What exactly are lifting threads?
Lifting threads are thin, biocompatible fibres inserted beneath the skin using needles or cannulas. They provide two effects:
- Mechanical effect (immediate): Physical lifting of the tissues — the thread “grips” the skin and subcutaneous tissue, moving them upwards
- Biological effect (gradual): Stimulation of neocollagenesis — the body treats the thread as a foreign body and surrounds it with new collagen-rich connective tissue, which firms and lifts the surrounding structures
This is key to understanding threads: the mechanical effect is visible immediately, but lasts only as long as the thread. The biological effect builds over 2–6 months and lasts longer than the thread itself. An ideal thread dissolves slowly enough for collagen to organise.
Materials: PDO, PLLA, PCL — not all threads are the same
Three material types dominate the market. The differences between them are important:
PDO (polydioxanone)
- Dissolution: 6–8 months
- Collagen stimulation: moderate
- Results last: 12–15 months
- Characteristics: The oldest and most extensively studied material. It has been used in surgery for decades as surgical sutures. Safe, predictable and relatively affordable. Its drawback is the shortest period of collagen stimulation
PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid)
- Dissolution: 12–18 months
- Collagen stimulation: strong (the same mechanism as Sculptra)
- Results last: 18–24 months
- Characteristics: Longer stimulation of neocollagenesis. More rigid than PDO — better for structural lifting. Higher cost, but longer-lasting results
PCL (polycaprolactone)
- Dissolution: 24–36 months
- Collagen stimulation: very strong and long-lasting
- Results last: up to 24–36 months
- Characteristics: The latest generation. The longest-lasting threads on the market. Flexible and easy to shape. Their drawbacks are a higher cost and fewer long-term studies compared with PDO
Conclusion: The material should be selected by a doctor based on your concern, anatomy and expectations. There is no “best thread” — there is the best thread FOR YOU.
Types of threads: smooth, cog and spring
Besides the material, threads also differ in their design:
- Smooth threads (mono): Thin, without hooks. They are inserted in a mesh pattern — creating a subcutaneous “scaffold” of new collagen. Ideal for improving skin texture and firmness, but they do NOT provide mechanical lifting. Used on the neck, delicate areas and to improve firmness
- Cog threads (cog/barbed): They have hooks, barbs or notches that “grip” the tissue and lift it. These provide the true lifting effect. Used on the facial contour, nasolabial folds, cheeks and brows
- Spring threads (screw/tornado): Coiled around the needle like a spring. They provide volume and tension — filling hollows and wrinkles. Used in the chin, cheeks and temple area
In practice, thread types are often combined: cog threads for lifting + smooth threads to increase collagen density in the surrounding area.
Indications: who is a good candidate?
Lifting threads work best for people who:
- Have mild to moderate tissue sagging (not advanced ptosis)
- Are aged 35–60 (although these limits are flexible)
- Have good skin quality — threads will not repair smoker’s skin, severely photo-damaged or extremely thin skin
- Are looking for improvement, not transformation — threads do not replace a surgical facelift
- Do not want or cannot undergo surgery
Most common treatment areas:
- Facial contour (jowls) — lifting sagging cheeks
- Nasolabial folds — not filling them (this is the role of hyaluronic acid), but lifting the tissues that create the fold
- Neck — improving firmness and reducing sagging
- Cheeks — restoring volume and lifting
- Brows — a subtle brow lift without surgery
- Under-chin area — correction of a “double chin”
What does the treatment involve?
A lifting thread treatment is an outpatient procedure — you come in and leave on the same day.
Duration: 30–60 minutes (depending on the number of threads and the area)
Procedure:
- Consultation and mapping — the doctor marks the insertion lines and directions of thread tension on your face
- Local anaesthesia — EMLA cream or lignocaine injections at the entry points
- Thread insertion — through small punctures (not incisions!), using needles or cannulas
- Shaping — the doctor gently shapes the tissue along the threads to achieve the desired lifting effect
- Trimming excess — the thread ends are trimmed beneath the skin
Pain: Moderate. Anaesthesia eliminates sharp pain, but you will feel pulling and pressure. Most people rate the discomfort at 4–5/10.
Immediately after the treatment: Mild swelling, possible bruising at the entry points and a feeling of tightness, as if someone were gently pulling your skin from within.
