Thread Lift Beverly Hills: PDO Threads, Results & What to Expect

The appeal of a thread lift is straightforward: visible lifting of sagging facial tissue with no incisions, no general anesthesia, and a recovery measured in days rather than weeks. For the right patient, it delivers on that promise. For the wrong patient, it delivers disappointment at a significant cost.

Understanding the genuine strengths and the real limitations of thread lift technology is essential for making an informed decision. At my Beverly Hills practice, I've performed thread lifts on patients for whom they were the ideal solution — and redirected patients toward facelift surgery when threads simply couldn't produce the result they needed. This guide explains what you need to know to know the difference.

What Is a Thread Lift?

A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure in which dissolvable sutures (threads) are inserted under the skin using a fine needle or cannula and used to mechanically lift sagging tissue. The threads have small barbs or cones that grip the tissue and hold it in the new, elevated position.

The two primary effects are:

Immediate mechanical lift: The barbed threads physically pull and hold tissue upward from the moment they are placed
Collagen stimulation: As the body treats the threads as a minor controlled injury, it stimulates new collagen around the thread tracts — providing a longer-lasting improvement that continues after the threads dissolve

Most threads used today are made from polydioxanone (PDO), which dissolves over approximately 4–6 months. The collagen response they produce, however, persists considerably longer.

Thread Types and What They Treat

Barbed Lifting Threads (Mono Cog)

The primary lifting thread. Single barbed or bi-directional barbed threads are anchored at one end and grip the tissue with barbs or cones as they are tensioned. Used for jowls, midface, brow, and neck.

Smooth Mono Threads

Single smooth threads without barbs, placed in a mesh pattern. These are used primarily for collagen stimulation and skin tightening rather than lifting — effective for fine lines, skin texture improvement, and early laxity.

Screw Threads

Two threads twisted around a needle, providing volume and density to sunken areas. Commonly used in cheeks and brows.

Areas Treated with Thread Lifts

Treatment Area	Thread Type	Typical Result
Jowls and lower face	Barbed lifting threads	Moderate definition of jawline, reduced jowling
Midface / cheeks	Barbed or screw threads	Restored midface volume and subtle lift
Brow	Barbed lifting threads	Elevated brow tail, reduced hooding
Nasolabial folds	Smooth or barbed threads	Softened fold appearance
Neck laxity (mild)	Barbed lifting threads	Mild tightening of neck skin
Skin texture / fine lines	Smooth mono threads	Improved skin quality, subtle tightening

The Ideal Thread Lift Candidate

Patient selection is the single most important factor in thread lift outcomes. Ideal candidates share several characteristics:

Age: Late 30s to early 50s (some patients in their late 50s are good candidates if skin quality is good)
Skin laxity: Mild to moderate, visible early jowling, mild midface descent, early neck laxity
Skin quality: Good skin elasticity. Thin, sun-damaged, or very loose skin does not hold threads well and produces poor results
Expectations: Realistic, thread lifts produce a subtle, natural improvement, not a dramatic transformation
Motivation: Patients who want improvement without the commitment of surgery and its recovery period
Body weight: Significant facial fat limits the effectiveness of threading, threads grip tissue, not fat

Thread lifts are not appropriate for patients with significant jowling, substantial neck skin excess, deep nasolabial folds, or moderate-to-severe facial aging. These patients will be disappointed with thread results and are better served by facelift surgery.

The Thread Lift Procedure: What to Expect

The procedure is performed in-office under local anesthesia (with optional light oral sedation). It takes approximately 45–90 minutes depending on the number of threads and areas treated.

Consultation and marking: I map the insertion points and vectors based on the patient's anatomy and goals
Anesthesia: Local anesthetic injections numb the insertion sites and thread tracts
Thread placement: A fine needle or blunt cannula is used to pass the threads under the skin along pre-planned vectors
Tensioning: The threads are gently tensioned to achieve the desired lift and the excess is trimmed
Immediate assessment: Results are visible immediately, though some swelling will be present for several days

Discomfort during the procedure is typically mild with adequate local anesthesia. Most patients describe it as pressure and occasional pulling sensations rather than sharp pain.

