A Quick Primer on Nova Threads

The fastest way to answers on all your basic questions about the new aesthetic phenomenon, Nova Threads.

You’re in the waiting room of a nice office. You made the call last week with a couple of butterflies, and now you’re sitting in a nice chair with armrests waiting to be called back. You have a bunch of questions about aesthetic treatments, but you’re not sure you remember the names, and you really don’t want to sound stupid. You think of a really good question during the appointment, but your practitioner is talking then, and you don’t want to interrupt. In the end, she asks if you have any questions, and you can’t remember any. You googled it later, and found us. Welcome! That’s why we made: A quick primer on Nova Threads.

It used to be that the only way to address drooping jowls and cheeks was face lift surgery. Fillers could help, but only with mild to moderate skin laxity. Now however, a new product for lifting and tightening has recently filled the gap between fillers and surgery: Nova Threads.

What are Nova Threads?

A Nova Thread is something called a PDO thread. These are special types of sutures originally designed to be reabsorbed by the body after cardiovascular surgery. The sutures are placed under the skin by a cosmetic practitioner and gently pulled, creating a literal lifting effect. They follow the same principle as a face lift, except instead of removing excess skin, Nova Threads create a lattice work of PDO threads under the skin which help pull skin tight without surgery.

Two main types.

Nova Threads come in a variety of options but there are two main types: Smooth sutures, and Barbed sutures.

Smooth Nova Thread sutures are fantastic at collagen stimulation. They are best at prevention. Smooth Nova Threads stop skin from getting looser, and they help the body grow its own, natural collagen in places where collagen growth has slowed down.

Barbed Nova Thread sutures, are fantastic for producing maximum lift. The tiny barbs on Barbed sutures painlessly gather skin at hundreds of points to create maximum lifting effect when pulled. Barbed sutures don’t feel any different compared to smooth sutures, the difference is mainly in their benefits.

Sometimes, the idea behind Nova Threads can seem confusing. There are PDO sutures, and they’re inserted under the skin, but then what? How do Nova Threads “lift” skin? And do they really lift skin like a face lift? We’ll try to answer those here.

Nova Threads do not lift skin the same way a face lift does. During a face lift, a practitioner actually removes skin using a scalpel and pulls the skin tighter at the scalp. Unfortunately, for many moderate to severe cases, this kind of surgery will still be the only way to achieve their desired results. The way Nova Threads work is by mimicking the same idea of lifting, but using a much gentler, lunchtime procedure.

Getting it done.

Having Nova Threads placed is relatively quick and simple outpatient procedure for the patient. The entire process can take as little as 30 minutes, and the patient is free to return to work afterward.

First, local anesthetic is used to numb the treatment area. Then your practitioner will insert a series of preloaded Nova Thread needles below the skin.

Nova Threads begin to be absorbed by the body after four to six months, however, the results can last for up to a year or more after treatment. Even after the Nova Threads are absorbed by the body, the improvements from the collagen remain for much longer.

How do Nova Threads “lift” skin?

As explained above, Nova Threads are single, preloaded needles, each with a single PDO Thread. The threads come in a number of preset sizes, depending on what the practitioner needs for each case. A single PDO thread would not do much on it’s own, however, a network of PDO threads inserted in the proper locations can make a significant difference.

Instead of removing skin from a single area like with a face lift, each Nova Thread gathers a small amount of skin and literally pulls the skin upward, creating the appearance of lifting. The result is dozens of invisible PDO threads inserted under the skin, each lifting a small area for a really natural looking lift, while simultaneously stimulating collagen growth.

For many patients, the biggest advantage of having a Nova Thread is how much easier and simpler the treatment is compared to a face lift. Recovery from Nova Threads is light enough you can return to work the same day. Nova Thread treatments are performed under mild topical anesthetic so there’s no risk of drowsiness. Some people will experience redness and swelling, and people more sensitive to that kind of thing may want to plan on staying home, but most find it’s okay to return to work. For those with busy, demanding lives, Nova Threads could be a way to lift skin without a major time commitment.

They provide the appearance of lift to skin almost anywhere on the body. Even though Nova Threads are popularly seen as a treatment for facial skin, they’re so safe they can actually be inserted almost anywhere on the body. One popular option is on the neck and chest for loose or crepey skin.

In addition to lifting, Nova Threads actually combat aging by encouraging the body to produce surges of collagen in treated areas. If you’ve been dealing with signs of aging long, you know that lost collagen is the primary contributor to volume loss and loose skin. Without collagen, skin can’t provide support and gravity starts to win, pulling skin down as it stretches it. Nova Threads build collagen over their lifetime, resulting in a gradual, steady improvement in the tone and firmness of skin.

Nova Threads are low risk, and noninvasive. There is very moderate risk of a Nova Threads treatment causing severe bruising, heavy bleeding or scarring. In rare cases, some people have reported irritation, infection or sutures becoming visible under their skin. If this occurs, the sutures will be absorbed on their own after 6 weeks, or they can be removed.

While Nova Threads can do some pretty incredible things it’s important for people to keep realistic expectations. A Nova Thread treatment will definitely create improvement but generally with subtle and natural looking results compared to face lift surgery. Nova Thread treatments are probably best suited for people who are dealing with mild to moderate, rather than moderate to severe, signs of aging.

Thank you for reading our Quick Primer on Nova Threads, please check out our other articles for more information on aesthetic treatments.