Downtime and recovery — honestly
Threads are not “zero downtime”, as some advertisements suggest. Here is the realistic picture:
- Days 1–3: Swelling, tenderness and possible bruising. Your face looks “tightened” and slightly swollen. You will not look ready for a business meeting.
- Days 3–7: Swelling subsides and bruises turn yellow, if present. The feeling of tightness decreases but remains noticeable. Facial expressions may be slightly limited.
- Weeks 2–4: Most symptoms pass. The lifting result begins to settle — the initial remodelling, sometimes with slight asymmetry, stabilises.
- Months 2–6: The biological effect gradually increases — collagen works, skin becomes firmer and the lifting result looks increasingly natural.
Restrictions after the treatment (4–6 weeks):
- Do not sleep on your face. Be careful when sleeping on your side; sleeping on your back is best.
- Do not massage your face.
- Avoid saunas and strenuous gym workouts. Cardio is OK after 2 weeks.
- Do not open your mouth wide. Take care during dental appointments.
- Avoid expressive facial movements during the first week.
Results: what to realistically expect
Managing expectations is key to satisfaction. Lifting threads:
CAN:
- Improve the facial contour by 30–50%
- Soften nasolabial folds
- Lift sagging cheeks
- Improve neck skin firmness
- Create a “refreshed” effect — you look younger, but not “different”
CANNOT:
- Replace a surgical facelift in advanced ptosis
- Remove excess skin — this requires a scalpel
- Restore deep volume loss — this is the role of fillers
- Last forever — results last 12–24 months, depending on the material
Results last: Realistically, 12–18 months. By then, the thread has dissolved and collagen gradually remodels. The result fades gently, not suddenly. Many people choose to repeat the treatment.
Risks — because we promised honesty
Every invasive treatment carries risks. With threads, these include:
Common (5–15%):
- Swelling and bruising — virtually unavoidable and resolve within 7–14 days
- Feeling of tightness and discomfort — normal and resolves within 2–4 weeks
- Temporary asymmetry — swelling may be greater on one side — this stabilises
Rare (1–5%):
- Thread visibility/palpability — particularly with thin subcutaneous tissue. The thread may be felt beneath the skin or, in extreme cases, visible. An experienced doctor and appropriate depth selection minimise the risk.
- Dimpling — localised indentations in the skin at anchoring points. Usually temporary, but may require correction.
- Thread migration — the thread moves from its original position. Rare with correct technique.
Very rare (<1%):
- Infection — as with any transcutaneous treatment. Sterility and antibiotic prophylaxis minimise the risk.
- Nerve damage — extremely rare and requires a detailed knowledge of anatomy.
- Material rejection — isolated cases of a foreign-body reaction
Key conclusion:
The risk is real but LOW — particularly in the hands of an experienced, certified aesthetic medicine doctor who regularly performs thread treatments. A question you should ask during consultation: “How many thread treatments have you performed?” The practitioner’s experience is the most important safety factor.
“A facelift without a scalpel” does not mean “without risk”
This sentence should be displayed in every aesthetic medicine salon. Lifting threads are an excellent tool — in the right hands, for the right person and with realistic expectations. However, this is still an invasive treatment that requires:
- A thorough consultation — not 10 minutes, but 30–45
- A detailed medical history
- Discussion of realistic results — not “you will look as you did 10 years ago”
- Information about risks — a doctor who says “there is no risk” is lying
- Before and after photographs — the doctor’s portfolio, not stock images
An informed decision is the best decision. Do not undergo a treatment on impulse, because of a promotion or advertising pressure. Ask questions. Expect answers.
Threads at J'ADORE INSTYTUT
At J'ADORE INSTYTUT in Warsaw and Krakow, lifting thread treatments are performed by experienced aesthetic medicine doctors. Each treatment is preceded by a detailed consultation. We discuss your facial anatomy and realistic results. We select the thread type and material. Most importantly, we check whether threads are truly the best option FOR YOU. Sometimes the answer is a filler, sometimes a laser, and sometimes simply good salon skincare.
We do not promise miracles. We promise expertise, honesty and results you will be happy with — because you will know what to expect.
Book a consultation. Ask us the difficult questions. This is what informed aesthetic medicine means.
