Guide · Thread lift
Thread lift in Singapore PDO, PLLA and PCL threads, and who they suit
A thread lift sits between energy treatments and surgery: more mechanical lift than a machine can give, far less than a facelift. Here is how the threads differ, how long they last, the real risks, and the options in our network.
Quick answer
- A thread lift places absorbable threads under the skin through a few small entry points. Barbs or cones on the threads grip sagging tissue and hold it higher, and as the threads slowly dissolve they prompt some new collagen around them.
- The common materials are PDO (polydioxanone), PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) and PCL (polycaprolactone). In laboratory studies PDO was absorbed in about six months while PCL remained for over a year; PLLA threads are also designed to last longer than PDO.
- Reviews find the lift is immediate but long-term evidence is limited. Common side effects are swelling, bruising, temporary asymmetry and dimpling; serious complications such as nerve or gland injury are rare.
- At IN Eternity Clinic, Dr Sin Yong performs RVR ProLift (threads along vertical vectors, with energy-based lifting where planned) and a PDO nose thread lift, priced at consultation. For a needle-free option, SKINLIFT® at SkinRev Lab is S$888 for the face, before GST.
How it works
What a thread lift actually does
Lifting threads are made from the same kinds of absorbable polymer used in dissolving surgical stitches. Under local anaesthetic, a doctor passes them through a fine cannula or needle into the fat layer just under the skin, along planned lines called vectors. Small barbs, cogs or cones along each thread catch the tissue, which is gently moved upwards and held there.
Over the following months the thread material is broken down by the body. As it goes, a mild healing response lays down collagen-rich tissue along the thread track, which gives some support after the thread itself has gone. So a thread lift works in two ways: mechanical repositioning now, and modest collagen support later.
Materials
PDO, PLLA and PCL threads compared
Longer-lasting material does not automatically mean a longer-lasting lift. How long the face holds also depends on the vector plan, the tissue, age, weight changes and lifestyle. Which thread suits you is a decision for the treating doctor.
| Material | What it is | How long it stays | Often used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDO (polydioxanone) | The most widely used thread polymer, also used in dissolving sutures | Absorbed in about six months in laboratory studies | Barbed threads for lifting; smooth or twisted threads for skin quality; nose threads |
| PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) | The same polymer used in some collagen-stimulating injectables, often blended with other polymers in threads | Designed to last longer than PDO | Cone or barbed lifting threads |
| PCL (polycaprolactone) | A slower-dissolving polymer that also features in some collagen-stimulating injectables | Remained in tissue for over a year in laboratory studies | Barbed lifting threads where longer support is wanted |
| Smooth (mono) vs barbed threads | Smooth threads have no grip; barbed or cogged threads hold tissue | Depends on the material | Smooth for texture and fine support; barbed for repositioning |
Expectations
What a thread lift can and cannot lift
- Can help: early jowls, a mid-face that has slid down, a softened jawline, mild asymmetry, and a low nasal bridge or soft nose tip with dedicated nose threads.
- Can help a little: skin texture and firmness along the thread tracks, as collagen forms.
- Cannot: remove excess skin, lift heavy folds of loose skin, replace lost volume, or shrink a nose or remove a hump.
- Not the right tool when the main issue is volume loss: a biostimulator or filler usually fits better.
- Not a substitute for surgery when sagging is heavy: a surgical opinion is more honest advice.
Durability
How long a thread lift lasts
The honest answer is that it varies, and the evidence is thinner than the marketing. A 2018 systematic review found little robust new evidence over the previous decade and limited durability of the lift in most studies. A 2025 review of 12 studies of absorbable threads found scores improved immediately after treatment and complications were mild, but long-term efficacy data were lacking, with the longest follow-up at two years.
Many people see the most visible lift in the first months, softening as the threads dissolve, with some support left by the collagen formed around them. That is why maintenance, often with energy treatments, is planned individually rather than promised.
Safety
Risks and side effects
A 2021 systematic review of 59 studies covering more than 14,000 treated people found the most common side effects were asymmetry, swelling and bruising, mostly temporary and self-resolving. Serious problems, such as nerve or gland injury, were rare. Contour irregularities, infection and inflammatory reactions were the issues most likely to need treatment.
Other things to know about: dimpling or puckering at the skin, tenderness when chewing or yawning for a few days, a thread end that can be felt or seen, and, rarely, a thread working its way out at an entry point. Contact the treating clinic promptly if you notice increasing pain, redness, discharge, fever or a visible thread.
Is it right for you
Who suits a thread lift, and who does not
A thread lift usually suits adults with mild to moderate sagging who want more visible repositioning than energy treatments alone give, but who do not want or need surgery. Reasonable skin quality and moderate soft-tissue thickness help, because threads need tissue to grip and should not show through very thin skin. It also suits people who can accept a few days of swelling and understand that the result is gradual and needs maintenance.
It is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with active infection or acne in the area, with uncontrolled diabetes or a bleeding disorder, or for anyone on blood thinners that cannot be paused safely under medical advice. Tell the doctor about autoimmune conditions, keloid scarring, recent dental infection, previous threads, permanent implants or fillers in the face.
