There are three main types of threads, polydioxanone (PDO), polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCA). PDO threads have been around the longest, hence the term PDO Threads may often be used as a generic term for this product.
PDO threads have been around since the 1980s and are made of a synthetic biodegradable polymer that has been used in surgery for many years. PDO threads are absorbed into the body over 6 months by hydrolysis and work by triggering fibroblasts to produce more collagen in a targeted area.
There are three main types of PDO threads used;
- mono,
- cog and
- screw threads.
Mono threads are smooth without barbs and are anchored to a point on the face or the scalp. They mainly tighten the skin and provide a small amount of lift.2
Cog threads have barbs which hook onto the skin to provide support and lift the sagging tissue.
Screw threads have one or two intertwined threads around the needle and provide good volume restoration to sunken areas of the skin. The production of collagen around the threads and their barbs helps to restore volume and improves the skin texture and elasticity resulting in a natural aesthetics outcome.