Saggy Body Skin Lift/Firming

PDO (Polydioxanone) threads consist of an absorbable polymer suture like material which is both flexible and durable making it an ideal material for minimally invasive skin rejuvenation, tightening and lifting. PDO thread material has been used in surgery for many years.

There are 3 main types of PDO threads currently available:

• Mono threads- smooth threads the thickness of fine hair inserted via a fine needle that mainly tighten the skin and provide a small amount of lift.
• Cog threads- barbed threads which hook onto the soft tissue under the skin's surface providing greater support and lift to sagging tissue.
• Screw threads- have intertwined threads around the insertion needle for the purpose of stimulating good volume restoration to sunken areas of skin.

• Skin rejuvenation as a result of collagen stimulation
• Skin tightening & lifting

Mono threads: Numbing cream is applied to the treatment area for 20 mins to decrease treatment discomfort. The area is then cleanse with surgical grade skin disinfectant. Multiple fine needles containing fine threads similar to a hair shaft are inserted into the skin. The fine needles are then removed leaving the fine thread underneath the skin.

Long threads: A very small amount of Local anaesthetic is injected into the skin with a very fine needle to numb the area to introduce a pilot needle. A longer blunt needle is then inserted to inject local anaesthetic along the pathway the long thread will take. This blunt needle is removed and a long needle containing the PDO thread is inserted into the numbed area. Once the PDO needle is in the correct position the needle is withdrawn leaving the thread behind. The thread is then pulled to create a lift and the excess thread above the skin trimmed.

Both PDO Mono and Long threads can take anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes depending on the number of threads required for the procedure.

Apart from the initial sting of the small local anaesthetic injection procedure the whole treatment area is numb so this treatment is essentially painless.

Mono Threads: Initially you might observe a correction in the treated area, however, this is due to swelling and will subside. The mono threads stimulate an increase in collagen production which takes approximately 12 weeks to occur.

Long Threads: Due to the mechanical lifting nature of the barbed long threads, a clinical result is apparent immediately. Skin quality also improves in the treated area over a 12 week period due to collagen stimulation.

Body treatment areas:

• Décolletage
• Tuck shop arms/upper arm firming
• Knee skin tightening/rejuvenation
• Inner thigh firming
• Cellulite improvement
• Hand rejuvenation/skin firming
• Elbow skin rejuvenation
• Stomach skin firming/tightening
• Buttock firming
• Smoothing of uneven body skin surface after liposculpture

Ultimately we have to look at the age of the patient, the treatment area and what we are trying to achieve.

Each thread type has a place and selecting the right thread for the right patient is vital to achieve the desired outcome as well as managing the patient’s expectations.

Laser Therapeutics use The Matrix Polydioxanone (PDO) Threads which are re-absorbable threads manufactured in Korea. The Matrix brand is widely available throughout the world, gaining the CE approval Mark and full TGA Approval in Australia.

Generally, results last for 20 months-2 years. This of course depends on your health and wellbeing. Radical weight variations for example or general health issues will of course impact longevity.

The PDO thread material is metabolised through hydrolysis (breakdown) and excreted like any other waste in the body. What remain is new Type 3 Collagen mesh in the treated area giving the tissues a mored lifted and youthful appearance.

The number of mono or long threads or combinations of both is determined by the amount of lift and improvement required.