Stimulating Collagen with PRP and PDO-Threads

Dr Terry Loong
By Dr Terry Loong

With her gentle touch and artistic eye, Dr Terry strives to provide the best advise, treatment and care for her clients.


I’m a firm believer in the notion that; “A woman’s skin is like her business card. It shows up in the world first.” So I’m always trying to combine and perfect the best treatments that I can for my patients.

With this in mind, I have recently launched a new treatment concept which I wanted to share with you.

It’s a new stimulating collagen treatment aimed at creating a youthful, lifting, facial rejuvenation, combining two of my favourite treatments to give a more natural and long-lasting result – I have called it “Threads of Life”.

Unlike dermal fillers that are commonly used for volume and line correction, threads create a lifting effect, whilst stimulating collagen at the same time.

The absorbable PDO (Polydioxanone) Fine Thread is an absorbable suture made from a biocompatible protein that delivers no allergic reaction, no side effects, no downtime and no foreign body reaction.

It is absorbed within 10 to 12 months. The synthetic monofilament has a very high initial tensile strength, an excellent pliability and a smooth tissue passage.

Results are natural and impressive, creating a beautiful lifting effect whilst generating an all-over youthful appearance due to the collagen production boost.

what is absorbable PDO Fine Threads?

But this is not the only ingredient for Threads of Life – I also team the PDO Threads with PRP for its healing properties.

The components of PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) is plasma (mainly water, but also contains a protein that catches platelets to form a clot), white blood cells and platelets (blood cells made in bone marrow) that releases growth factors on activation, increasing circulation, stimulating fibroblast (cells producing elastin) and collagenases (collagen production).

How useful is PRP treatment

PRP is used to decrease the blood cells that are less useful in the healing process (RBC – typically 93% to 5%) and increase blood cells that stimulate recovery (platelets from 6% to 94%).

Skin recovers faster whilst adding a further regenerative boost, without risking any infections or reactions.

Since the product is derived from the patient’s own blood, it avoids any risk of transmissible infections and other diseases.

So, that’s what it’s all about, and this is what you can expect if you have this treatment:

  1. Skin is cleaned with an aseptic technique. 
  2. Anaesthetic is applied either topically by cream or injected into the skin of point of entry. 
  3. Blood is drawn and centrifuged to prepare the PRP. 
  4. An entry point is made by the temple with a small needle. 
  5. PDO threads are passed with a cannula needle underneath the skin in the subcutaneous tissues directed into 5 points - along the laugh line between the nose and the mouth, the corners of the mouth, about 1.5 cm below, on the side of the chin and along the jowl area on the jawline. 
  6. During the passage of the threads, PRP is gently injected into the subcutaneous tissues at the same time with a little anaesthetic. 
  7. Once the threads are in and the cannula needles are removed, the threads are then gathered by the entry point and manipulated (or twisted), creating a lifting effect on the lower part of the face. 
  8. Upon creating the desired lift, the extra threads are cut and the entry point sealed with anti-biotic cream. 
  9. If indicated, smaller monofilaments can be used to strengthen and firm the jowl area, the lower cheek area, the apple of the cheek, the laugh line and marionette lines. 
  10. The remaining PRP can also be used to superficially injected using a mesotherapy technique all over the face and neck. 
  11. PDO threads can also be used on the forehead, to create a lift of the eyes and also the neck.

Most of my patients will see a significant improvement after one treatment.

Mild swelling is expected for 24-48 hours.

In about 6 weeks after new collagen has been formed, it contracts as it matures creating further lift and volume.

The effects last up to 18-24 months.

For those with very sagging skin, 2-3 treatments may be required to achieve the desired result.

PRP treatment with PDO threads

Depending on whether a full face or just a lower face Threads of Life procedure is required you can expect to pay between £1,900 and £3,900 at my clinic.

Other practitioners may also offer similar treatments but I like to think that I am pioneering this concept by being one of the first to do so and demonstrate proven results.

If you’re still curious to see this treatment in action then I have created this video to explain and demonstrate it in more detail, as well as listen to one of my patients explain why she’s having this particular treatment.

 

If you want to read more, the experts at Consulting Room really know what they're talking about and have put together some PDO thread lift, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and sagging skin treatment FAQs just for you. 

If you have more questions, you can use the PDO thread lift, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and sagging skin questions feature to talk to our panel of trained medical experts. 

If you're keen to get started with any of these treatments right away then you're in luck - those clever folks also have a list of trusted, accredited PDO thread lift, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and sagging skin clinics in your area.

Many thanks to the author Dr Terry Loong who graduated from Guy’s, King’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital, London in 2002 and completed her postgraduate qualifications with the Royal College of Surgeons.

With her gentle touch and artistic eye, Dr Terry strives to provide the best advice, treatment and care for her clients.

She is best known for understanding her clients, being fully supported throughout and giving them educated choices.

Working with her team at Harley Street, she leaves her clients feeling amazing, confident and feeling completely taken care of. 

Thanks to the author

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