Recovery and Aftercare

Thread lifts have a significantly shorter recovery period than surgical procedures, but they are not entirely without downtime:

Days 1–3: Mild to moderate swelling, some bruising at insertion points, tenderness when touching the face
Days 4–7: Swelling subsides, minor dimpling at insertion points is common and temporary
Week 2: Most visible signs of the procedure have resolved; the lift is apparent
Months 1–6: As PDO threads dissolve, collagen production provides ongoing support

Aftercare instructions:

Sleep on your back with head slightly elevated for 1–2 weeks
Avoid rubbing or massaging the treated areas for 3–4 weeks
No strenuous exercise for 2 weeks
Avoid extreme facial expressions during the first week
Dental procedures that require wide mouth opening should be delayed 2 weeks

How Long Do Thread Lift Results Last?

This is the question patients ask most often, and the honest answer is: it depends. Most patients see meaningful results for 1–2 years. Factors that influence longevity:

Skin quality: Better elasticity = longer results
Age: Younger patients tend to get more durable results
Number of threads: More threads generally provide more lifting force and durability
Area treated: Brow lifts tend to last longer than jowl lifts
Lifestyle factors: Sun protection, skin care quality, and smoking status all affect longevity

Maintenance treatments, placing new threads as the original results fade, are an option for patients who wish to sustain the improvement without proceeding to surgery.

Thread Lift vs. Facelift: The Honest Comparison

Factor	Thread Lift	Surgical Facelift
Anesthesia	Local (in-office)	General or deep sedation
Recovery	3–7 days	2–4 weeks
Results duration	1–2 years	7–12 years
Degree of correction	Mild to moderate	Moderate to dramatic
Ideal laxity degree	Mild to moderate	Moderate to severe
Cost (Beverly Hills)	$2,000–$5,500	$18,000–$35,000+
Repeatable?	Yes, annually or as needed	Once, occasionally twice lifetime

Thread lifts are not a "facelift without surgery", that framing sets unrealistic expectations. They are a separate procedure for a different patient at a different stage of aging. The best approach is to understand where you are on the aging spectrum and choose accordingly.

Cost of Thread Lift in Beverly Hills

Thread lift pricing in Beverly Hills varies based on the number of threads, areas treated, and provider experience. At my practice, costs typically range from $2,000 to $5,500 for a full-face thread lift treatment. The procedure is performed in-office and includes local anesthesia.

Because thread lifts are not permanent, patients should factor in the cost of eventual re-treatment when comparing the long-term economics to a surgical facelift.

Thread Lift Consultation

The right candidate for a thread lift gets meaningful, natural improvement with minimal downtime. A consultation with Dr. Newman will clarify whether threading, fillers, a surgical facelift, or a combination approach is right for your anatomy and goals.

Schedule Your Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Thread lifts typically last 1–3 years depending on the threads used, the area treated, the patient's age, and skin quality. PDO threads dissolve over 4–6 months, but the collagen they stimulate continues providing support. Results in younger patients with good skin elasticity tend to last longer. Maintenance threads can be placed once the initial lift fades.

Thread lifts and surgical facelifts serve different patients. Thread lifts work best for patients in their late 30s to early 50s with mild to moderate skin laxity who are not ready for surgery. Facelifts produce more powerful, longer-lasting results and are the better choice for patients with significant sagging, deep jowls, or excess neck skin. Thread lifts are not a substitute for facelift surgery in patients who truly need it.

Recovery from a thread lift is minimal compared to surgery. Most patients experience mild swelling, bruising, and tenderness for 3–7 days. Dimpling at insertion points is common initially but resolves within 1–2 weeks. Most patients return to normal activities within 2–3 days. Strenuous exercise and facial massage should be avoided for 2 weeks.

Thread lift cost in Beverly Hills typically ranges from $2,000 to $5,500 depending on the number of threads used, the areas treated, and the provider's experience. The procedure is performed in-office under local anesthesia and takes 45–90 minutes.

Yes. Thread lifts are commonly combined with dermal fillers to restore volume while threads restore lift, with Botox to address dynamic wrinkles, and with skin resurfacing treatments to improve texture. Many patients achieve their best results with a multi-modal approach that addresses structure, volume, and skin quality simultaneously.