
Achieve Effortless-Looking Skin at Our Rochester Medical Spa
You still feel like yourself when you look in the mirror, but you may be noticing changes in your jawline, cheeks, or lower face. If you’d like a subtle lift without undergoing facelift surgery, a PDO thread lift may be an option worth exploring.
PDO thread lifts use dissolvable threads placed beneath the skin to provide support and a lifting effect in selected areas. The procedure is minimally invasive, but results are more limited than those of surgical lifting, and outcomes vary depending on your anatomy, skin laxity, and the type of threads used.
At Front Door Medspa®, we’ll talk through your concerns, explain the potential benefits and risks, and help you decide whether a thread lift or another treatment makes sense for your goals.
Call 248-BESTSPA (237-8772) to schedule a consultation at our Rochester medspa.
What PDO Threads Are (and What They’re Not)
PDO stands for polydioxanone, an absorbable material used in certain medical sutures. During a thread lift, a trained provider places threads beneath the skin to support and reposition selected tissues. Results are temporary, and the degree of improvement varies from person to person.
A thread lift is not equivalent to a surgical facelift. It may offer a modest improvement for someone with early skin laxity, but it cannot remove substantial excess skin or produce the same degree of lifting as surgery. At Front Door Medspa®, we use Nova Threads. Your provider can explain which thread type and technique, if any, is appropriate for your concerns.
Where a Thread Lift Can Make the Biggest Difference
Depending on the thread design, placement technique, and your facial anatomy, a PDO thread lift may help improve the appearance of selected areas, such as:
- Jawline: A subtle lifting effect may help improve the appearance of early jowling.
- Cheeks: Certain techniques can support mild sagging in the midface.
- Brows: Selected thread techniques may provide a modest lift around the brow area.
- Neck: Some thread procedures are used to address mild laxity, although suitability depends on the amount and location of loose skin.
Threads aren’t the best solution for every line, fold, or area of sagging. Your provider will assess your facial anatomy and skin laxity before recommending a treatment area. If threads aren’t likely to deliver the change you’re looking for, we’ll discuss other options.
Is a PDO Thread Lift Right for You?
Thread lifts tend to work best for people with mild to moderate signs of aging, such as early sagging along the jawline or cheeks, who want a subtle improvement rather than a dramatic change.
If you have significant loose skin, a surgical facelift may deliver more dramatic and longer-lasting results, and we’ll tell you honestly if that’s the better fit. We may also suggest combining a thread lift with other treatments, depending on what’s causing your concerns.
How Do PDO Thread Lifts Work?
You’ll first attend an initial consultation with one of our specialists to determine if PDO thread lifts will suit your needs. If approved, we’ll schedule your appointment.
Our Rochester skincare specialists use a hollow cannula to place threads into the patient’s face. The PDO thread grabs at loose tissue underneath the surface of the skin. As we remove the cannula, PDO threads gently lift and tighten the skin. For collagen boost in areas of wrinkles, we’ll insert the threads in multiple overlapping patterns.
How Long Do PDO Thread Lifts Last?
PDO Thread Lift results typically last anywhere from 6 to 18 months, depending on factors such as the area treated, your skin type, and the amount of collagen produced. The threads naturally dissolve over time, but the collagen production stimulated by the threads can continue to improve the skin’s texture and appearance long after the threads have dissolved.
PDO Thread Lift Aftercare
There’s minimal aftercare required after a PDO facelift treatment. It’s normal to experience mild swelling and bruising of the treatment site for up to 48 hours, though any pain should fade after this time.
To ensure the best results, our skincare experts advise patients to avoid:
- Rubbing the face for at least one week after their procedures
- Sipping through a straw or pursing their lips
- Smoking
- Sleeping on your side
- Vigorous exercise
Any sweating or straining of the facial muscles may dislodge the thread and interrupt your treatment. If you have any questions or concerns following a PDO lift, call our Rochester medspa at 248-BESTSPA (237-8772).

Your Thread Lift Appointment, Step by Step
- Consultation. Your provider reviews your medical history, medications, skin concerns, and goals. You’ll discuss whether a thread lift is appropriate, the potential results and risks, and the expected cost.
