NovaThreads: What You Need to Know

Pros

• This facial rejuvenation procedure is relatively quick and easy. Each PDO thread takes just a minute to place, with no incisions required. 
• You'll see an immediate result from the skin being lifted, with an enhancement in firmness for up to a year as new collagen develops.
• Dissolvable PDO NovaThreads are less risky than the permanent sutures inserted in thread lifts of the past, which could attract infection-causing bacteria and leave scar tissue. 
• If you’re not ready for any surgical procedures, like a facelift, a thread lift is a far more affordable, less invasive option.

Cons

• As with other nonsurgical procedures, the results from any type of PDO thread lift can’t compare to what facelift surgery can achieve. The threads merely lift the skin, while a surgical facelift also tightens underlying muscles and removes excess sagging skin.
• NovaThread results are temporary. This nonsurgical facelift or neck lift effect lasts six months, though you may see firmer skin for up to a year as new collagen develops.
• If your NovaThreads lead to complications, such as bumps and indentations in your skin, your best option is to wait up to four months for the threads to dissolve. 
• NovaThreads have a relatively low Worth It Rating on RealSelf: just 57%. Those who deemed it Not Worth It say they didn't see noticeable results or experienced complications with their threads, such as visible lumps.

Related: Experts Are Split Over the Benefits of Thread Lifts. Top Doctors Explain Why.

• Average Cost:
• $1,643

• Range:
• $300 - $2,600

Your cost will depend on your surgeon’s level of experience, their practice location, and the scope of your procedure, including the number of threads used. 

Cosmetic procedures aren't covered by insurance, but most providers accept financing or offer payment plans.

The best candidates for a thread lift are typically in their 40s, with mild to moderate skin laxity. 

It's also important to have realistic expectations: this and other nonsurgical treatments won't yield the same kind of results you'd see from a surgical mini lift or facelift.

Your doctor can place the threads in less than an hour. They’ll start by numbing your face with local anesthesia, so your thread lift shouldn’t hurt. 

There are two main techniques for placing NovaThreads.

• The NuMesh approach creates a mesh-like scaffolding under the skin, as its name implies. Two smooth PDO sutures are placed vertically and three horizontally, on each side of your face. The threads boost collagen production as your body tries to heal around the foreign material, leading to increased skin firmness.
• The NuLift uses barbed PDO threads under the skin’s surface, to pull it taut and reposition it. This type of thread lift can be performed on the face, neck, or jowls to address sagging skin. The threads physically lift the skin, and over time your body produces more collagen in a "selective inflammatory response" to the foreign material embedded in the tissue. This response firms the tissue over time, providing a mild skin tightening effect.

Thread lifts come with little to no downtime. You may be slightly swollen, bruised, or red for a few days, but it's typically mild enough that you can still return to work the next day. 

It's best to skip moisturizer or vigorous facial rubbing for about a week after your procedure, so you don't irritate the tissue. After a week, you can resume your normal skin care routine.

NovaThreads dissolve naturally over four to six months, but improved fullness and firmness due to new collagen can last up to a year. 

To improve your results, your provider may recommend complementary treatments—such as microneedling, Botox, or filler—to address other skin concerns like fine lines, discoloration, and volume loss.