Thread lifting is a procedure that places threads under the skin to pull and hold sagging tissue in place. The PDO (absorbable medical thread) 6~8 months figure often seen in treatment information refers to how long the thread takes to be absorbed in the body, not to how long the effect lasts.
3-line summary
1. The period over which a thread is absorbed and the period over which facial change is maintained are not the same.
2. In submitted test values, the thread's pulling strength fell to about 81% at 2 weeks and about 66% at 4 weeks.
3. In consultation, check the material, thread structure, insertion plan, and previous treatment history together, rather than the month count alone.
Pulling strength, absorption, and facial change move separately
When the thread surface catches on tissue under the skin, it holds the pulled tissue in that position. However, the fact that the thread remains and the idea that the original pulling strength is maintained are not the same.
In test values submitted to the U.S. regulator, the pulling strength of a PDO thread fell to about 81% at 2 weeks and about 66% at 4 weeks. Materials for another PDO thread list wound-support duration as up to 6 weeks. Physical force therefore declines before the thread is fully absorbed.
| Category | What the number describes | What to check in consultation |
|---|---|---|
| Pulling strength | How much of the original force the thread retains | Do not treat it as the same number as absorption time. |
| Absorption time | How long the thread takes to disappear from the body | It does not mean the period over which the effect continues unchanged. |
| Facial change | How much of the lifted shape and tissue movement remains | Review photos taken under the same conditions together with the current state. |
Human data also showed that change began to recede early. In a trial that placed 3 or 6 PDO threads on one side of the face, the cheek and lower-face change seen at day 20 had decreased by day 60. Differences in volume, tissue movement, and satisfaction by thread count were also not confirmed.
A review pooling 12 papers and 818 participants reported immediate post-procedure improvement across several assessment methods. The longest follow-up was 2 years, and data for judging long-term effect remain insufficient.
Why PDO 6~8 months is hard to read as duration of effect
The PDO 6~8 months figure appears in a 2024 review. Tracing that sentence's source leads to a one-page, single-author paper published in 2017. It is not indexed in major academic search services.
The same review based its PLLA month count on an animal study. That experiment observed mice for a maximum of 8 weeks, so it is a different kind of evidence from data showing how many months an effect lasts on a human face.
PDO and PLLA are different materials. Direct comparisons of the three materials, including PCL, are currently animal studies as well. Results from one material cannot be reread as evidence of duration for another.
Thread structure and placement matter as much as the material
Depending on the product, the surface may be smooth, have barbs that catch tissue, or carry cone-shaped structures. Because the way they hold tissue differs, the material name and thread count alone do not make two procedures the same.
An analysis of 111,948 clinical records found seven material combinations, and the combination using PDO and PCL together was the most common. Cases done at the same time as other treatments such as filler or toxin also accounted for 60% or more. These figures show real-world use, not a comparison of which combination lasts longer or is safer.
Thread count is also hard to use as a standalone criterion. In a trial that followed 22 people for 60 days, there was no measured difference between placing 3 threads and placing 6 threads on one side of the face. In consultation, it is more useful to check which site, at what depth, and in which direction the threads are placed, rather than the number alone.
Adverse events were tallied differently by thread type and age
Pooling 26 studies, swelling was reported most often, followed by skin dimpling, threads that could be felt or seen through the skin, and infection. When absorbable and non-absorbable threads were separated, differences appeared in numbness or reduced sensation and thread extrusion.
| Item | Confirmed figure | Comparison basis |
|---|---|---|
| Swelling | 35% | Pooled value from all data |
| Skin dimpling | 10% | Pooled value from all data |
| Thread palpable or visible | 4% | Pooled value from all data |
| Infection | 2% | Pooled value from all data |
| Numbness or reduced sensation | 3.1% vs 11.7% | Absorbable threads vs non-absorbable threads |
| Thread extrusion | 1.6% vs 7.6% | Absorbable threads vs non-absorbable threads |
| Skin dimpling and infection | Dimpling 16% vs 5.6% Infection 5.9% vs 0.7% |
Over 50 vs 50 and under |
※ The four items above are values pooled from 26 studies; how many people out of how many for each item is not stated in the published summary.
Satisfaction was 98% immediately after the procedure and 88% at a later time point. Satisfaction should likewise not be read as the same kind of number as absorption time.
If heat and redness worsen, or fever, thread extrusion, or an enlarging depression appears, contact the medical institution that performed the procedure right away. Recovery care by thread type is covered in the lifting aftercare guide, and general adverse-event response is covered in treatment safety information.
Even with the same PDO, the cleared use may differ
In Korea, lifting threads are regulated as a different item from surgical sutures used to close wounds. Even with the same PDO material, a different use requires a separate clearance. A lifting thread therefore cannot be judged on the explanation that “it is a thread used in surgery, so it is safe.”
