Frequently Asked Questions About MINT PDO Threads
Collagen and elastin are the essential proteins comprising the foundational framework of the skin and play a crucial role in maintaining the skin’s firmness and youthful appearance. As you grow older, your body’s production of these proteins slows down, leading to sagging skin and the emergence of wrinkles.
PDO threads are specifically made to help restore skin’s firmness and elasticity without surgery or an extended recovery time. PDO stands for polydioxanone, which is a safe and biocompatible material that stimulates your body to produce collagen. PDO lifting threads serve a dual purpose – direct skin tightening and collagen formation. First, as they are inserted underneath the skin and reposition the tissue to where it was years earlier, your skin is given an immediate lift. Second, the PDO threads eventually get absorbed by the body. As this happens, they stimulate natural collagen and elastin production in the area, which leads to even longer lasting improvements in skin strength and elasticity.
There are numerous companies that offer PDO threads, but they do not all offer the same quality and effectiveness. MINT™, which stands for Minimally Invasive Non-Surgical Thread, uses innovative and patented technology to give you the best results available in PDO threads. Other threads in the market have threads where barbs are created by making cuts into the thread, which affects its durability. MINT™ threads feature 2 designs created with patented technology that makes it the ideal PDO threads on the market to enhance your facial features: the barbs are press molded onto the thread in a 360-degree helical pattern.
These 2 key features determine the strength and duration of your thread lift:
- Press molded barbs of MINT™ threads can provide a stronger and longer lasting lift because the threads dissolve at a slower rate compared to cut threads.
- MINT™ threads offer all around fixation to anchor itself onto the tissue, which offers maximum security and fixation.
· Non-surgical and minimally-invasive
· No incisions and no scarring
· Long-lasting results (up to 1 year)
· Relatively quick procedure (30 minutes to 2 hours depending on area(s) treated)
· Made of a safe material that fully dissolves over time
· Minimal pain and no downtime
· Tightens skin immediately, so results are instantly visible
· Promotes collagen and elastin production over time
· Natural looking result
· Comfortable procedure to go through
· May be done multiple times
· Natural-looking results
· May be done in conjunction with other treatments
There are two main types of threads available at Evolutions: lifting threads and smooth threads.
Lifting Threads
Lifting threads are PDO sutures that have barbs or cogs that anchor onto tissue. Once secured, the threads are pulled to lift and lock the tissue in place to tighten and contour your features.
Smooth Threads
Smooth threads are PDO threads without the lifting barbs and helps to improve skin texture, elasticity, volume, and fine lines. They are shorter and thinner and are placed more superficially in the skin. As the threads dissolve, the PDO stimulates the production of new collagen to build volume and contracts surrounding tissue to tighten the skin. They can be a more natural and subtle option than fillers.
At Evolutions, we use the Lifting threads for:
- The mid-face area, which improves the appearance of sagging skin, jowls, and the nasolabial folds as well as provides additional contour for the cheekbones.
- The brow area, which can help reduce eyelid hooding and heavy brows.
Smooth threads are put directly into fine lines, wrinkles, and crepey skin and can be used almost anywhere on the body, though common areas of treatment include the perioral lines, frown lines, “marionette lines”, “crow’s feet”, submentum (under the chin), and the neck.
Smooth threads are recommended to be done in a series of three treatments. They are frequently done in conjunction with dermal fillers and can improve the overall results when done together.
MINT™ PDO treatment is a minimally invasive and non-surgical cosmetic procedure that typically takes 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete. Results are noticeable right away.
After your PDO thread lift, the threads are absorbed by the body in 6-8 months, but the benefits can last for up to a year because they stimulate collagen production and neovascularization in the skin. The degree of sagging, skin thickness, and facial structure of each patient will affect the outcome of the treatment.
We use a powerful topical numbing cream for Smooth thread treatments and local anesthetic for lifting thread treatments, so patients typically experience very minimal pain during the procedure.
After your MINT™ PDO treatment, you may experience some minor swelling, redness, and/or bruising, but most clients are immediately able to resume your daily activities. More intense activities such as exercise can be resumed after a week
Yes! MINT™ threads are made from a complex sugar polydioxanone (PDO). PDO is a synthetic, biodegradable polymer that’s been used in medical applications for over 30 years. It’s a type of suture material commonly used for closing wounds and surgical incisions because it’s absorbable by the body over time.
MINT™ is backed by over 6 years of published studies for its safety and is the only PDO thread to receive more than one FDA clearance (MINT™ is triple FDA cleared).
Clients who want to reverse moderate signs of aging such as sagging skin and wrinkles, without surgery or extended downtime, are generally suitable for the MINT™ lift. Candidates may be male or female and are typically between 30 and 50 years old, though clients older than 50 may still be good candidates depending on the degree of sagging/wrinkles.
The best way to determine if MINT™ PDO Threads are right for you is to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our highly knowledgeable clinicians. During the consultation, you can discuss your specific concerns and desired outcomes with the provider, so that they can provide a personalized treatment plan to address your areas of concern effectively.
The cost of a PDO threads depends on a variety of factors, including whether Lifting or Smooth threads are used, the number of area(s) treated, and if you are a VIP member. Please call to schedule a complimentary consultation for specific pricing.
Yes! MINT™ lifts are compatible with many other procedures, so you can take advantage of all the best things each treatment has to offer for synergistic effects. Target wrinkles with neuromodulators, restore volume with dermal fillers, address skin texture with laser treatments, and take care of sagging skin with MINT™.
While some may achieve their desired results with a single treatment, it may be worth considering additional PDO thread lifts. Since the threads are completely absorbable, you can undergo more thread lifts to continue enjoying the benefits of MINT™ over an extended period.