PDO Threads in Fulham
PDO threads are fine threads that dissolve. They're placed under the skin to lift and support tissue that has begun to drop, and as they dissolve they prompt your skin to make new collagen.
Threads can lift the cheeks, jaw, middle and lower face, neck and brows, while finer mono threads improve the firmness and quality of the skin. It's a non-surgical option with little recovery time.
Cheeks
Lift and support the cheeks without surgery.
- Treatment time
- 45–60 minutes
- Results
- Immediate lift; refines over 2–3 months
- Longevity
- Typically 6–12 months
- Downtime
- 2–3 days; gentle care for 2 weeks
- Price
- £350
About Cheeks
With age the cheeks lose their support, so the mid-face flattens and the tissue slips lower, which deepens smile lines and blurs the jaw. Cheek threads sit beneath the skin and physically lift that tissue back into position, then encourage collagen to form around them so the result is firmer and lasts longer.
For lifting, barbed or cone threads are used. John introduces them near the temple or hairline and anchors them so they hold the cheek up, giving a soft, natural-looking lift with no surgery.
Key Benefits
- 01Raises and repositions cheek tissue that has dropped
- 02Eases smile lines and early jowls as a result
- 03Triggers collagen so the skin firms up over time
- 04A lift you can see straight away, without surgery
- 05Threads dissolve on their own and leave new collagen
- 06Works well alongside cheek filler when volume is needed
Is this treatment right for me?
Threads in the cheeks are a good fit if your mid-face has dropped a little or moderately and you want lift rather than extra volume. Your skin needs some thickness and spring for the threads to hold. If the skin is very loose, John will tell you plainly what threads can and can't do.
You may be suitable if…
- Your cheeks have begun to drop and the mid-face looks flatter
- Tissue slipping lower is starting to create smile lines or jowls
- You want a lift without an operation
- Your skin has a fair amount of thickness and elasticity
Your consultation will consider…
- The amount of looseness in the skin and how much lift threads can honestly deliver
- How thick and healthy your skin is, since threads hold best where the skin has some support
- Which approach looks most natural for you: filler, threads or a mix
- Your health history, current medication and anything you've had done in the area before
What to expect
Before treatment
Your first appointment is a consultation with John, who looks at how much lift is achievable, which threads suit the area, and whether threads, filler or both will serve you best. If it's safe for you, stop alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen and blood-thinning supplements for a week before treatment, and leave at least two weeks between dental work and your appointment.
During treatment
After cleansing and marking the area, John numbs it with local anaesthetic injections so you stay comfortable throughout. Each thread goes in beneath the skin through a fine needle or cannula and is set in place to lift or support the tissue. The entry points are tiny and don't need stitches. Most sessions last 45–60 minutes. In the cheeks, lifting threads go in close to the hairline and are set to hold up the mid-face on both sides.
After treatment
The lift shows straight away, together with some swelling and a feeling of tightness. For a few days the area can feel sore or a little pulled while the threads bed in. John talks you through aftercare and arranges a review appointment.
Watch
See this treatment in the clinic, in short videos on John’s aesthetics site, Trusted Touch Aesthetics.
Watch 2 videos →Results & longevity
The lift is visible as soon as the tissue is moved back into place, and it looks its best once the swelling has gone down, usually after two to three weeks. Across the next two to three months, the threads trigger collagen around them, so the result becomes firmer and more refined. Although the threads dissolve within about six months, the collagen they leave keeps the effect going for typically six to twelve months, and sometimes longer. How long it lasts depends on the type of thread, the quality of your skin and your age.
Recovery, side effects & aftercare
In the first week, threads ask for a bit more care than injectable treatments. Expect swelling, tenderness and a tight feeling, and possibly some bruising where the threads went in. Most people feel fine to go back to work after a day or two, and everything has fully settled by two to three weeks.
Side effects
You should expect swelling, bruising, soreness and a tight or tugging feeling, all of which fade over a few weeks. The skin can sometimes dimple or pucker along a thread; this usually smooths out by itself. Now and then the end of a thread can be felt or seen, and a small adjustment fixes it. Less common risks are infection, a thread shifting, or the two sides looking uneven for a while as they settle at different speeds. Nerve irritation is rare and normally passes.
Aftercare
During week one, sleep on your back with your head propped up, keep mouth movements small, skip chewing gum and very hard foods, and leave the area alone rather than rubbing or massaging it. For two weeks, steer clear of hard exercise, saunas, steam rooms and sunbeds. Hold off on facials and dental work for three to four weeks. Keep the entry points clean and wear SPF every day.
Get in touch with the clinic if pain is getting worse, redness or warmth is spreading, an entry point is weeping, a thread end has become visible, or any dimpling is still there after two weeks.
- Downtime
- 2–3 days of swelling and tenderness
- Redness
- Mild at entry points
- Swelling
- Common for 3–7 days
- Bruising
- Possible, fades within 1–2 weeks
- Normal activities
- Light activity next day; no strenuous exercise for 1–2 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
How much lift should I expect?
A noticeable yet natural lift, usually a few millimetres, that softens the mid-face rather than changing your look. Threads are not a surgical facelift, and John will show you what's achievable for you.
Should I choose threads or cheek filler?
Filler replaces volume that has been lost, while threads lift tissue that has fallen. Plenty of people benefit from some of each, and your consultation will show which matters more in your case.
Will it hurt?
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, so during treatment you'll notice pressure and movement rather than pain. Expect it to feel sore for a few days afterwards.
How long will the lift last?
The threads themselves dissolve over roughly six months, yet the collagen they trigger keeps the lift in place. Most results last six to twelve months, and sometimes more, depending on the type of thread, your skin and your age.
Where do the threads go?
PDO is the material used in dissolvable surgical stitches. Your body slowly breaks it down and absorbs it over about six months, and new collagen is left behind where it sat.
Can threads and filler be used together?
Yes, and many people have both: threads move tissue back into place and filler replaces lost volume. John will advise which to do first and how far apart.
How soon can I return to work?
Most people need a day or two off. After that, swelling and any bruises can usually be covered with make-up, but leave two weeks before an important event.
Your Practitioner
John Dixon
Founder & Aesthetician
John founded Banana Beauty Lab and runs his aesthetics practice, Trusted Touch Aesthetics, here. He specialises in facial balancing and harmonisation, alongside wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. His training is CPD-certified, he is fully insured, and is known for taking the time to assess your face properly, explaining every option honestly and never over-treating — the aim is always a natural result that still looks like you. Clients regularly mention his calm manner, attention to detail and the aftercare follow-up that checks in on how you're healing.