PDO threads.Lift, with a collagen response underneath.
Dissolvable sutures. A lift you feel building over weeks.
- Session length
- 60 minutes
- Results read
- Immediate lift + 8 to 12 weeks for collagen response
- Threads dissolve
- 6 to 9 months
- Downtime
- Bruising 5 to 7 days
PDO thread lifting places fine polydioxanone sutures under the skin to reposition soft tissue and provoke a sustained collagen response over the weeks that follow. Sessions run to approximately sixty minutes, with an immediate lift visible on the day and a secondary, slower improvement as new collagen forms around the dissolved threads. Threads dissolve within six to nine months; results typically last twelve to eighteen months. Downtime is real, bruising common for five to seven days, and the treatment suits those with early to moderate laxity who want a structural result without surgery. It is performed by appointment at Skin Aesthetics by Krystian, 15 Old Bridge Close, Bursledon, Southampton SO31 8AX.
Pricing and booking are on Fresha, kept in one place so it is always current.
Structure, placed where it matters.
Polydioxanone is a synthetic, fully absorbable polymer used in surgical sutures for decades. In aesthetic medicine, the same material is formed into fine threads, some smooth and some with small bidirectional barbs, and placed under the skin through a needle or cannula entry point. The threads do two things: they create an immediate mechanical lift, and they provoke the tissue around them to produce new collagen as the body processes the suture over the following months.
Skin laxity is rarely a single problem. It is usually a combination of volume redistribution, reduced dermal thickness, and the slow release of the ligamentous structures that hold facial fat pads in their youthful position. Thread lifting addresses the structural element of that picture. It does not replace lost volume, and it is not a substitute for a surgical facelift. What it can do, when placed correctly, is restore definition to a jawline, soften jowling, and re-establish a cleaner transition from cheek to neck.
Mono threads and cog threads are not interchangeable.
Mono threads are smooth. They do not lift; they improve. Placed in a grid or fan pattern, they thicken the dermis, reduce fine surface laxity, and improve skin quality over two to three months as collagen forms around them. Cog threads carry barbs that grip the tissue and allow a practitioner to apply directional traction. They are the threads responsible for the visible lift. A well-designed protocol often uses both: cog threads to reposition, mono threads to address the skin quality in the areas around them.
Thread lifting sits between skin-quality treatments such as profhilo or radiofrequency and surgical procedures. It is appropriate for patients who have visible laxity but intact skin quality, who are not yet candidates for surgery or who prefer to avoid it, and who can accept a recovery period of several days. It is not the right first treatment for someone with very early laxity, and it is not a credible alternative for those with significant tissue descent. Krystian assesses this at consultation and will recommend an alternative if threads are not the right tool for what you are trying to achieve.
Three things we read first.
Not every patient presenting with laxity is a thread candidate. These are the considerations Krystian works through before agreeing to proceed.
Degree of laxity
Thread lifting works best in early to moderate laxity. Where tissue descent is significant, a thread lift will produce a modest result and may not justify the recovery. Krystian will tell you directly if threads are unlikely to achieve what you are hoping for.
Anatomy and skin quality
Thin skin, previous filler migration, or significant volume loss can all affect suitability. A thorough assessment of skin thickness, tissue mobility, and underlying structure is completed before any thread protocol is confirmed.
Downtime
Bruising is common and should be expected, not managed around. Most patients see bruising for five to seven days; some for ten. Planning the appointment with adequate recovery time before any social or professional commitment is essential.
Sixty considered minutes, end to end.
A thread lift is not a procedure to rush. The placement sequence matters, and the consultation before it matters more.
Arrival and consent
A full medical history is reviewed and the consent form completed. Any questions about the procedure, downtime, or risks are addressed before anything else happens. Photographs are taken under consistent lighting.
Mapping and marking
The face is assessed in motion and at rest. Entry points and thread trajectories are marked with reference to facial anatomy and the specific result being sought. Topical anaesthetic is applied and left for twenty minutes.
Placement
Threads are placed through fine entry points using a needle or blunt cannula depending on area and thread type. The tissue is gently manipulated and assessed after each placement before the entry point is closed.
Aftercare brief
Written aftercare instructions are provided and reviewed. Krystian explains what to expect in the hours and days that follow, which sensations are expected, which are not, and how to reach the clinic if a question arises.
The honest version.
The questions every patient is too polite to ask out loud. Read at your pace.
Does it hurt?
Topical anaesthetic is applied before treatment and local anaesthetic may be used at entry points. The placement itself involves some pressure and a pulling sensation, particularly with cog threads as traction is applied. The level of discomfort is manageable for the large majority of patients, and Krystian works at a pace that allows you to signal if you need a pause.
How long until I see the result?
An immediate lift is visible on the day of treatment, though swelling and bruising will obscure the final result. The full picture emerges at four to six weeks once swelling has resolved. The collagen response, which is the longer-term improvement in skin quality and structural support, continues to build through weeks eight to twelve.
How long does it last?
The threads themselves dissolve within six to nine months. The collagen they stimulate persists beyond that. Clinical duration varies with age, skin quality, lifestyle, and the number of threads placed, but twelve to eighteen months is a reasonable expectation for a well-executed cog thread protocol. Maintenance with a lighter thread pass or a complementary treatment can extend the result.
Is this safe?
PDO sutures have a long track record in surgical medicine. In aesthetic thread lifting the risks are real and should be understood clearly before proceeding: bruising, swelling, tenderness, and the possibility of thread visibility or dimpling are all documented. Serious complications, including infection or thread migration, occur rarely but are possible. Krystian completed advanced training in thread techniques and assesses anatomical suitability carefully precisely to reduce these risks.
Where can I see the pricing?
Pricing and booking are on Fresha. The reserve-your-consultation button at the top of this page takes you directly there.
What we tell you before we begin.
- BruisingCommon and should be expected; most visible at entry points and along thread trajectories, typically resolving within five to seven days.
- SwellingMild to moderate swelling is normal in the first forty-eight hours; it may be asymmetric during resolution.
- TendernessThe treated area may feel tender to touch for seven to fourteen days, particularly when chewing or making expressive facial movements.
- Visible threads or dimplingIn a small number of cases a thread may become palpable or visible under the skin, or the tissue may dimple at an entry point; most resolve spontaneously within a few weeks.
- ExclusionsPregnancy, breastfeeding, active infection or cold sore in the treatment area, blood-thinning medication that cannot be paused, autoimmune conditions affecting wound healing, and unrealistic expectations regarding the degree of lift achievable without surgery.
A full risk discussion is part of every consultation; no treatment is confirmed until Krystian is satisfied that you understand the likely outcomes and their limits.
Reserve your consultation.
Thread lifting is a considered procedure that rewards careful patient selection and unhurried technique. If you are curious whether it is the right option for what you are looking to address, a consultation with Krystian is the place to start.