Thread lift in Medellín

Thread lift, PDO thread lift, facial threads: those are the names you'll find on Google. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) describes them as absorbable, barbed sutures used on the face and neck: they lift the tissue where they're placed and stimulate collagen production in the skin. PDO is the name of a material some threads are made of, according to an ASPS article. Your doctor decides which thread to use in your case at your consultation.

Threads have their place in mild to moderate sagging. When sagging is more advanced, they don't replace a surgical facelift. The same ASPS article is in line with this: threads work better for mild or moderate sagging than for severe sagging, and they aren't designed for dark spots or other imperfections on the surface of the skin. Depending on what bothers you, something else may make more sense:

• Marked sagging in the cheeks, under the chin or in the neck: a facelift, which is surgery performed by the plastic surgeon.
• Fat under the chin with good skin elasticity: chin liposuction, also surgery.
• Lost volume or deep folds: hyaluronic acid fillers.
• Skin that has lost firmness, or mild sagging: collagen biostimulators or HIFU.
• Dark spots or skin texture: chemical peels or a plan for dark spots and melasma.

At your consultation, we tell you what makes sense for you.

Your consultation is in person, with Dr. Valeria Enciso, aesthetic physician. The ASPS recommends that you talk about:

• What you'd like to improve.
• Your medical conditions, drug allergies and previous medical treatments.
• The medications, vitamins and herbal supplements you take, and whether you drink alcohol or smoke.
• Previous surgeries.

According to the ASPS, that visit includes a review of your overall health, photos, a discussion of your options and the risks, and a proposed plan. None of that can be done over WhatsApp or from photos: your doctor needs to examine you.

Every procedure has risks, and this one does too. The ASPS lists:

• Anesthesia risks.
• Difficulty opening your mouth, usually temporary.
• A thread working its way out through the skin (extrusion).
• Infection.
• Pain, which may persist.
• Sensitivity to the sun or other intense light.
• Swelling and bruising.
• An unfavorable result.

Before you decide, we go over each one with you, and you sign an informed consent form.

Your doctor gives you instructions for your case. The general ones from the ASPS are:

• Get any lab tests or medical evaluation you're asked for.
• Stop smoking.
• Go over everything you take with your specialist: aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications and herbal supplements can increase bleeding and bruising. Don't stop anything on your own.
• Arrange for someone to take you and pick you up and, if your doctor recommends it, to stay with you the first night.

The steps, from consultation to follow-up, are on our international patients page.

Recovery takes 3 to 7 days. At first you may have swelling, bruising, irritation and discomfort. The ASPS explains that this is managed with medication, cold compresses and ointment, and that you may be told to apply an antibiotic ointment near the thread entry points. Other ASPS guidance:

• While the area heals, avoid strong pressure, rubbing or too much movement there.
• Protect your skin well from the sun and wear sunglasses until you've fully healed.

With the sun in Medellín, sunscreen is a daily habit. You leave with clear instructions for your case.