Compare
Thread lift vs HIFU, filler and biostimulators
| Option | How it works | Best for | Downtime | In our network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thread lift | Absorbable threads reposition tissue mechanically | Mild to moderate descent of the mid and lower face | Swelling and small entry marks for two to three days; bruising possible | RVR ProLift and nose thread lift, IN Eternity Clinic, priced at consultation |
| Medical HIFU | Focused ultrasound tightens dermis and SMAS | Early to moderate laxity | Usually little; tenderness for a few days | IN Eternity Clinic, priced at consultation |
| Dermal filler | Hyaluronic acid adds volume where placed | Volume loss, structure, projection | Swelling or bruising for a few days | IN Eternity Clinic, priced at consultation |
| Collagen biostimulator | PLLA or PCL prompts your own collagen over months | Gradual support and volume, early sagging | A few days of swelling or bruising | IN Eternity Clinic, priced at consultation |
| SKINLIFT® | Non-medical multi-sequential pulsed ultrasound, no needles | Early softening of jowls and jawline, maintenance | Most clients return to their day straight away | SkinRev Lab, S$888 face, S$488 double chin, before GST |
In our network
Thread lifts at IN Eternity Clinic
RVR ProLift (Refinement with Vertical Restoration) is a thread-based lift performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, beside Orchard MRT. Absorbable barbed threads are placed along vertical vectors planned for the way your face has descended, rather than pulling sideways towards the ears, and energy-based lifting is added in the same course where it suits the face. A session takes about one to two hours including assessment.
The nose thread lift uses absorbable PDO threads along the bridge and, where suitable, the tip to add definition and support. It is a refinement, not a rhinoplasty: threads cannot narrow the bones, remove a hump or change breathing. Both are priced at consultation by the clinic. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008, Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm.
No needles
A needle-free alternative: SKINLIFT® at SkinRev Lab
If you are not ready for threads, SKINLIFT® is a 30-minute, needle-free session of multi-sequential pulsed ultrasound at SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall #B1-28, linked underground to City Hall and Esplanade MRT. It is done by an Aesthetic Specialist, with no numbing, and most clients return to their day straight away.
It cannot reposition tissue the way threads do, so it is a different category of treatment rather than a gentler version of the same thing. It suits early softening of the jawline or jowls and maintenance between medical treatments. SKINLIFT® Face is S$888 and SKINLIFT® Double Chin is S$488 per session, before GST. Open daily 11am to 8pm; WhatsApp +65 8266 9585.
Sources
References & sources
- Gülbitti HA, Colebunders B, Pirayesh A, Bertossi D, van der Lei B. Thread-lift sutures: still in the lift? A systematic review of the literature. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018;141(3):341e-347e. PMID 29481392.
- Riopelle AM, Geisler AN, Eber A, Dover JS. Update on absorbable facial thread lifts. Dermatol Surg. 2025;51(5):509-514. PMID 39662017.
- Pham CT, Chu S, Foulad DP, Mesinkovska NA. Safety profile of thread lifts on the face and neck: an evidence-based systematic review. Dermatol Surg. 2021;47(11):1460-1465. PMID 34699439.
- Ha YI, Kim JH, Park ES. Histological and molecular biological analysis on the reaction of absorbable thread; polydioxanone and polycaprolactone in rat model. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(7):2774-2782. PMID 34847267.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
How long does a thread lift last?
It varies with the thread material, the plan, your tissue and lifestyle. PDO threads dissolve in about six months and PCL lasts longer, while the collagen formed around them gives some support afterwards. Published long-term data are limited, so maintenance is planned individually.
How much does a thread lift cost in Singapore?
It depends on the number and type of threads, the areas and whether other treatments are combined. At IN Eternity Clinic, RVR ProLift and the nose thread lift are priced at consultation by the clinic after Dr Sin Yong's assessment.
Is a thread lift painful?
Numbing cream and local anaesthetic are used, so most people feel pressure and tugging rather than sharp pain. Tenderness, tightness and discomfort when chewing or yawning for a few days are common afterwards.
What is the downtime after a thread lift?
Most people have mild swelling and small entry marks for two to three days, sometimes bruising, and return to work within one to two days. Avoid wide mouth opening, facial massage, strenuous exercise and saunas for the period you are advised.
PDO or PCL threads: which is better?
Neither is better for everyone. PDO dissolves faster and is the most widely used; PCL stays longer and is often chosen where longer support is wanted. The choice depends on your tissue and the plan, and is made by the treating doctor.
Is a thread lift safe?
Serious complications are rare in the published literature. Common effects are swelling, bruising, temporary asymmetry and dimpling. Choosing an experienced doctor, suitable candidacy and careful aftercare reduce the risk.
Thread lift or HIFU: which should I choose?
HIFU tightens tissue with heat and suits early to moderate laxity with little downtime. A thread lift repositions tissue mechanically and suits more visible descent, with a few days of recovery. Some plans combine both; a doctor's assessment decides.
Is there a thread lift without needles?
No. Thread lifts are a medical procedure using needles or cannulas. If you want a needle-free option for early laxity, SKINLIFT® at SkinRev Lab is S$888 for the face per session, before GST, but it cannot reposition tissue the way threads do.