- Treatment planning. Your provider selects the thread type, placement approach, and treatment areas based on your anatomy and the intended result. The skin is prepared, and local anesthesia is generally used to improve comfort.
- Thread placement. The threads are placed beneath the skin using the appropriate insertion technique. Depending on the thread design and placement, they may provide support to selected tissues and a modest lifting effect.
- Aftercare and follow-up. You’ll receive instructions specific to your procedure, including how to protect the treated areas, which activities to avoid, and when to contact the office with concerns. Your provider will explain when to expect the initial result and how it may change as swelling settles and healing progresses.
Recovery: What to Do (and Avoid) After a Thread Lift
Some swelling, bruising, tenderness, or temporary irregularities may occur after a thread lift. These effects often improve as healing progresses, but the recovery timeline varies by patient and procedure.
Your provider will give you specific aftercare instructions. Depending on your treatment, these may include:
- Avoiding unnecessary pressure, rubbing, or massage of the treated areas.
- Following instructions about sleeping position and facial movements.
- Pausing strenuous exercise and other activities for the recommended period.
- Following guidance about makeup, skin care, and cleansing near the insertion points.
- Attending any recommended follow-up appointment.
Don’t massage the treated areas or try to correct unevenness yourself unless your provider specifically instructs you to do so.
PDO Threads vs. Facelift Surgery vs. Other Tightening Options
- PDO thread lift: minimally invasive, subtle and natural-looking, best for mild to moderate laxity.
- Facelift surgery: involves removing excess skin and tightening deeper tissue. It can deliver more dramatic and longer-lasting results, but it also comes with surgery and a longer recovery.
- Ultherapy Prime®: a non-surgical option that uses ultrasound energy to tighten skin.
- Microneedling with radiofrequency: works on skin texture and firmness.
- Dermal fillers and biostimulator fillers: restore volume that has been lost with age.
Often the best results come from the right combination. A consultation helps you sort out which one, or which mix, fits your face. You can also explore our full skin tightening options.
Safety, Side Effects, and Who Should Check With Us First
Thread lifts are minimally invasive, but they are still a medical procedure. Common side effects are temporary swelling, bruising, and soreness. Less common risks include asymmetry, dimpling, visible or palpable threads, and infection. Your provider will review these with you before treatment.
Please tell us before your consultation about:
- Any blood-thinning medications or supplements, or bleeding disorders
- A history of scarring or skin problems
- Active skin infections or irritation in the treatment area
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Allergies and all medications you take
Contact us right away if you notice increasing pain, redness, warmth, or any signs of infection after your treatment.
Serving Rochester, Troy, Birmingham, and Beyond
Patients visit Front Door Medspa® from Rochester and across Oakland and Macomb counties, including Rochester Hills, Troy, Birmingham, Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Hills, and Shelby Township. Choose our downtown Rochester flagship or our West Rochester/Oakland Township location, whichever is more convenient for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
A thread lift doesn’t stop the natural aging process, and results aren’t permanent. Your provider can explain what is realistic for your treatment plan.
PDO thread lifts are a well-established, minimally invasive treatment, and most patients experience only mild, temporary side effects such as swelling, bruising, or soreness. As with any procedure, there are risks, which we review with you at your consultation.
Local anesthesia is generally used to help manage discomfort during thread placement. You may experience tenderness, swelling, bruising, or a pulling sensation afterward. Your provider will explain what to expect and how to manage discomfort during recovery.
The cost depends on the areas treated and the complexity of the procedure. We’ll give you a personalized quote at your consultation. You can also learn about financing options.
No. The threads dissolve over time, and results typically last 6 to 18 months. The collagen your body produces in response can continue to support your skin after that.
Many patients do. We’ll talk through what makes sense for your face and your timeline at your consultation. See our Botox/neurotoxin and dermal filler services.
A Subtle Lift Starts With an Honest Conversation
Come in, tell us what you’re noticing, and we’ll tell you honestly whether a thread lift, another treatment, or a combination makes the most sense. The goal is a refreshed version of you, not a different face.
Call our Rochester medical spa at 248-237-8772 to schedule your consultation. We proudly welcome men from Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Troy, and surrounding communities who are ready to look sharp, project confidence, and feel their absolute best.


