Sagging jowls are often among the first signs of aging that you notice when you look in the mirror, and because they change your facial shape, they can also be the most disheartening.
While there was a time when a surgical facelift was the only solution for sagging jowls, today we have other options for you to consider — ones that don’t require surgery.
At Metroderm DC: Medical, Laser, and Aesthetic Dermatology Center, our team offers two nonsurgical options to help lift a sagging jawline: the PDO thread lift and microneedling with radiofrequency (RF) energy.
Here’s how the techniques compare and how to decide which is the better choice for you.
PDO stands for polydioxanone, the suture (thread) material we use in a thread lift. PDO thread lifts work in two ways to help gently lift the jowl area by:
Unlike sutures used in surgery, PDO threads aren’t smooth. They’re studded with tiny hooks that help grasp skin tissue. When we pull the sutures taut, those hooks lift your skin and hold it in place.
In addition to holding your skin, PDO sutures create areas of controlled damage that promote natural healing responses, including the production of collagen. Over time, new collagen forms supportive networks to hold your skin in its new position, even after the sutures themselves have dissolved.
Microneedling with RF energy doesn’t use sutures to lift skin, but like thread lifts, it also creates controlled damage to stimulate natural collagen production.
Unlike a thread lift, microneedling can address changes in your skin’s texture and tone, smoothing fine lines and fading sun and age spots.
Microneedling relies on a special handheld device that’s studded with tiny needles. In microneedling with RF, these tiny needles create channels into deeper layers of tissue, carrying very small pulses of RF energy to stimulate skin healing and recovery.
While a thread lift provides an instant lift to your skin, microneedling results take longer to appear, relying on skin’s remodeling process to provide a gentle lift and an overall improvement in your complexion.
Both thread lifts and microneedling with RF energy can help gently lift your jowls and contour your jawline for a more youthful result, and we perform both in our office with no downtime afterward.
A thread lift may provide a more dramatic result that’s a good choice for severe sagging. Microneedling with RF energy promotes a natural lift that also corrects age-related issues with your complexion.
Ultimately, the better choice depends on your goals and your preferences. Following a review of those factors and an evaluation of your skin and your facial anatomy, we recommend the option focused on the results you’re looking for.
To learn more about these and other techniques that can help you successfully undo the signs of aging, call 202-659-2223 or book an appointment online with our team at Metroderm DC in Washington, DC, today.
