Diminishing the signs of aging in our own appearance, particularly in the face, is a common goal that many of us share.
When it comes to smoothing wrinkles and fine lines, smoothing skin, and retaining the elasticity of youth, injectables are by far the fastest way to achieve your goals.
If you are looking for extremely long-lasting results, a full surgical facelift might be worth considering but with results just as impressive, very few potential side effects, and taking under an hour in most cases, injectables are fast becoming the go-to choice.
If you asked the average person to name an injectable than can be used to tackle wrinkles in the face, they would almost certainly say Botox, understandable given this has been the most popular choice for this purpose for many decades now.
However, PDO threads are a slightly lesser-known treatment that has taken the market by storm in recent times, another injectable that is more customisable and can be used to achieve a broader range of different aesthetic effects.
But which is actually the better choice, Botox or PDO thread lifts?
In this blog, we will help you to decide just that, looking at all the benefits, and potential downsides, of both treatment options, allowing you to make a more informed decision.
What are the differences between Botox and a thread lift?
Both Botox and thread lifts are minimally invasive injectable cosmetic procedures that reduce common sings of aging in the face.
This is where the similarities end, however, and these are actually two very different procedures that can be used to tackle very different things.
What is Botox?
Botox is a toxin that when injected into a muscle will paralyse it. This means that when you make an expression such as smiling or frowning, this muscle will have reduced movement and the wrinkles that the movement would normally create will be diminished.
Botox is fully approved for cosmetic use, has been used for many decades now, and is widely considered one of the safest cosmetic treatments.
What is a thread lift?
A thread lift involves the injection of small dissolvable threads into the face to pull skin tight, eliminating wrinkles ad fine lines and lifting sagging skin. There are a variety of different threads that can be used depending on the desired results including suspension threads that lift sagging skin, barbed threads for subtle lifting, and monofilaments that strengthen the skin and promote collagen production.
This collagen producing effect is one of the biggest benefits of a thread lift as it means that the results will continue to improve long after the threads have been inserted.
Collagen and elastin are the naturally occurring substances that are responsible for the strong, smooth, and elastic skin we associate with youth and a fall off in the amount of these substances that are produced is the most common cause of many of the signs of aging people choose to tackle via cosmetic surgery.
By reinvigorating production of these valuable elements, you can give your skin the boost that it needs to begin reviving itself, leaving you with a stunning, smooth, and refreshed aesthetic that is sure to attract attention and will have you glancing in the window at every possible opportunity.
Which is better?
There is no one clear answer to the question of whether Botox or PDO threads are a better cosmetic treatment. They both have their place, and the best choice for you will depend on the results that you are looking for.
When it comes to tackling dynamic wrinkles caused by movement there are very few treatments that come close to matching the effectiveness of Botox. On the other hand, Botox will do nothing to tackle fine lines, rough skin, and static wrinkles that are present when your face is at rest.
This is where thread lifts come in, tightening the skin itself rather than simply immobilising the muscle. Pulling the skin will smooth the fine lines that you are so keen to get rid of and can even be used to reduce signs of sagging skin around the cheeks and jowls.
Another area in which thread lifts have an advantage over Botox is that the results last significantly longer. Although the threads themselves dissolve over time, the collagen production that is stimulated by their injection remains. Results of a thread lift will continue to improve in the weeks and months following treatment and only begin to fade around the 12-month mark.
In comparison, Botox only lasts for around 3-4 months, at which point you will need to get a top up to retain the effects.
What about cost?
A single Botox Glasgow injection costs around £200 per treatment, making them a lot cheaper than thread lifts which come in at around the £2,000 mark. That said, you do need to factor in the fact that you need to get 3-4 Botox treatments to last as long as threads and they tackle very different things.