Thread Lifts
A thread lift is a facelift without the surgery. Dissolvable threads placed just beneath the skin lift and reposition sagging tissue in the cheeks, jowls, brows, and neck, with the lift visible before you leave the office. It uses FDA-cleared threads, is performed under local anesthetic, and requires no incisions at all.
What is athread lift?
A thread lift uses fine, dissolvable PDO threads, made from the same biocompatible material surgeons have used in medical sutures for decades. After the area is numbed with local anesthetic, the threads are placed beneath the skin with a needle or cannula, gently pulled to lift and reposition the tissue, then secured and trimmed. No incisions, no tissue removal, no general anesthesia.
The lift itself is immediate: you see the change in the mirror the same day. Then a second effect takes over. The threads trigger your skin to build fresh collagen around them, so as they dissolve over the following months, the skin keeps firming and the result keeps improving.
The whole procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes in our Montgomery Road office. Your provider selects the thread type for your degree of laxity, from smooth mono threads for mild loosening to barbed cog threads that grip and lift moderate sagging, and often pairs threads with fillers or other injectables for a fuller refresh.
Who is a thread lift for?
Thread lifts are for people who want a visible lift today without committing to surgery.
The honest answer comes from a consultation. We assess your skin laxity and tell you plainly whether threads will give you the lift you are picturing, or whether another treatment, or a surgical lift, is the truer answer.
You have mild to moderate laxity
Softening cheeks, early jowls, a drooping brow. Threads reposition tissue; they do not remove the excess skin of advanced sagging.
You want a lift without surgery
No incisions, no general anesthesia, no weeks of hiding at home. The trade is a subtler, shorter-lived result than a facelift.
You are not after a dramatic change
The best thread lift results look like a rested, lifted version of you, not a different face.
You are in good overall health
A medical history review is part of every consultation.
You have realistic expectations
Results last about a year, sometimes longer, and many patients repeat the treatment to maintain the lift.
Where threadslift
Threads work anywhere gravity has started to win: the mid-face and cheeks most of all, but also the brows, the jawline and jowls, and the neck.
Select an area on the figure to see what a thread lift does there.
Thread lift, mid-face and cheeks1 / 6
Real patients,real lifts.
Every photograph here is a patient of our practice, treated with a PDO thread lift at our Montgomery Road office and photographed before and after treatment. Drag the handle to compare.
See the full galleryIndividual results vary. Photographs are unretouched patients of The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center, shared with permission, and are not a guarantee of your own outcome.
See thread lifts at our office
These are thread lift videos from The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center, covering what a thread lift is, what the procedure involves, and how long the results last.
If you would rather talk it through, a consultation covers everything you see here, for your face.
Whatto expect.
Book a consultationCost depends on the areas treated and the number and type of threads, so we give a personalized quote at your consultation.
Performed in our office under local anesthetic, typically completed within an hour. You go home right after.
Mild swelling or tenderness for a few days is common. Some patients take a day or two quiet; most return to their routine immediately. Avoid dental visits and facial massage for about two weeks.
The lift is visible immediately and refines over the following weeks as collagen builds. Results last about a year, sometimes longer, and the collagen benefits persist beyond the threads themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What is a thread lift?
A non-surgical procedure that lifts sagging skin with fine dissolvable, FDA-cleared threads placed beneath the surface. The threads reposition the tissue for an immediate lift and stimulate collagen that keeps improving the skin afterward.
Are the results immediate?
Yes. You see the lift the same day, and it continues to refine over the following weeks as swelling settles and new collagen builds around the threads.
How long do thread lift results last?
About a year, sometimes longer, depending on your skin, the threads used, and lifestyle. The threads dissolve within several months, but the collagen they stimulate keeps supporting the skin beyond that.
Do the threads dissolve?
Yes. PDO threads are made of the same biocompatible material used in dissolvable surgical sutures and are absorbed by the body naturally over several months.
Does a thread lift hurt?
The treatment is done under local anesthetic, so placement is comfortable. Expect some tenderness, tightness, or mild swelling for a few days afterward.
How long does the procedure take?
About 30 to 60 minutes in our office, typically within an hour. You go home immediately afterward.
What is the downtime?
Little to none. Mild swelling is common for a few days, and some patients plan a quiet day or two. We ask you to avoid dental visits and facial massages for about two weeks after treatment.
What areas can a thread lift treat?
The cheeks and mid-face, eyebrows, jawline, jowls, and neck. The lower face and jawline are especially popular for tightening early jowling.
What kinds of threads are used?
We select from several PDO thread types: smooth mono threads for mild laxity and collagen stimulation, spiral threads for lift plus firming, and barbed cog or screw threads for moderate sagging that needs a stronger grip.
Will I need maintenance treatments?
Many patients repeat the treatment yearly or so to maintain the lift, or combine threads with annual rejuvenation treatments like fillers and injectables.
Can threads be combined with other treatments?
Yes, and often to great effect. Threads lift; fillers restore volume; Botox relaxes lines. We frequently pair them in one plan for a more complete refresh.
Is a thread lift as good as a facelift?
It is a different tool. A facelift removes excess skin and lasts many years; a thread lift repositions tissue with no incisions and lasts about a year. For mild to moderate sagging, threads deliver a genuine lift without surgery.
Where to next
Related treatment
EMFACE
Needle-free lift for the face.
Explore the treatmentRelated concern
Sagging & Laxity
Jowls, loose cheeks, and a softening jawline
Start from the concernWorth reading
How Soon Will I See Results After a Thread Lift?
Discover how soon you'll see results after a thread lift. Learn about recovery, results, and more.
Read the answerAsk about your skin.
Tell us what you would like to change and we will come back with the treatments that fit, honest expectations, and a time to talk it through.
Your details go straight to our Montgomery Road front desk and are never shared. A team member replies during office hours, usually the same day.
Ready when you are.
Book a consultation at our Montgomery Road office, or call and we will help you decide where to start.
Medically reviewed by Shalini Gupta, MD, Harvard-trained dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center. Last reviewed September 2026. This page is for education and is not a substitute for a personalized medical consultation.