A PDO thread lift in Korea uses polydioxanone, a dissolvable suture material long used in surgery, shaped into fine threads that are placed under the skin with a needle or blunt cannula. Smooth PDO threads add light support and collagen stimulation, while barbed or cog PDO threads hook soft tissue and reposition it. Clinics also offer threads made of PCL (polycaprolactone) or PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid), which break down more slowly. Treatment is done under local anesthetic and usually takes under an hour. Swelling, bruising and tenderness are common for one to two weeks. Published reviews do not yet show how long the lift itself holds, so treat any promise of years with caution.
Guide
What PDO is, and how it differs from PCL and PLLA
Polydioxanone is a synthetic polymer that the body breaks down by hydrolysis, so nothing permanent is left in the tissue. It is used for most smooth threads and many cog threads sold in Korea. PCL and PLLA are also absorbable, but they are generally described as breaking down more slowly and are often marketed for a longer collagen response.
Slower absorption is not the same as a longer visible lift. Barbs lose grip as the material softens, and aging continues. The two reviews on this page focus on safety and neither sets a duration of results for any material, so treat the manufacturer's stated absorption period as a material property, not a result.
| Material | Breakdown | Typical use | Note from reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDO (polydioxanone) | Dissolves fastest of the three | Smooth, twist and cog threads | Most widely used; well studied for safety |
| PCL (polycaprolactone) | Dissolves more slowly | Cog threads, often thicker | Linked with more swelling and bruising in one review |
| PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) | Dissolves more slowly | Cog threads, collagen-focused products | Fewer pooled cases to compare |
Guide
Smooth, twist and barbed PDO threads compared
Thread design changes what a session can do far more than the material does. Smooth threads have no hooks; they are laid in a mesh to firm thin skin and stimulate collagen, and they do not move tissue upward. Twist threads add bulk along a hollow. Barbed or cog threads carry small hooks, molded or cut, that catch the fat layer so the doctor can lift a jowl or cheek and anchor it higher.
Barbed designs give the visible lift people usually search for, but carry more side effects. Product searches such as ace pdo thread lift korea usually pair a brand name with the material, which says little about design, so ask to see the sealed packaging and whether each thread is smooth or barbed.
- Smooth or mono threads: skin quality, no lift
- Twist or screw threads: volume along a fold or hollow
- Barbed or cog threads: repositioning of cheeks, jowls and jawline
Guide
What the research says about side effects
In a 2021 systematic review in Dermatologic Surgery, Pham and colleagues pooled 59 articles covering 14,222 patients, almost all treated with barbed threads. The most common problems were facial asymmetry, swelling and bruising. Serious events such as nerve symptoms, hair loss near entry points and injury to vessels or glands were rare, and most effects faded on their own.
A 2024 review in the same journal by Ojha and colleagues compared absorbable materials across 19 studies and 1,406 patients. In that review, Ojha and colleagues reported bruising in about 19.5% of cases, swelling in about 16.8% and infection in about 2.5%. Swelling and bruising were more often linked with PCL threads, barbed threads and midface lifts, and barbed threads had more complications than smooth or coned ones.
Guide
Risks to discuss plainly before a PDO session
Most aftereffects are temporary, but a few need follow-up, so a short trip should leave time for a check.
- Temporary pain and soreness when chewing for several days
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin near a barb, which often settles but may need adjustment
- Thread extrusion, where a thread end can be felt or seen at the skin surface
- Infection or an inflammatory lump along a thread path, which needs prompt review
- Asymmetry between sides, the most frequent finding in the larger review
- Rare nerve symptoms such as numbness, and contour irregularities that may last longer
Guide
Who is suited to PDO threads, and who is not
PDO threads are commonly used for mild to moderate laxity in people with reasonable skin thickness who want a modest change and accept that it fades. Heavy jowls, marked skin excess or a deep neck band usually call for a surgical opinion instead. Pregnancy, active infection or inflammation on the face, bleeding disorders are reasons to delay or avoid treatment.
Evidence
Research behind this page
- Safety Profile of Thread Lifts on the Face and Neck: An Evidence-Based Systematic ReviewDermatologic Surgery · 2021 · doi:10.1097/dss.0000000000003189
Across 59 articles and 14,222 patients, asymmetry, swelling and bruising were the most common effects, and serious events were rare and mostly treatable.
- An Assessment and Comparison of Adverse Effect Rates in Differing Absorbable Thread Lift Suture MaterialsDermatologic Surgery · 2024 · doi:10.1097/dss.0000000000004466
In 19 studies of absorbable threads, swelling and bruising were more common with PCL, barbed threads and midface lifts than with other options.
FAQ
Questions about Thread lifts in Gangnam
How long do PDO threads stay in the skin?
PDO threads are absorbable and are broken down by the body over a period of months, leaving no permanent material behind. The period depends on product, thickness and design, so ask for the manufacturer's stated absorption time. The reviews cited here did not measure how long the lift stays visible. Results vary from person to person, and many people plan a repeat session later rather than expect a long-lasting change.
Is a PCL or PLLA thread stronger than PDO?
PCL and PLLA threads dissolve more slowly than PDO, but slower breakdown does not prove a stronger or longer lift. The grip of a cog thread depends mainly on barb design, thickness and placement. In the 2024 review by Ojha and colleagues, PCL threads were linked with more swelling and bruising. Ask why a clinic suggests one material for your face and what it changes in recovery.
Does a PDO thread procedure hurt?
Most people feel pressure and pulling rather than sharp pain, because local anesthetic is injected at entry points and along the planned paths. The injection of numbing itself stings briefly. Afterward, soreness when opening the mouth wide, chewing or smiling is common for several days, and simple pain relief is usually enough. Ask which painkillers are allowed, since some increase bruising.
What should I do if a thread end pokes through?
Contact the clinic that placed the thread, because a visible or sharp end usually needs trimming or removal rather than waiting. Do not pull on it yourself, as that can drag the thread through the tissue or introduce bacteria. If you have already flown home, a local doctor can trim an exposed end. Ask before treatment for the thread product name in writing so another doctor knows what was used.
Can I combine smooth PDO threads with barbed threads in one visit?
Yes, doctors often place barbed threads to reposition tissue and smooth threads in a mesh to support skin quality during the same session. Combining them adds entry points and may lengthen swelling slightly. The plan should list each zone, the thread type and the count per side. Expect a short review visit a few days later to check symmetry before flying.