions: 1
Pain: Medium
Cost per visit: Price level 5 of 5
Results last: 12-24 months

Dissolving threads placed under the skin to lift sagging areas.

Check first: Pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Will it work for me?

Skin tone

Often used on tones I–VI.

IVery Light

IILight

IIIMedium

IVTan

VBrown

VIDeep

Often usedAsk first

General info, not a check of your own skin.

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

Skin types to ask about first

Breakout-proneAsk first

Needles should not go through active breakouts. Ask your provider to wait until they calm down.

How do the types differ?

In no special order. Ask your provider which one fits you, and why.

2 types

Ask your provider

Which one do you use, and why that one for me?
What is the total price, and what does it include?
What side effects do you see most with it, and what do you do about them?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 45–60 minutes
Total course: 1 session

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

3–7 days

May look swollen

5 days

Sleep on your back

7 days

Eat soft foods only

3 days

Avoid sun

2 days

No makeup

24 hours

No sweat or heat

No heavy lifting or extreme facial expressions for 2 weeks

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
Come with clean skin: no makeup or lotion
7 days before
Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and vitamin E for 7 days before, if your doctor agrees
After your visit
- Don't open your mouth wide for 2 weeks
- No dental work for 4 weeks
- Sleep on your back with your head raised
- Expect tightness, swelling, and minor dimpling for the first 3-5 days. Full settling takes 2 weeks.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Active infection
Autoimmune flare or impaired healing
Keloid tendency
Severe laxity requiring surgery
Anticoagulation or bleeding disorder without clearance

Possible side effects

Common

Swelling
Bruising
Tenderness
Temporary skin puckering or dimpling

Less common

Thread extrusion
Infection
Facial asymmetry
Nerve irritation

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

Barbed threads gently lift and reposition skin, while the dissolving material triggers your body's natural collagen synthesis.

A little more technical

Barbed or smooth absorbable sutures are inserted subcutaneously to physically reposition tissue and induce neocollagenesis through a mild healing response.

Mechanical lifting and subsequent chemical stimulation of Type 1 and Type 3 collagen.

Material: Bio-absorbable Sutures; Uses medical-grade PDO or PLLA threads that safely dissolve into water and carbon dioxide over 6-12 months.
Mechanism category: Mechanical Lift & Neocollagenesis; Physically repositions sagging tissue immediately, then builds a collagen support over time as the thread dissolves.
Common device / product names: Mint PDO Threads · Silhouette InstaLift (PLLA/PLGA)
Clinical descriptor: Absorbable Suture Suspension
Mechanism category: Mechanical lifting and subsequent chemical stimulation of Type 1 and Type 3 collagen.

Common myths

Your next step

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