CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — No matter what step you’re on in life’s journey, it’s never too soon to start thinking about anti-aging treatments. Desert Sands Aesthetics & Laser helps patients of all ages restore their skin and enhance their natural beauty with PDO thread lifts.  

“When thinking about aging, it’s about being proactive with your skin,” owner Shannon Evans said.

More Southern Utah patients are opting for PDO threads to avoid the expense, downtime and potential risks associated with cosmetic surgery. Desert Sands Aesthetics & Laser produces dramatic and highly satisfying results by stimulating the skin’s own natural healing mechanisms. 

Evans said PDO thread lifts are one of the most effective ways to rejuvenate skin without surgery. This minimally invasive procedure is designed to create a brighter and more youthful look in common areas of sagging on the face, including the cheeks, jowls, neck and the skin around the eyes. Threads can also be used to tighten skin elsewhere on the body. 

PDO thread lifts use safe, absorbable threads to lift, contour and suspend loose skin. These colorless threads have been used in surgical procedures since the 1980s and are made from biodegradable polymers called resorbable polydioxanone sutures. Inserted just beneath the surface of the patient’s skin, they typically break down within three to six months.  

The presence of PDO threads in the skin triggers cells in the body called fibroblasts to produce more collagen. Collagen is the protein that gives skin its structure and elasticity, and loss of collagen is one of the main causes of aging skin.

Skin becomes looser, more wrinkled and less full over time because it starts breaking down faster than it can naturally rejuvenate. The average person loses collagen at a rate of roughly 1% per year beginning around age 25. New collagen helps skin retain its smooth, flexible, youthful appearance.

PDO threads are divided into three categories. Mono threads are smooth sutures that help rejuvenate the skin by stimulating collagen production, and screw/twist threads are intertwined threads that help restore volume to sunken parts of the skin. Cog threads have barbs that latch onto the skin like tiny fish hooks to provide support and lift parts of the face.

The type of thread used depends on the patient’s skin goals. Both mono and screw/twist threads rejuvenate by improving skin tightness and texture, while cog threads are more intensive and provide results comparable to a moderate facelift. 

“After a thorough skin evaluation, you and your medical professional will decide together which thread will be the best to achieve the goals you have,” Evans said. 

The more threads placed, the better the outcome. The procedure takes anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes depending on the area or areas treated, and patients can resume their usual routine soon afterward.

PDO thread lifts can be used not only for skin rejuvenation in mature patients but also as an anti-aging tool. For younger patients, the results may last three to four years. Older patients with poor skin volume and minimal elasticity will likely see benefits for one or two years. 

“Because we’re aging every day, threads are not a one-and-done procedure,” Evans said. “It’s most beneficial to place threads more frequently to slow down the aging process and continue to build collagen, since we lose collagen every year.” 

PDO thread lifts can be used alone or incorporated into many other treatment plans offered at Desert Sands Aesthetics & Laser. Women and men of all ages visit the clinic to look and feel younger with a menu of nonsurgical therapies.

Desert Sands Aesthetics & Laser, a division of Desert Sands Medical Clinics, has been building momentum within the greater St. George market since opening in September 2020. Voters recognized the clinics with gold and silver ribbons in various health treatment categories during last year’s Best of Southern Utah contest. 

Along with PDO thread lifts, Desert Sands Aesthetics & Laser offers combination laser therapy, fillers, facials, chemical peels, dermaplaning, microneedling and more. It’s the only medical spa in Southern Utah providing comfort sedation from a board-certified anesthesiologist in conjunction with laser skin treatments.

Evans, who worked as a registered nurse for over 25 years before training in injectables and laser aesthetics, takes pride in being able to offer cutting-edge skin care services in a welcoming environment where patient comfort and confidence is top priority. 

“Our goal is to help every patient learn to love the skin they’re in,” she said.

To schedule a consultation, visit the Desert Sands Aesthetics & Laser website or call 435-522-5190.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

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Resources

• Desert Sands Aesthetics & Laser | Address: 346 E. 600 South, St. George | Telephone: 435-522-5190 | Website.

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