A thread lift uses absorbable threads (medical sutures that break down naturally in the body) placed under the skin to lift sagging tissue or stimulate collagen production. The threads come in three main materials — PDO, PLLA, and PCL — and each differs in lifting strength, how fast it breaks down, and how long results last.

PDO has the shortest duration at roughly 6–8 months but delivers the strongest lift. PLLA lasts around 12–18 months and adds a volume-restoring effect. PCL lasts the longest at 24 months or more (up to about three years), though its lifting strength tends to be weaker. Cost varies considerably by clinic, material, and the number of threads placed, so confirm exact pricing during your consultation.

All three are absorbable — but they break down differently

Every thread used in a thread lift is made from absorbable material that the body eventually breaks down. What differs is how and how fast. PDO (polydioxanone) is firm and tough, which gives it strong immediate traction and a quick, visible jawline-defining effect — but it fully breaks down within about 6–8 months, so results fade comparatively fast. PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) belongs to the filler family of collagen-stimulating materials. Rather than simply pulling tissue, it triggers your own collagen production in the surrounding tissue, gradually filling in hollowed areas. It lasts roughly 12–18 months. PCL (polycaprolactone) is the most recently introduced of the three. It is the softest and most flexible, so patients tend to feel it less under the skin, and its slow breakdown means results can hold for 24 months or more — in some reports up to about three years. That said, all three perform differently depending on skin type and degree of sagging, so no single material is objectively "best."

Who this guide is written for

This guide is for anyone considering a thread lift for the first time who wants to weigh the materials before committing. Rather than looking for the one material that is universally superior, it helps to understand first that the right choice shifts based on how much sagging you have, how much facial fat, how sensitive you are to discomfort, and how long you want results to last.

Material stiffness determines lifting power

A thread's lifting power comes down to how firm and tough the material is. PDO is the stiffest and toughest of the three, so it pulls tissue upward most forcefully the moment it is placed. That force comes from the cogs (tiny barbs) along the thread catching physically on the facial retaining structures — the zygomatic cutaneous ligament (ZCL), the superficial layer of the deep temporal fascia (sDTF), and others that hold facial tissue in place — as well as on the superficial fat layer. PCL, by the same logic, is the softest and most flexible, so it is felt less under the skin but can lift less forcefully than PDO. PLLA sits somewhere in the middle for elasticity.

Hydrolysis rate determines how long results last

Longevity depends on how quickly the thread undergoes hydrolysis (breaking down through reaction with water in the body). PDO has a molecular structure that degrades relatively quickly, so most of it is gone within about 6–8 months. PLLA breaks down more slowly and holds for 12–18 months. PCL degrades slowest of all, remaining in the body and maintaining its effect for 24 months or more — by some reports up to about three years. In short, the faster a thread breaks down, the stronger its initial effect but the shorter its duration; the slower it breaks down, the more gradually results appear but the longer they hold — a pattern that applies across all three materials.

How they differ in stimulating collagen

All three materials have been reported in animal studies to meaningfully increase collagen (Type I and III) density in the dermis (the skin layer where collagen is concentrated), but the degree and pattern differ. PLLA is reported to be the strongest of the three at inducing the body's own collagen production, making its effect closer to "filling" than to simple lifting. PCL shows a tendency toward advantages in long-term skin regeneration. PDO also stimulates collagen, but its strength lies comparatively more in traction.

※ If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a skin infection, are prone to keloid scarring, or are taking anticoagulants, consult a doctor before choosing a thread type. See the "What to Consider" section below for details.

PDO: strong lift, a good starting point

If your sagging is visibly pronounced, or you need to lift heavy tissue such as jowls or a double chin, PDO's strong traction gives you a result you can see and feel quickly. The trade-off is the 6–8 month duration — maintaining the effect means planning for repeat treatment.

PLLA: lift plus volume for hollowed areas

For areas that lifting alone will not fix — hollow cheeks, sunken temples — PLLA's volume-restoring effect can help. Keep in mind that results appear gradually, so this is not the choice if you want an immediate change.

PCL: least noticeable, longest-lasting

If your skin is thin and sensitive and you are bothered by the feeling of a thread under the skin, or if you want one treatment to last as long as possible, PCL may be the better option. Its relatively weaker lift does mean there are limits to using it alone on heavily sagging areas.

Combining materials

In practice, clinicians often combine materials by area rather than using just one. A common approach places PDO along the jawline where strong traction is needed, and PCL or PLLA in areas that need elasticity or volume correction. If you are wondering whether this kind of combination can substitute for surgical lifting, or how it compares to non-surgical radiofrequency and ultrasound devices, it helps to read a guide comparing non-surgical lifting with thread lifts alongside this one [Internal link needed: Non-surgical lifting (Ultherapy, Thermage, etc.) vs. thread lift comparison]. Note that the scope of this article is limited to comparing absorbable thread materials; a direct comparison with energy-based devices requires separate review.

🚨 When a consultation first is essential

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a skin infection at the treatment site, are prone to keloid scarring (a tendency for wounds to heal into abnormally thick scars), or are taking anticoagulants (blood-thinning medication), speak with a doctor before selecting a thread material.

Common early reactions (swelling, bruising, pain)

A meta-analysis of 26 clinical studies covering 2,827 patients reported swelling in 34%, bruising in 26%, and temporary pain in 11% within four weeks of treatment. These are relatively common recovery responses to the irritation the skin and tissue undergo during placement, and they are generally understood to settle naturally over time. That said, severity and duration vary with your skin thickness, pain sensitivity, and the number and length of threads placed. It helps to share your routine with your doctor beforehand — when you need to return to work, when you want to resume exercise — so the guidance you get fits your situation. Source: PMC 2024 meta-analysis, "A meta-analysis of complications of thread lifting."

Rarer later complications (dimpling, visible threads)

The same meta-analysis reported complications appearing after four weeks: dimpling (skin puckering) in 7% and visible threads (threads showing through the skin) in 10%. The risk of these reactions is understood to rise particularly when PDO is used alone in areas where the skin is very thin or there is almost no subcutaneous fat. Conversely, using PCL alone on heavily sagging areas may not produce the degree of lift you were expecting. If a side effect does occur, ask your doctor when and on what grounds you should come back for a follow-up.