If you are one of those folks who take their skincare routine seriously then you must know a thing or two about antiaging treatments such as PRP injections or thread lifting. Although PRP injections or PDO thread lift are not exactly new in the market, combining these two techniques to get the perfect skin and keep aging at bay is new and trending.
Both of these procedures work to stimulate collagen production in the skin thus helping it retain or regain its youthful appearance. A ‘one plus one equals two’ kinda thing….?
Before first diving into this latest skincare and antiaging treatment, let’s get in class and learn about them, courtesy of Dr. Dragana Spica, plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon in Dubai.
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What is PDO Thread lift?
A little history about PDO threads is that they were originally developed in South Korea. They’ve been used for suturing surgical incisions in the last couple of decades.
According to Dr. Dragana, PDO is an acronym for Polydioxanone which is a kind of protein. “An interesting fact about these threads is that they are completely biocompatible and bio-absorbable. When inserted underneath the skin, they are absorbed over the next three months where they gradually blend with the body’s tissues and are replaced with strands of collagen and elastin. Collagen is the protein that provides the skin with its tensile strength thus holding off the effects of aging.
“Another reason to love the PDO fine threads is that they have no side effects or cause allergic reactions and they have a high pliability and move through the tissues smoothly thus lowering your discomfort levels.”
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Are PDO Threads Good for Antiaging?
“The thing about aging is that as it happens, we lose elastin and collagen thus resulting to the skin sagging,” notes Dr. Dragana. She adds: “Fortunately, in the response to the growing quest for antiaging solutions, researchers found out that producing new collagen helps to tighten and lift the skin for a youthful appearance.
“PDO thread lift has been used as a nonsurgical alternative to a facelift in the last couple of years to erase the signs of aging. This procedure is however recommended to individuals aged between 35 to 45 years with subtle signs of aging. By inserting these fine threads into the subdermal sections of the skin in the direction of the youthful vectors such as around the eyebrows, cheeks, jawline, and double chin areas, the folds of the skin are lifted. This results in the stimulation of tissues which in turn release fibroblasts and growth factors that transform into collagen.”
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What Happens When You Combine PDO Threads With PRP Injections?
Old-fashioned PRP, states the doctor, works by harvesting the patient’s blood, processing it, and re-injecting it into the desired treatment areas for a youthful look. Sounds familiar? That’s because you can catch it during the famous or is it infamous… vampire lift made famous by Kim Kardashian.
A combo of PDO fine threads with PRP injections is currently the trending technique when it comes to enhancing antiaging techniques. “How it works is while the PDO threads are being inserted into the specific locations, the provider adds the PRP serum along with a local anesthetic. When a local anesthetic is used, it means, there won’t be any significant discomfort.
“To boost the positive effects PRP serum has on wrinkles and fine lines, it is usually applied on other facial areas during the procedure. Given that PRP helps in the stimulation of collagen production, combining these two procedures leads to more effective results.”
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The Procedure
PDO thread lift with PRP procedure starts with the skin on your face being cleansed with antiseptic solutions. A topical anesthetic is applied, or it can alternatively be injected at the point of entry to minimize discomfort.
A small amount of blood, usually about 10ml is drawn from your forearm and the PRP preparation process is started – we mentioned it above.
The Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist marks guidelines of where the threads will be inserted. These are made on the symmetric sections where the skin lifting will occur while providing a balanced look. These however depend on the folds that need to be corrected. They can be made under the chin area and jawline, brow, temple, or the parenthesis from the nose to the mouth corners.
The PDO thread is then inserted through the subdermal sections of the tissues using a cannula needle. The processed PRP serum is injected along with the threads. Once the needles are removed, the threads remain in place and are contoured to create a lifting effect.
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What Are the After Effects?
In the next 24 to 48 hours after the procedure, you may experience some swelling and redness. The effects of the PDO thread lift with PRP procedure start being visible in the next 6 weeks or so and you’ll notice a rejuvenated appearance with a plumped up and smoother look and feel.
The effects of this treatment can last for about 18-24 months which is as long as the collagen will continue to be stimulated. Although most individuals achieve their desired results after a single session, we are not all alike and you might find the need to go in for more sessions to get that look that you’re looking for.
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