How long do dissolvable threads take to dissolve?

Dissolvable threads break down at different rates depending on the material. The research literature puts absorption at about 6–8 months for PDO threads, about a year for PLLA threads and 1–1.5 years for PCL threads. But the point when a thread has fully dissolved isn't the same as how long the lifted contour lasts.

How Threads Dissolve

Dissolvable threads break down little by little as they come into contact with water in the body. They don't disappear overnight; their thickness and strength decrease slowly over several months.

• First few weeks: the thread and its barbs hold the tissue
• Over several months: collagen forms around the thread and surrounds it
• After that: the thread gets thinner and is absorbed, leaving nothing behind

The broken-down components are metabolized and cleared from the body. That's why, unlike threads that stay in the body long-term, dissolvable threads don't need to be removed later.

Absorption Time by Material

Three dissolvable thread materials are in common use.

• PDO (polydioxanone): about 6–8 months
• PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid): about 12 months
• PCL (polycaprolactone): about 1–1.5 years

(Evidence: literature review by Korean researchers, 2024)

Animal studies show a similar pattern. When threads were placed under the skin of rats, PDO threads took about 24 weeks to be absorbed, while PCL threads remained in the tissue for more than a year.

(Evidence: animal study by Korean researchers, rat model, 2022)

Even within the same material, products differ in thickness and shape, so treat these figures as rough guides only.

Dissolving vs. How Long Results Last

This is where many people get confused. A thread that stays in longer doesn't mean the results last that much longer.

• A thread's lifting force gradually decreases even before it has fully dissolved
• Collagen formed around the thread may help support the tissue
• How long results last depends on your skin's natural elasticity, how much sagging there is and your lifestyle

In the rat study, collagen around the threads increased for the first 12 weeks and then decreased. In other words, collagen doesn't keep building up the whole time a thread is dissolving.

(Evidence: animal study by Korean researchers, rat model, 2022)

An analysis pooling 12 studies on dissolvable threads found improvement right after treatment in every study, but the longest follow-up was two years and long-term data are still limited.

(Evidence: systematic review of 818 patients, 2025)

What You Might Feel as Threads Dissolve

Most people feel nothing in particular while the threads are absorbed, but you may notice:

• A thread you can feel where the skin is thin
• A slight pull when you smile or open your mouth wide
• Rarely, a sense that the end of a thread is pushing toward the skin

If the thread you can feel becomes more noticeable, the area turns red and warm, or you can see the end of a thread, let the clinic know right away. Don't press on it or try to pull it out yourself.