FAQ: PDO Threads, PLA Threads & Thread Lifting
Consulting with the patient is a key part of a world-class Thread lift.
Ever scroll through your feed and notice jawlines are looking particularly chiseled these days? Cheeks extra sculpted? Eyebrows more snatched? …It could just be filters, genetics, or Sephora’s latest piece of witchcraft - but it might be threads!
Thread lifting has been popular for decades in medical aesthetic clinics across Europe and Asia, but in Canada the Thread craze is only just heating up.
Dr. Godley is a top provider of Thread lifts in Vancouver. Since launching Godley Clinic in 2019, he has performed over 250 Thread lifts, and travelled to Tbilisi, Georgia to train with Dr. Marlen Sulamanidze - the official inventor of the Thread lift !
An anesthesiologist by background, Dr. Godley’s 25 years in medicine give him expert precision with needles, and PLA / PDO Threads.
Here are the top questions we get about Thread lifts at Godley Clinic. :
What is a Thread Lift?
Thread lifting (also known as threadlifting, PDO threadlift, PDO threads, lifting threads and the Korean Facelift) is a non-surgical method of repositioning areas of the face or body. Thread lifting involves inserting body-safe surgical sutures under the skin with a needle and canula. Once inserted, Dr. Godley pulls the thread to “lift” the area to achieve the patient’s desired result. This can mean lifting the cheeks, snatching the jaw, or elongating the eyes and brow area for the coveted “fox eye” effect!
The Thread is trimmed and left under the skin, where it will naturally dissolve over 6-24 months. A skillfully done Thread lift can deliver facelift-like results — for one tenth of the cost. Patients can return for touch-ups to maintain the look, or let the lift naturally fade on its own.
One of the most remarkable things about a Thread lift, is the glowing effect threads have on the complexion. As the threads dissolve, they kick collagen and elastin production into overdrive.
More collagen = stronger skin, fewer fine lines and increased resistance to wrinkles.
Are Thread Lifts safe?
YES! The threads used at Godley Clinic are identical to the sutures doctors use to stitch up a wound, or surgical incision. Dr. Godley selects threads designed to safely dissolve in the body in 6-24 months following the procedure. — The result is a low-risk procedure with “wow factor” - but semi permanent results!
As with ALL your medical aesthetics procedures, make sure you research your practitioner, and verify they are a licensed Physician or Nurse. (…but if you’ve read this far, that’s probably exactly what you are doing right now. Good job!)
What is the downtime after a Thread Lift? Are there any negative side effects?
After your Thread lift, plan to relax for the rest of the day. Netflix, sitting upright on pillows, and plenty of ICE are your whole world today. (For more tips on how to avoid bruising after a treatment, read our blog post here.)
Most of our Thread lift patients resume regular activities -office work, household chores, light walks- within 24-48 hours. We advise against strenuous exercise, or any form of activity involving hanging upside down (ie: Yoga with inverted poses.)
To get the best outcome possible from your Thread lift; avoid tanning beds, saunas/steam, and RF or IPL treatments for the next 14 days. In the two weeks following the treatment, the threads will still be integrating with your tissues - so avoid handling the area roughly at all costs.
What is the difference between PDO Threads and PLA Threads for Thread Lifting?
PDO (Poly-Di-Oaxanone) is a softer thread we use to lift areas that do not move much, such as the nose. PDO Threads may also be used for cheek lifts, brow lifts or fox eyes, but the results will last for a shorter duration.
PLA (Poly-L-lactic Acid) is a more durable thread designed to create lifts that last longer - often up to two years. We also find that PLA offers a more noticeable improvement in skin quality.
Both are completely body safe, and have been used in surgeries in hospitals across Canada for decades.
What areas of the body can be Thread Lifted ?
Nearly any area can be instantly lifted and repositioned. A Thread lift can make cheekbones pop, lift the brows, snatch up and sharpen the jaw, tighten excess belly skin, and even lift the tip of the nose. (some clients describe it as “Real life FaceTune”!)
One of the most notorious Thread lifts is the #FoxEye. As seen on Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and a Reality TV Casting Call’s worth of Influencers, this sultry brow lift elongates the tail of the eyebrow and pull the eyes into an exotic, almond shape.
What are the benefits of Thread Lifting, vs a Surgical Facelift or Dermal Filler ?
Our patients love Threads because there’s no scarring, no incisions, and very minimal downtime. The cost of a Thread lift at Godley Clinic is between $1,700 - $2,300 per region. At the time this article was published, a facelift in Vancouver costs approximately $13,000 !
Unlike fillers, Threads do not add any volume to the face. Patients who previously used dermal filler to enhance their cheeks are delighted because Threads let them achieve more natural-looking definition. There are no worries about heaviness or appearing “overfilled”. (AKA: Pillow Face, Chipmunk Cheeks, the Yaletown Rock Monster, and other non-medical terms)
What are Monothreads / Mini Threads / Micro Threads?
Monothreads are short, very fine PDO Threads inserted beneath the skin in clusters to stimulate collagen. The surge of collagen smooths fine lines and fills in wrinkles, but these PDO Threads do not lift.
PDO Monothreads are a great noninvasive solution to get rid of crow’s feet, under eye wrinkles, and smile lines around the mouth. Necklace lines and “tech neck” wrinkles are also treatable with a round of monothreads.
Is everyone a good candidate for a Thread Lift?
No. A Thread lift is a nonsurgical treatment. Skin can be repositioned, but there is no cutting involved. For this reason, Threads are only suitable for patients with mild to moderate sagging. Areas with advanced skin aging and lax tissue can only be corrected with a surgical facelift. — That said; regularly maintained threads are an excellent way to keep skin healthy, and delay the need for a facelift for years!
Thread lifting is not recommended for patients who have excess skin around the eyelids. Threads are wonderful for pulling the eye area into a more exotic, cat-eye shape, but to actually remove skin requires a surgical procedure (blepharoplasty).
Patients with autoimmune diseases -such as lupus- should also avoid Thread lifting, or any treatment that introduces a foreign item into the body.
How do I book a Threadlift at Godley Clinic?
Everything starts with YOUR vision. We begin every Thread lift with a consultation at the clinic - or virtually via FaceTime or WhatsApp. It is critical that we understand your goals, and speak to any concerns about your Thread lift treatment.
We encourage you to ask us any questions. With all medical procedures - aesthetic and health-related- it’s important to DO YOUR RESEARCH. Make sure your practitioner is a qualified Physician or Nurse. (…Even if the Blanche MacDonald student says she can do it for cheaper.)
Minimal downtime, no scarring, increased skin health, and no going under general anesthetic are just a few reasons many patients are opting to skip the knife and try threads instead.
Still considering a Thread lift in Vancouver? Book a time to visit.