Let's talk about PDO Threads
12/5/22
A recent article published by Save Face (a Government approved register of trusted practitioners) on unregulated facial ‘thread lift’ treatment, highlighted the importance of safety and research when considering this type of procedure. It talked about an unfortunate thread lift experience for Samantha Neyland who Save Face has supported over the last year. Neyland claimed that she went to a nurse for her thread lift, but there are fears over the scores of unqualified beauticians carrying the treatments.
The Save Face article said:
"Neyland is among a soaring number of women reporting complications after thread lift treatments, which involve different types of threads used to lift any part of the face. The two main types, made of either poly L lactic acid (PLA) or polydioxanone (PDO), have collagen-stimulating properties and are resorbable. The threads can be smooth or consist of barbs, cogs, anchors or screws to reposition the tissue."
There are a number of courses being advertised which offer training that can be carried out in just six hours. One teaches how to insert PDO threads solely through an online course. Another states that trainees will be “ready to start practicing immediately” after one day of training.
An advertisement seen by The Times even boasts, “No CQC requirements for non-medics!’ and assures that participants can still get insurance.
In light of this we wanted to answer some questions you may have about the PDO thread lift procedure at Woodford Medical and why we can guarantee your safety with this procedure.
PDO threads have significantly evolved over the past 10 years and have now become a routine part of our aesthetic practice. All thread treatments are carried out by Dr Patterson who has trained in South Korea with some of the world’s leading exponents of thread treatments. He is a recognised expert in the field of PDO thread insertion.
“It was clear to me that threads offered an innovative, effective way to lift and tighten sagging skin but it was equally important that I learnt from the very best and that we selected the safest threads available. We use only NFinders PDO threads that are manufactured in South Korea, a company recognised as the leading provider of PDO threads in the world.” Dr Mervyn Patterson
Are PDO threads safe?
PDO has been in medical use for a very long time and is the same material that surgeons use to suture certain wounds. With decades of medical experience, the characteristics of PDO within the skin are clearly defined and with experience they are proven to have a very low incidence of side effects.
It is absolutely essential that you seek out a properly trained medical practitioner who you can trust. You should receive a thorough consultation so that you understand the nature of the threads being used and how and where they will be placed. You should have ample opportunity to ask questions about realistic outcomes and potential side effects.
What is a PDO thread made from?
PDO stands for Polydioxanone and are manufactured in different thickness and design depending on their intended use. Threads that are used to lift skin have some form of cog or recess to grasp the tissue and create the pull effect.
Do PDO threads dissolve?
Depending on the thickness of the thread they will remain intact for anything up to 6 months before they start to gradually dissolve. At this point the skin, over a further period of about 3 to 4 months, gently reabsorbs them and the PDO material is simply excreted in the urine.
Why we use NFinders PDO threads?
NFinders are considered the leading manufacturers of PDO threads in Korea and have conducted many years of research and clinical studies to ensure that their threads are the safest and most effective. Their manufacturing facilities are ISO certified and their products are approved by the Korean FDA and have achieved CE certification for use in Europe.
What is a Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) thread?
Threads made from PLLA are a relatively recent introduction and are quite different to PDO threads. The characteristics of PLLA are that they persist within the skin for a very extended period and also induce a more intense reaction in the skin. The long-term safety data surrounding PLLA threads simply isn’t available yet and at present we as an organisation do not feel they are suitable for widespread use.
PDO threads near me
Our Doctors at Woodford Medical perform PDO thread treatments at our clinics in Chelmsford in Essex, Upper Wimple Street in central London, Leamington Spa in Warwickshire and Belfast in Northern Ireland. Our clinics are registered with the CQC to perform PDO Thread Lifts. Patients requesting this treatment in the Sawston clinic in Cambridge are referred to our clinic in Essex for treatment.
Thank you to Sarah Neyland for sharing her ‘thread lift’ story and bringing to light that there are a lot of inexperienced practitioners in the industry so please ensure you do you research before considering any cosmetic procedure. You can read the full article here https://www.saveface.co.uk/unregulated-facial-thread-lifts-put-women-in-ae/