An Introduction to PDO Threads: Lift Without Added Volume

Filler adds volume. Threads add support. That single distinction explains most of what makes PDO threads a different proposition from the rest of the injectables tray, and it is the reason they often suit a client whose concern is descent rather than deflation.

What PDO threads are

PDO is polydioxanone, a material long used in surgical sutures. A lifting thread is placed into the tissue, where it provides mechanical support, and then gradually biodegrades. As it does so, the PDO material supports collagen production, so there is a structural effect at placement and a slower response in the tissue afterwards.

Cog threads are the lifting variety. Rather than being smooth, they carry barbs, or cogs, along their length that engage with the surrounding tissue and hold it in the repositioned place. That mechanical fixation is what produces the lift.

The NeoGenesis 4D COG-C

NeoGenesis 4D COG-C is a professional PDO lifting thread with multidirectional cogs arranged across four planes, giving 360-degree tissue support rather than engagement in a single direction. Once placed, the cogs engage the surrounding tissue to provide mechanical lifting and help define facial contours.

It is supplied with a cannula, which supports controlled manoeuvring when you are working in delicate or contoured areas. The specification is straightforward: model C19100-C, 19G gauge, 100mm cannula length, 20 threads per pack, supplied as 10 sterile blisters containing 2 threads each.

Listed treatment areas are the cheeks, jawline, submental area and nasolabial folds, plus other suitable facial or body areas following professional assessment.

Threads or filler?

The useful question is what the client's face is actually doing. Where the concern is lost volume, a dense structural filler replaces what has gone. Where the tissue has descended but volume is broadly intact, threads reposition and support it without adding anything, which is exactly the case the 4D COG-C is described for: lift and definition without added facial volume.

They are not mutually exclusive, and many treatment plans use both, but they are answering different questions. Choosing threads for a volume-loss concern, or filler for a descent concern, is how you end up with a result that technically worked and still disappoints.

What to tell clients about recovery

Temporary redness, tenderness, bruising or swelling may occur following treatment. Setting that expectation at consultation rather than afterwards makes for a much calmer follow-up call, and clients should follow all the aftercare instructions you provide.

Important information

PDO threads are for professional use only and must be placed by an appropriately trained and qualified medical professional, following the manufacturer's instructions and an individual clinical assessment. Thread placement is a technique-sensitive procedure, and appropriate training in the specific thread type is essential before treating clients.