Will PDO threads pose an issue with a lower mini-facelift?

I am not surprised with your lack of satisfaction with the thread lift. PDO threads, Silhouette threads and most other threads tend to produce minimal to no changes. Open mini-lift allows for minimal recovery with definitive changes in skin laxity. The placement of previous threads will not adversely effect or interfere with the surgery. Good luck

If threads were not the best solution for you then you can absolutely move onto a mini facelift without any complications. You do not have to wait a specific allotted time before receiving the surgery as it does not interfere with the muscles. If the surgeon spots the thread during surgery it can easily be removed without disruption of the procedure. In order to maintain results down the line it is possible to receive threads after a facelift given that threads stimulate collagen production therefore improving skin quality as well as maintaining the lift. Going forward, I would recommend you to complete multiple in office consultations with board certified experts to discuss your ideal aesthetic goals. This way, they can better assess your face and create an ideal treatment plan for you.

Best of luck!
Kian Karimi MD, FACS

Hello.  Thank you for your question.  I am not so surprised that you did not achieve a significant result from the PDO thread lift.  Thread lift procedures have been around for a long time.  These procedures were mostly abandoned by reputable surgeons several years ago, due to unsatisfactory results and complications from the permanent sutures that were used in the past.  Thread lifts are making a resurgence in popularity now with the introduction of absorbable PDO threads.  The inadequacy of the procedure for providing long-term results for facial rejuvenation, however, has not changed.  Having a previous PDO thread lift should not cause any problems with undergoing a facelift in the future.  If remnants of the PDO threads are encountered during the procedure, they can simply be removed with no significant impact on the results of your facelift procedure.  I would encourage you to seek a consultation with a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon, or Plastic Surgeon, who has extensive experience and expertise in facial rejuvenation, and allow them to assess your individual anatomy, concerns, and goals, in order to determine the best treatment plan for you.  I wish you the best in achieving your aesthetic goals. 

Mini lift after thread lift.  when these are in countered after a thread left the threads can be excised and usually causes no problem with irregularity or bumps etc. See a very experienced facelift surgeon and this can be done as early as 3 months later unless there are extenuating circumstances. 

Thanks for your questions. PDO threads have been around for a long time. While generally not effective, the dissolvable version of sutures don't usually cause a problem while performing a facelift. I have encountered these many times and they are often coiled up and stuck in the superficial SMAS layer. Occasionally the non dissolvable versions of the sutures need to be dissected out during the procedure which can cause some irregularities but this is less common.Good luck1

It is not unusual to feel that the thread lift was ineffective. Absorbable threads should not pose a problem with a lower or mini-facelift.I would suggest your plastic surgeon be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with who has all of the modalities of treatment available. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person. Facial rejuvenation needs to be individualized. What would be an ideal approach for one patient is not necessarily the same for someone else. Based on the examination and discussion at the consultation, you should have a better understanding of the various options that can achieve the best cosmetic result for you.

Robert Singer, MD FACS
La Jolla, California