PDO threads: which areas of the face they can be used on
PDO threads can be used in several areas of the face and neck, but not with the same goal or the same result in all of them. In areas with tissue that can be supported, such as the midface, the jawline and the neck with mild laxity, they tend to be indicated more often. In areas with very thin skin or where the problem is muscle movement, such as the under-eye area and the forehead, threads usually take a back seat.
This page is an overview by area so you can answer the patient who arrives asking "can you put a thread here?". The technique for each area is up to the qualified professional, according to the rules of their professional council, and is not the subject of this page. What threads do in general is covered in do PDO threads work?.
What type of thread comes into each question?
In simplified terms, there are two groups. Smooth threads are mainly for stimulating collagen and improving skin quality. Barbed threads (cog threads) are for support, slightly repositioning tissues. The type, length and number vary with the area and the goal. Details are in types of PDO threads.
Table by area
| Area | Most common use | Realistic expectation | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midface (cheekbone) | Support of the cheek tissues | Subtle softening of the weight on the fold | Does not restore lost volume |
| Nasolabial fold (smile lines) | Indirect effect, supporting the midface | Partial improvement | A deep fold calls for a combination |
| Jawline and jowl | Support and definition of the jawline | Slightly sharper contour | Marked laxity does not respond well |
| Neck | Smooth threads for the skin, thread lifts in mild cases | Improved texture and subtle firmness | Excess skin and bands are surgical |
| Eyebrow | Subtle lift of the tail | Subtle change | Area sensitive to asymmetry |
| Forehead | Uncommon for wrinkles | Limited effect on lines | Toxin is usually the first option |
| Under-eye area | Rarely indicated | Hard to predict | Thin skin, risk of a visible thread |
| Nose | Nonsurgical rhinoplasty with threads, in selected cases | Subtle definition | Thin skin at the tip, risk of extrusion |
| Lips and perioral area | Smooth threads for skin quality, in selected cases | Subtle effect | Area with a lot of movement |
Result ranges vary with age, skin quality, tissue weight and technique. The table is a general guide, not a protocol.
Can PDO threads go in the forehead?
Forehead lines are usually dynamic wrinkles, caused by contraction of the frontalis muscle. In that case, botulinum toxin acts on the cause, and a thread does not. In the eyebrow area, some professionals use threads for a subtle lift of the tail, which is covered in PDO threads in the eyebrow. The expectation should be of a subtle change, and asymmetry is a risk to discuss.
Can PDO threads go in smile lines?
Smile lines are marked, in large part, by the weight of the midface tissues on the fold. Thread lifts can soften them indirectly, by repositioning those tissues. When the fold is deep or there is volume loss, a thread alone usually has a limited effect, and the plan may include nasolabial fold filler or cheekbone filler. The comparison is in smile lines: what softens them.
Can PDO threads go under the eyes?
The area under the eyes has very thin skin, little covering fat and delicate anatomy. A thread in this area tends to be visible or palpable, and the result is hard to predict. For that reason, threads are generally not the first choice for the tear trough. When the concern is the shadow of the tear trough, under-eye filler is the most discussed approach, and when it is skin laxity, other options come into the conversation.
Can PDO threads go in the neck?
In the neck, smooth threads are usually used to improve skin texture and firmness, and thread lifts in mild laxity. When there is excess skin, marked bands of the platysma or a double chin from fat, the effect tends to be small. The subject is detailed in PDO threads in the neck and lower third.
When is a thread not the best choice in any area?
Another point: a thread supports, but does not restore volume. If the face has lost volume, the patient may need hyaluronic acid or a biostimulator, and the comparison is in PDO threads or hyaluronic acid and in biostimulator or PDO threads.
Do the risks change with the area?
They do. Thin-skinned areas, such as the nose, under-eye area and lip, have a higher risk of a visible or palpable thread, or of extrusion. Areas with nearby nerves and glands, such as the side of the face, call for refined anatomical knowledge. Swelling, bruising and pain when opening the mouth are common in the first days in any area. Complications are in PDO threads: risks, and the aftercare in PDO threads: recovery.
Where does Harmy fit in?
Harmy does not simulate threads: the projection shows the volume effect in the marked areas (Glabella, Temple, Tear Trough, Cheekbone, Nasolabial Fold, Mouth Corner, Lips, Chin, Jawline). When the plan combines threads with filler, you can use the Cheekbone, Nasolabial Fold or Jawline points to show the patient the part of the plan that involves volume, making clear that the image is an illustrative simulation and does not show the effect of threads. Durability is covered in PDO threads: how long they last.
Frequently asked questions
Can PDO threads go in the forehead?
In the forehead, lines are usually caused by muscle contraction, and botulinum toxin tends to be the first option. Threads in the eyebrow area are used in selected cases, for subtle support, at the professional's discretion.
Do PDO threads remove smile lines?
Threads can soften the fold indirectly, by supporting the midface tissues that weigh on it. In a deep fold, a thread alone usually has a limited effect, and other approaches can be combined.
Can PDO threads go under the eyes?
The area under the eyes has very thin skin and delicate anatomy, and threads are generally not the first choice for the tear trough. The indication, when there is one, is very restricted and depends on assessment.
Do PDO threads in the neck work?
They can help with mild laxity and with the quality of neck skin. When there is excess skin or marked bands, the effect is usually small, and surgery may be the indication.
Harmy images are illustrative simulations generated by AI from the patient's photo to support the conversation between practitioner and patient. They are not a promise of results. Indication, technique, product and volume are solely the decision of the licensed practitioner. This content is for information only and does not replace a clinical assessment.