In the United States as well, allowed use differs by product. One cone product was cleared for sale to temporarily lift and hold subcutaneous tissue of the cheek. By contrast, one PDO mono product was cleared for suturing tissue and is labeled as not for lifting or supporting tissue.
Jawline, neck, and forehead procedures and collagen stimulation were not included in the allowed uses in the confirmed U.S. documents. Check the site and purpose for which the actual product is cleared, rather than the material name alone.
What to ask before thread count and month count
When comparing quotes, confirm that you are comparing the same type and the same treatment plan, rather than matching numbers alone.
- □ Material: Which of PDO, PLLA, or PCL is used, and why was it chosen?
- □ Structure: Is it a smooth thread, a barbed thread, or a thread with cone structures?
- □ Depth and arrangement: Into which layer, how many threads, and in which direction?
- □ Recovery: How are swelling, bruising, and pain managed, and which symptoms require immediate contact?
- □ Retreatment: Is the timing based on a set month count or on the change that remains now?
- □ Combination: How are sequence and interval set with filler, toxin, and energy-based procedures?
- □ History: How are previous thread lifting, filler, and surgery factored into the plan?
- □ Cost: How does cost change with material, structure, and thread count?
Items to align when comparing quotes from several clinics are covered in Dermatology price comparison: 6 items to check on a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. How long does thread lifting last?
PDO 6~8 months is the absorption period. Duration of effect is not set as the same number, and in human data the early change seen at day 20 had decreased by day 60. Retreatment timing is based on the change that remains now and on previous treatment history.
Q2. Does using more threads produce a larger effect?
In a human trial, there was no measured difference between 3 threads and 6 threads. That result applies to the thread counts and the 60-day observation window of that trial. Check insertion site, depth, and direction together with thread count.
Q3. Do absorbable threads have fewer adverse events?
In pooled study results, numbness or reduced sensation and thread extrusion were tallied lower with absorbable threads. That does not mean that other items such as swelling and dimpling showed the same difference.
Q4. Can filler or toxin be done together after thread lifting?
In large-scale clinical records, 60% or more were done at the same time as other treatments. This figure shows how often combination occurs. Share the names and dates of treatments already received, and set sequence and interval by site. Detailed criteria are covered in the lifting, laser, and skin-booster sequence guide.
Q5. Which symptoms after treatment mean I should contact the clinic?
If worsening heat or redness, fever, a thread visible outside the skin, or an enlarging depression appears, contact the medical institution that performed the procedure right away. General recovery care and contact criteria are covered in the lifting aftercare guide and treatment safety information.
Results, duration, and suitability vary with individual skin condition, age, and lifestyle, and the same outcome cannot be guaranteed.
Procedures may cause temporary redness or swelling, and contraindications may apply, so please confirm these during your consultation.
This article is general information and does not replace individual medical care. Please confirm diagnosis and treatment suited to your condition during a consultation.
Sources
- Hong GW et al. (2024), Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol: Thread Lifting Materials: A Review of Its Difference in Terms of Technical and Mechanical Perspective (PMID 38737945)
- FDA: Miracu Polydioxanone (PDO) Suture and Needle (MONO) (510(k) K251414)
- Niu Z et al. (2021), Aesthetic Plast Surg: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of the Incidences of Complications Following Facial Thread-Lifting (PMID 33821308)
- Germani M et al. (2025), Aesthet Surg J Open Forum: Is More Always Better? A Randomized Comparative Clinical Trial About the Impact of Polydioxanone Threads Quantity for Facial Lifting (PMID 40236886)
- Riopelle AM et al. (2025), Dermatol Surg: Update on Absorbable Facial Thread Lifts (PMID 39662017)
- FDA: PDS Plus Antibacterial (Polydioxanone) Sterile Synthetic Absorbable Surgical Suture (510(k) K212380, K243897)
- FDA: Silhouette InstaLift (510(k) K142061, K163676 — temporary fixation of midface subcutaneous tissue)
- Korean Law Information Center: Regulation on Medical Device Items and Item-Specific Grades, Appendix 1
- Tamura T et al.: Multicenter Review of More Than 110,000 Facial Thread Lifting Cases From a Cosmetic Surgery Group (2025, PMID 41346928)
- Soen M et al.: Enhancing dermal collagen density towards youthfulness: A comparative study of PCL, PLLA, and PDO thread implantation in aging rats model (2025, PMID 39850124)
- Cho SW et al.: Efficacy study of the new polycaprolactone thread compared with other commercialized threads in a murine model (2021, PMID 33421303)
Related reading
- Lifting aftercare: what differs by thread type
- How to sequence lifting, laser, and skin boosters
- Comparing nonsurgical lifting options
- Why skin elasticity declines and how to choose a procedure
- Dermatology price comparison: 6 items to check on a written quote
- Cellinique treatment information
- Treatment safety and adverse-event information
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