After the procedure, you can be swollen and bruised for up to 2 weeks depending on the number of areas that have been treated. After 2 days, patients are usually able to apply camouflage make-up to hide any sign of pale bruising.
Swelling is a common side effect of many cosmetic procedures, including the popular thread lift. A thread lift is a non-invasive procedure that uses special threads to lift and tighten sagging skin. The procedure is minimally invasive, but swelling can occur, which can be uncomfortable and unsightly.
ICE: Gently apply cold packs immediately after your treatment to help reduce swelling and bruising. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be taken in case of pain/tenderness. Avoid, if possible, aspirin and NSAIDs (Motrin, Aleve, Advil, Ibuprofen) for 3 days post procedure.
Your results will fully develop, or settle, over the next month as the body begins to ramp up collagen production that will offer longer-term support. This means you'll see results much faster than you would after a surgical facelift, which takes two or three months to settle.
You'll see instant results from the physical lift, but there is more to come since collagen takes 2-3 months to generate fully. You can expect a complete recovery from your thread lift in no more than two weeks.
A PDO thread lift will offer significant results straight away, and you'll notice a tightening and lifting of the skin. However, it will take around two weeks for the collagen production to start to get going, and this is when you will see an improvement of the skin's tone, texture and overall quality.
Not only do the threads physically lift the skin, but they also stimulate the body's natural production of collagen, meaning thread lift results will continue to improve over time.
Fortunately, because the threads placed under the skin during a thread lift are so small, the patient will not feel any of this happening.
Sleep on your side
Sleeping on your side, or even on your stomach, results in pressure on your face. You need to avoid this for about a week after your thread lift procedure. Try to sleep on your back with your head propped up on a pillow to minimize swelling after a thread lift.
Complications: Although thread lift is considered minimally invasive, some sutures and cuts are required. There is still a risk of complications such as bruising, thread breakage, thread extrusion, fever, and infection.
There may be a dull pain that typically goes away after a week or two. There will often be discomfort from chewing or any facial movement.
Aside from coping with temporary swelling and tenderness, most clients are able to smile after a PDO thread lift.
In truth, each drooped cheek/jowl will require multiple cogged threads. A thread lift is great for a mild/moderate droop but the number of threads to get that lift will range from 4 to 8 per side.
Absolutely. Jowls are one of the primary indications of thread lifting and often times our very first course of action when treating the jowls, and we'll get into the details as to why that's the case, but there are a number of treatment options out there that can effectively tighten the area.
A study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirms PDO thread lifts do work, stating thread lifts indisputably lift and shape facial soft tissues. Another study published by the NIH indicates this therapy yields around a 90 percent success rate.
Once injected below the surface of the skin, they will stimulate collagen production and lift the skin over time. Within six to eight months, these threads will dissolve on their own and you will be left with a more youthful appearance.
Results of the PDO thread lift
Following a thread lift, you can see results in firming and lifting within a day or two after the swelling eases. Then, over the next three weeks, you will see improvements. In the next few months, your body will start naturally producing collagen and elastin for even greater results.
When a PDO thread snaps, patients can feel a sudden sharp pain, which is often accompanied by a popping or cracking sound. This occurs due to the sudden release of tension in the thread.
You will want to avoid widely opening your mouth for two weeks while the threads are incorporating. You should avoid eating bagels, tall sandwiches, steak, and other items that require lots of chewing or widely opening your mouth for two weeks.
Some patients also experience lumps after the thread lift. Lumps after thread lifting are sometimes due to the thread lifting one area of the skin and not being engaged fully. This is easily corrected or fixed if it does not resolve within one week.
Most of your discomfort should occur in the first 24-48 hours following the procedure and will decrease each day thereafter. You may resume normal activities as you feel well enough to do so.
Is a thread lift painful? During a thread lift procedure, you receive local anesthesia, so you don't feel any pain. After the procedure, you may experience some pain, discomfort and soreness. You can take an over-the-counter or prescription pain reliever for several days until the discomfort goes away.
Consequently, sleeping on your side or stomach is one of the worst things you can do after your procedure. Sleeping side or face down can cause patients to experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort, and generate less than ideal results.