Lifting & Threads
PDO Thread Lift
Also known as: Polydioxanone absorbable threads, lifting + collagen stimulation
Pain Level
Moderate
Downtime
3-5 days
Cost Range (AED)
Not applicable — Moxie has not tried this and does not plan to; UAE pricing varies by clinic and is not yet verified.
Moxie Notes
From Moxie
This is something I would never do. A thread lift is temporary, and yes, it can give lift, but you are putting barbed threads under the skin to pull tissue. I do not like the risk-to-reward ratio. It can create unevenness, internal scarring and problems later.
You can research this and find people with bad experiences that took a long time to recover, if they recovered fully. Even with a good doctor, this is not for me and not something I would recommend.
Start Here
First, try this if
- Carefully selected patients with mild laxity who accept temporary results. - People treated by expert physicians with thread experience. - Patients who understand complications and alternatives. - Fitzpatrick III-VI skin tones still need trauma/PIH considerations.
See a dermatologist first if
- Anyone risk-averse. - People expecting surgical lifting. - Patients planning future facial surgery without discussing threads. - Budget-driven treatment choices.
What It Is
PDO thread lifts use absorbable barbed or smooth threads placed under the skin to create mechanical lift and sometimes collagen stimulation. They are marketed for cheeks, jawline, brows and neck. Moxie has not tried them and says she would never do them.
How It Works
Barbed threads mechanically catch tissue and pull it into a lifted position. As threads absorb, clinics also claim collagen stimulation. The problem is that this is a foreign material placed under skin, and the lift is temporary.
Complications can include dimpling, asymmetry, thread visibility, pain, infection and irregularity. Future tissue planes can also be affected.
The Evidence
Concerns Addressed
Loss of firmness, facial volume loss, neck & décolleté laxity, fine lines & wrinkles.
Thread lifting has published data but also a documented complication profile. A meta-analysis reported complications including swelling, skin dimpling, paresthesia, thread visibility/palpability, infection and extrusion.
A 2025 RCT (n=22) using 3D stereophotogrammetry found significant volumetric/tissue displacement changes with PDO thread lifting over time, but with initial improvements diminishing by 60 days and no significant difference between thread-quantity groups. Systematic reviews explicitly call for larger, longer-term RCTs to standardize technique and confirm durability.
View source →Reviewed by Moxie — last checked July 2026
Am I a Good Candidate?
- Carefully selected patients with mild laxity who accept temporary results. - People treated by expert physicians with thread experience. - Patients who understand complications and alternatives. - Fitzpatrick III-VI skin tones still need trauma/PIH considerations.
Caution or Avoid
- Anyone risk-averse. - People expecting surgical lifting. - Patients planning future facial surgery without discussing threads. - Budget-driven treatment choices.
What to Expect
Step 1 - Consultation: Anatomy, laxity and expectations are assessed. Step 2 - Numbing: Local anesthesia is used. Step 3 - The procedure: Threads are inserted under skin and tensioned. Step 4 - Immediately after: Swelling, bruising, dimpling and asymmetry can occur.
Step 5 - Timeline and maintenance: Lift is temporary; complications may take time to resolve.
Cost Breakdown
Personal cost: not applicable; Moxie has not tried it and does not plan to. UAE pricing: varies by clinic and is not yet verified.
Concerns Addressed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PDO thread lift a good alternative to a facelift?
No — it should not be described as a low-risk facelift alternative. Threads create a temporary mechanical lift, and a published meta-analysis reports complications including swelling, skin dimpling, paresthesia, thread visibility, infection and extrusion.
How long does a thread lift last?
The lift is temporary, with duration varying by individual — and because it involves foreign material placed under the skin, complications can take time to resolve even after the lift itself fades.
Would Moxie recommend a PDO thread lift?
No — her verdict is "skip it / not for me." She considers the risk-to-reward ratio poor given the potential for unevenness and internal scarring, even with an experienced doctor.
The Verdict
Not For Me
Temporary lift, permanent regret risk.
Moxie Ratings
Not medical advice. Content is based on personal experience and published research. Always consult a qualified dermatologist before starting any new treatment or regimen.
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