Aging is an inevitable process that each of us have to face. As we age, our youthful appearance fades as our collagen and elastin production decreases year by year. Loose skin, fine lines, and wrinkles start to surface. While there are amazing topical treatments that can help slow down the premature aging process, they are limited to a certain extent when it comes to restoring volume loss, accelerating collagen production in deeper layers of the skin and improving skin elasticity and skin texture.
Now, let’s talk about the good news. While we don’t have the power to stop the natural process of aging, there are effective medical aesthetic treatment options that provide more visible and long-term rejuvenation results and help us age gracefully. These powerful treatments include PDO Thread Lift, PDO Smooth Thread, Dermal Fillers and Botox.
So, what exactly are they? What do they do & how are they different from one another?
Let’s take a closer look!
PDO Thread Lift
This innovative skin rejuvenation procedure involves inserting barbed PDO threads into the deeper layers of your skin to provide you with that instant lift. This lift can tighten mild to moderate sagging tissues in the mid-face and cheeks as well as the lower face to redefine the jawline area, providing you with more of a V-shape face appearance. While this may sound scary, this procedure does not involve any surgery and the results can last up to 1 year or longer (varying from patient to patient) with very little downtime.
PDO Smooth Thread
Similar to PDO Thread Lift, this unique procedure involves the use of PDO threads, except that they are non-barbed sutures that target more skin texture versus skin laxity. The insertion of PDO Smooth Threads induce collagen production to smooth, plump and strengthen the areas of concern, decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while improving your skin’s elasticity and overall skin texture. The threads naturally dissolve in your skin in approximately 6-8 months and are replaced by new collagen and connective tissues, allowing results to last for a year or longer.
PDO Thread Lift or PDO Smooth Thread?
You shouldn’t have to pick and choose. These two types of PDO Thread treatments are commonly performed together to target a wider range of skin concerns (one does more of the lifting, the other does more of the smoothing) and enhance the results of one another. Both types of threads create micro injuries in the skin to stimulate neocollagenesis to help rebuild and repair damaged tissues for stronger, healthier skin.
Dermal Fillers
Made from a synthetic form of Hyaluronic Acid (HA), Dermal Fillers are often injected to ‘fill’ areas of the face where collagen and/or fat loss occurs such as the cheeks and temples, providing volume, therefore, smoothing and filling wrinkles. In addition to volume replenishment, fillers can also be used to enhance our facial features aesthetically such as our lips, nose and chin. Results can vary from patient to patient and the longevity of the filler will depend on a number of factors, for example, your own metabolism and the treatment area(s). Typically, it can last anywhere from 9-18 months.
PDO Smooth Thread or Dermal Fillers?
While PDO smooth threads help plump the skin, it doesn’t provide the same extent of volume replacement as dermal fillers. Integrating the two treatments may be beneficial to not only volumize the skin but also increase the skin’s elasticity over time as the threads stimulate gradual collagen production.
Botox (Botulinum Toxin)
Botox is a medication that can be injected into the muscles underneath the skin to impede muscle movements that lead to expression lines and wrinkles such as forehead lines and frown lines, to help restore or prolong a more youthful, refreshed appearance. Botox treatment typically lasts a couple of months, therefore we recommend Botox to be done 3-4 months apart to achieve and maintain optimal results.
PDO Smooth Thread or Botox?
If you are looking for more visible & long-lasting results when it comes to treating expression lines and wrinkles, combining PDO Smooth Thread and Botox may be a great idea. As our skin ages and collagen levels decrease, each facial expression increases the chances of developing fine lines and wrinkles as the skin gradually loses its ability to bounce back into its original position. It is important to note that while Botox impedes muscle contractions to smooth expression fine lines and wrinkles, it doesn’t increase the skin’s collagen levels and elasticity. This is where smooth threads can come in to enhance overall results. The PDO sutures will induce collagen production to plump the skin and essentially fill expression lines and wrinkles.
At GMA, we can help you choose the right treatment(s) to provide you with the best results in reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and sagging skin and ultimately reverse the signs of premature aging. Please book a complimentary skin consultation and assessments with one of our skin experts.
Don’t hesitate to reach out and book a FREE consultation with our #GMASkinexperts to see which of these options will be best for you.
