Baseline Sagging — Lower Face and Jowl Laxity
Age-related soft tissue descent creates jowls and laxity.
- 35–60: Typical patient age (placeholder range)
- Jowl / jawline: Primary target zone (placeholder)
- ~1%: Collagen decline/decade (placeholder)
- Mild–Mod: Candidate laxity grade (placeholder)
Why tissue sags
Collagen and elastin decline gradually with age.
Assessment approach
Vector mapping plans thread placement before insertion.
Cannula-Guided Subdermal Thread Placement
A fine cannula threads the barbed suture beneath the skin.
- PDO: Thread material (polydioxanone)
- Subdermal: Insertion depth (placeholder)
- ~19–21G: Needle/cannula gauge (placeholder)
- ~30 min: Procedure time (placeholder)
Insertion technique
Thread follows a planned vector toward the anchor zone.
Barb orientation
Cogs face backward to resist tissue slippage.
Barb Anchoring and Immediate Mechanical Lift
Barbs grip tissue; gentle tension lifts the sagging contour.
- Moderate: Immediate lift range (placeholder)
- Multiple barbs: Anchor points/thread (placeholder)
- Immediate: Effect visibility (placeholder)
- 2–8: Threads per side (placeholder)
Tensioning mechanics
Cogs lock into tissue as excess thread is trimmed.
Vector planning
Multiple threads distribute lift across the jawline.
PDO Absorption and Foreign-Body Collagen Response
Thread dissolves over months while stimulating new collagen.
- ~6 months: Full PDO absorption (placeholder)
- ~1–2 months: Collagen onset (placeholder)
- ~6–9 months: Peak collagen build (placeholder)
- Foreign-body: Response type (placeholder)
Dissolution timeline
Hydrolysis breaks the thread down gradually and safely.
Collagen handoff
New collagen forms along the track as thread fades.
Durable Lift From Mechanical-to-Collagen Handoff
Collagen support sustains tightening after thread dissolves.
- 12–18 mo: Effect duration (placeholder)
- 0%: Thread remaining at 18mo (placeholder)
- High: Collagen at 18mo (placeholder)
- ~12–18 mo: Retreatment interval (placeholder)
Sustained tightening
New collagen matrix maintains contour after full absorption.
Retreatment planning
Effect fades gradually; repeat threading restores lift.