PDO Thread Lift in Indianapolis | Non-Surgical Facelift

PDO threads may be appropriate for patients who want to improve mild-to-moderate skin laxity without undergoing facelift surgery.

Potential advantages include:

• Treatment-area numbing, with Nitronox® available to improve comfort

• No general anesthesia

• Tiny thread-entry points rather than traditional surgical incisions; these generally heal without visible scarring

• A shorter recovery period than facelift surgery

• Subtle-to-moderate, natural-looking improvement

• A lower average upfront cost than surgery

PDO threads and surgical facelifts do not provide equivalent correction. Threads lift and reposition selected tissue, while facelift surgery can reposition deeper tissues and remove substantial excess skin.

Patients with advanced laxity, substantial excess skin, or expectations of a dramatic transformation may obtain a more appropriate result from a surgical consultation. Patients seeking a less invasive option with more modest correction may be suitable candidates for PDO threads.

Learn more in our guide comparing PDO threads with facelift surgery.

PDO thread lift results typically last approximately 12–18 months, although longevity varies according to:

• Skin quality and degree of laxity

• Thread type and placement

• Number of threads used

• Treatment area

• Lifestyle and metabolism

• Weight changes

• Natural aging

The threads gradually dissolve within the body, while collagen remodeling may continue to support the treated tissue. The amount and duration of improvement vary, and results cannot be guaranteed.

Maintenance treatment may be considered when the lifting effect begins to diminish. Dr. Kesa can evaluate the treated areas and determine whether additional threads or another treatment would be appropriate.

1. Smooth threads are used for collagen stimulation to reduce fine lines and superficial wrinkles.

2. Looped or twisted threads provide instant volume and are typically used to define the lip line better and fill and lift smile lines.

3. Barbed threads grasp and hold sagging skin to lift the skin to a more youthful, firmer position.

Dr. Kesa will customize your treatment plan based on your goals.

Temporary swelling, bruising, tenderness, tightness, mild puckering, small irregularities, or asymmetry may occur after a PDO thread lift.

Some patients return to light daily activities within 24 hours, while others prefer a short period of social downtime. According to the clinic’s general aftercare instructions:

• Avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours.

• Avoid alcohol for 24 hours.

• Avoid saunas, steam rooms, and excessive heat for 72 hours.

• Avoid heavy chewing, wide yawning, and exaggerated facial movements for one week.

• Avoid dental work, facial massage, facials, microneedling, laser treatment, and sleeping on your side or stomach for one to two weeks.

Unless Dr. Kesa advises otherwise, general PDO thread aftercare instructions from MD Wellness Center & Med Spa include following these restrictions while the threads settle.

Recovery varies, and personalized instructions from Dr. Kesa take priority. Read the full PDO thread lift recovery timeline.

Potential benefits for appropriately selected patients include:

• Immediate structural support: Threads lift and reposition selected sagging tissue. Some improvement may be visible shortly after treatment, although swelling can affect the initial appearance.

• Natural-looking improvement: The goal is a refreshed, more defined appearance rather than an excessively tight or pulled result.

• Collagen remodeling: The healing response around the threads may gradually improve tissue support and firmness.

• No local anesthesia: The treatment area is numbed, and Nitronox® is used to improve comfort during the procedure.

• Tiny entry points: PDO threads are placed through very small entry points rather than traditional surgical incisions. These generally heal without visible scarring.

• Shorter recovery than facelift surgery: Swelling, bruising, tenderness, tightness, and temporary activity restrictions may still occur.

• Customizable treatment: The thread type, number, placement, and treatment areas are selected according to the patient’s anatomy, degree of laxity, and goals.

• Results lasting approximately 12–18 months: Longevity varies according to the patient and treatment plan, and results cannot be guaranteed.

PDO threads do not remove substantial excess skin or replace lost facial volume in the same way as dermal fillers.

A potential candidate for PDO threads generally:

• Has mild-to-moderate facial or neck laxity

• Is bothered by early jowling, sagging cheeks, reduced jawline definition, mild neck laxity, or mild brow descent

• Wants subtle-to-moderate, natural-looking improvement

• Prefers to avoid facelift surgery

• Understands that threads cannot remove substantial excess skin

• Has realistic expectations about results and longevity

• Is medically appropriate for treatment

• Can follow the required aftercare instructions

Patients with severe laxity, substantial excess skin, or expectations of a dramatic transformation may benefit more from a surgical consultation.

Age alone does not determine candidacy. Read our guide to PDO threads for women in their 50s for a detailed discussion of skin quality, facial volume, anatomy, and realistic expectations.

Patients with severe skin laxity or significant excess skin may benefit more from surgical procedures, while others may combine PDO threads with fillers or skin tightening treatments for enhanced rejuvenation.

Common temporary effects may include:

• Swelling

• Bruising

• Tenderness

• Tightness or a pulling sensation

• Mild puckering or dimpling

• Small irregularities along the thread path

• Temporary asymmetry

• Visible entry-point marks

Less common complications may include infection, visible or palpable threads, thread migration or extrusion, persistent contour irregularities, prolonged pain, worsening asymmetry, or injury to nearby structures.

No medical procedure is risk-free. Choosing an appropriately trained medical provider and following personalized aftercare instructions can help reduce risk but cannot eliminate it.

Contact your treating provider for increasing redness or warmth, drainage, fever or chills, severe or worsening pain, rapidly increasing swelling, sudden asymmetry, a persistent poking sensation, or a visible or protruding thread.

Yes. PDO threads may be combined with other treatments when a patient has more than one type of facial-aging concern.

Depending on the patient’s anatomy and goals, Dr. Kesa may discuss:

• Dermal fillers for selected areas of facial volume loss

• Botox, Xeomin, or Daxxify for expression-related lines

• Radiofrequency microneedling for skin texture and collagen stimulation

• Nonsurgical skin-tightening treatments for mild laxity or crepey skin

• Selected laser treatments for pigmentation, sun damage, or texture concerns

Not every patient needs combination treatment. Procedures may also need to be staged to support proper healing and balanced results. Dr. Kesa will determine whether a combined approach is appropriate during the consultation.

The price Thread lift depends on the number of threads used. On average, most clients spend between $1,299 and $2,499 for this procedure.

To know more about the procedure and cost, please contact us at 317-548-4666 or email us at contact@mytrimmd.com to schedule a FREE consultation.