The breakdown of collagen and elastin in the epidermal tissue causes one of the most noticeable signs of aging, which is a loss of skin elasticity. As a consequence, there is face flaccidity and the development of wrinkles and expression lines, which will worsen over time. Aesthetic medicine, fortunately, provides a variety of less invasive, safe, and efficient methods for face rejuvenation, making them an excellent alternative to surgical procedures. The application of lifting threads is one of them. And now you might be wondering, what exactly are lifting threads?
A thread lift is a nonsurgical cosmetic surgery that lifts and tightens your skin to give you a more youthful appearance. A thread lift also increases collagen formation in your body. Collagen makes skin firmer and more elastic, yet it naturally shrinks with age.
=> Facelift & Skin Tightening with Thread Lift
Threads are a very prevalent and highly sought after operation in the areas of medical aesthetics - both by practitioners and patients alike - for their capacity to lift, renew, and revitalize the skin.
As a result, more studies have been undertaken in recent years, with the majority—if not all—of them reaching the same conclusion: Thread lifting is safe, and patients are now actively pursuing non-surgical methods for aesthetic and cosmetic procedures in addition to preferring the technique.
Nowadays, new devices, thread variants, materials, patterns, and procedures are always being created, and the indications for each approach are being improved. As a result, there are a lot less issues that arise at the beginning of a procedure. In fact, thread lifting has advanced so significantly that in addition to the well-known PDO threads, the market also offers other threads including PLLA and PCL.
Polydioxanone (PDO) threads
The activities of PDO, which are most frequently used to stitch sutures in surgeries, have been known to create changes in the dermis, and several studies have shown that it is helpful in reducing pores and tiny wrinkles. Moreover, it can promote collagen synthesis in the dermal matrix to thicken the papillary dermis.
PDO threads can also cause tissue alterations when inserted into the subcutaneous layer because following insertion, PMN cells, including eosinophils, assemble to form granulation tissues surrounding the thread. According to certain research, the produced granulation tissues include a significant amount of newly generated collagenous connective tissue.
These newly generated collagenous connective tissues merge into the pre-existing fibrous connective tissue causing a "merging effect". This impact creates an inflammatory reaction in the surrounding area where the thread is introduced, and it spreads as waves to the surrounding tissues as a result of mechanotransduction.
Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts have been identified in layer formed granulation tissues surrounding the threads. This demonstrates that PDO threads may successfully increase the suppleness of the skin in the procedure region and tighten the skin via the influence of myofibroblasts.
Furthermore, fat cells in the treatment region were shown to be dissolved by the granulation tissues, demonstrating that PDO threads, when used appropriately, may be highly useful in face shape, contouring, and rejuvenation treatments.
Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) threads
Poly-L-Lactic Acid is another popular material for surgical sutures. PLLA has been shown to be even more effective than PDO in simulating collagen formation. This material has a two-year or longer longevity, and when dissolved, it degrades into harmless common chemicals such as lactate, glucose, carbon dioxide, and water.
PLLA, which is sometimes used as an alternative to fillers and botulinum toxin, can operate as a volumizer and can stimulate the formation of Type 1 and Type 3 collagen. One advantage of employing PLLA threads over PDO threads is that it creates little or no inflammatory reaction in the surrounding tissues while providing comparable, if not better, outcomes.
Polycaprolactone (PCL) threads
Polycaprolactone (PCL) threads can last up to 2 years, despite not being as popular or widely utilized as the PDO and PLLA. This is due to PCL's stronger and more complicated chemical connections and structural makeup, which makes it take a lot longer to disintegrate fully. The PCL threads' slower rate of deterioration also makes them perfect for long-term insertion into the surrounding tissues, producing results that persist longer. In comparison to PDO or PLLA, PCL is also well known for having a far stronger stimulatory effect on collagen formation. Even after the thread has disintegrated, collagen synthesis can continue for up to a year before breaking down into harmless, everyday molecules.
Differences between PDO, PLLA and PCL threads
The same threads can be absorbed, but the three are still different. PDO threads have distinct characteristics from PLLA or PCL threads. Tensile strength, flexibility, and durability are the three fundamental distinctions between these threads. After 6 to 9 months, PDO or polydioxane threads disintegrate. PLLA or polylactic acid threads, on the other hand, disintegrate after 12 to 18 months. PCL is the most long-lasting of the three. It takes two to three years for them to totally disappear.
Also, the PCL thread quality is somewhat soft, and the lifting force is insufficient. As a result, there are limited practical uses. Yet, as a result of this, the operating mode of the PCL thread will be more flexible and adjustable.
In reality, the fact that these types of threads may be used in face lift surgery implies that they are non-toxic and safe for the human body. They will be processed into water and carbon dioxide, leaving no residue or negative effects in the body, and they are quite safe.
What are your thoughts on this technique? Are you willing to give it a shot? Visit our website for different types of lifting threads.