Choosing the right thread for your patient
Choosing the right thread for your patient
During the natural ageing process, collagen and elastin levels in the body begin to deplete. This causes loss of volume to the face, deeper set wrinkles and sagging skin.
Thread lifts or suture lifts can tighten the skin and lift the areas that are beginning to sag. Currently, there are three main types of facial threads on the market, polydioxanone (PDO), polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCA). But how do you select the right one for your patient?
In this blog, we explore the different types of facial thread, and most common uses to help you choose the right thread.
PDO Threads
PDO threads have been around the longest and have variations, cog, mono, and screw threads.
Cog threads use barbs which hook onto the skin and lift sagging tissue, Mono threads are smooth and are most used to tighten the skin and provide a small amount of lift. Unlike Cog threads, the material on Mono threads is smooth, and can be fixed to either the face or scalp. Screw threads have one or two intertwined threads around the needle and are used in volume restoration.
No matter which variation you select, threads can help to restore collagen to the face and can improve overall skin texture and elasticity, resulting in a natural, more youthful look.
PLA Threads
PLA threads came to market after PDO threads and are made from a biocompatible polymer derived from lactic acid. PLA threads are resorbable and are known to regenerate collagen production within the skin over a longer time than traditional PDO threads.
They use cones to hook the skin tissue and increase volume within the skin and restore facial shape whilst providing a significant lift.
PCA Threads
PCA threads are the newest threads on the market that are bioabsorbable. They work by regenerating collagen over a longer time than PDO and PLA threads, and leave behind a collagen structure that supports, tightens, and lifts the skin.
Due to the fibrotic reaction caused by PCA threads, the lifting and stretching action will continue even after the threads have been resorbed. Besides collagen production, PCA threads are also known to help stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid resulting in more moisturised, firmer skin.
Choosing the Right Thread for your Patient
Before deciding what type of thread to use, you should consider the treatment indications and what your patient is trying to achieve. Whether its tightening, lifting or just rejuvenation, each thread has a different use, and will offer different results.
Consider the age of your patient, what they are trying to achieve and the facial structure. Analyse how much the skin is sagging, and how much lift or volume they desire.
If your patient wants to achieve a significant lift to sagging tissue, PDO threads may not work as they do not have barbs and are usually placed superficially. To achieve a significant lift and skin tightening, opt for barbed threads which will clasp onto the skin to create tension, and lift the skin.
You should also consider the length, angle, efficacy, and longevity of the thread you select to ensure it will suit your patient. If the thread you select is too loose, it may become flexible and not provide the desired lift. On the other hand, if the barbs are too short, they will not be able to hook onto the facial tissue at all.
You should also consider how densely the barbs are along the thread. Low density will not be able to provide as much lift as your patient would like, the higher the density the better the lift. You should also consider how much skin tissue needs lifting, as this will help you select the correct density.
The angles of the barbs also have a place in how effective your thread will be. If the angle is too small then the lift may be weak, on the other hand, if the angle is too big the barb may dig into the thread and cause it to break.
The takeaway
Thread lift procedures are non-invasive and mostly pain free, but the outcome rests heavily upon the type of thread you select. Discuss treatment with your patient to help you select the right thread, and always purchase from a reputable supplier, like ourselves who stock only the highest quality threads, and can help you choose what is right for your clinic.