MINT is an acronym for Minimally Invasive Nonsurgical Thread, and a brand name for a type of dissolvable thread that can be used for a minimally invasive facelift, performed without the use of general anesthesia. MINT threads are composed of complex sugar molecules called PDO (polydioxanone), just like NOVA threads.
PDO threads have been used for over a decade as a dissolving suture thread in orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery — meaning there is a long and extensive track record of safe use. In 2016, they received approval by the FDA for use in aesthetics in the United States.1 You may also hear the cosmetic procedure using these suture threads referred to as a “MINT lift.”
Mint Threads Quick Facts
- Sagging or drooping skin
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Nasolabial folds
- Refining the jawline
- Subtly lifting the eyebrows (non-surgical browlift)
- Loose or crepey skin in the center of the neck (especially in younger patients in their 30s and early 40s who want to prevent turkey neck)
Most Common Uses for MINT Threads
MINT PDO Threads For Face Lifting & Tightening
MINT PDO Threads are intended to reduce sagging or drooping, reduce wrinkles and eliminate fine lines, tweak certain facial features, and create firmer and more elastic skin.
MINT Threads are useful for:
- Sagging or drooping skin
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Nasolabial folds
- Refining the jawline
- Subtly lifting the eyebrows (non-surgical browlift)
- Loose or crepey skin in the center of the neck (especially in younger patients in their 30s and early 40s who want to prevent turkey neck)
While a thread lift results in subtler results than surgical procedures, such as a facelift, they are a good option for patients who wish to avoid the downtime or cost of surgery and have less advanced or extreme signs of aging. When a patient needs a quick but dramatic transformation, we pair Threads with Fillers and Botox (liquid facelift) to create amazing results.
- Recovery & Downtime: Noticeable swelling for 24 hours
- Numbing: Local anesthetic optional
- Cost: $1,000-$2,500 per area
- Candidacy: People with generally good skin texture who have mild to moderate skin laxity
- Duration: 4-6 months
- Why We Love It: Threads physically lift the skin for immediate improvement in appearance while building collagen for long-term benefits
What Results are Not Possible with This Technology?
- Facelift-level results for those with severe sagging skin, or muscle sagging (of any degree)
- Volume restoration for flattened or sunken-in areas
- Removal of excess skin
- Neck lift-level results for those with very heavy or severely sagging skin, muscle separation (platysmal banding), and/or fat in the submental area that is weighing down your loose skin — or for those with lots of loose skin (which can create a weird or distorted result when that skin is pulled back but not removed).
Why We Don’t Love MINT Threads For Creating New Collagen — Usually
Mint Threads can be used to spur neocollagenesis, the creation of new collagen. However, there are other treatments that are better at this. So we usually recommend that we use those other treatments (such as Sofwave and RF Microneedling with Plasma Therapy), and we often combine those treatments with a thread injection session to create ideal results for our patients.
There are still a few applications that we really like the smooth type of MINT PDO threads for, including lip lines, lip border definition, crow’s feet (where the skin is not too thin), and lines on the neck. They work really well for these applications because it’s a bit like laying down a perfectly uniform layer of filler, but instead it’s a PDO thread, and they are placed intradermally (much more superficially than lifting threads), which means the injection and recovery is easy and quick — and much more like filler than a thread lift.
Why Choose Reflections Center
For MINT Thread Lifts
MINT PDO Threads are just 1 of 3 types of threads we use in our practice. While they may be able to achieve a variety of results, we find each type of thread is really best at creating a small selective group of results, and that’s why we have several types at our offices. We do not limit patients to just one type of thread, but rather often mix the thread types together in a single procedure to create the ideal result.
How do you find the best MINT Threads Injector?
At Reflections, our team includes qualified physicians who specialize in a unique subset of procedures, and we offer a wide variety of both surgical and nonsurgical procedures. This means that each patient is matched with an expert who thoroughly understands the procedures they offer. If you’re interested in MINT Threads, the Reflections staff will match you with a trained physician who can offer the highest quality of care and has a comprehensive understanding of the MINT Threads procedure, as well as how this treatment can fit into your overall treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About MINT Thread Lifts
- Are MINT Threads safe? What risks or side effects are there?
Because this procedure has been approved by the FDA, you can feel comfortable that it is an effective (creates real, measurable results repeatably across various individuals for the duration of time quoted) and safe procedure with few potential side effects. The side effects that all patients can expect are redness, swelling, and bruising. These quickly dissipate after a few days. To minimize these side effects, patients should follow their physician’s advice both before and after the procedure, including avoiding taking blood-thinning medication or smoking (again, your physician at Reflections will advise you on specific directions based on your medical history, to reduce your risks, during the consultation. Do not stop taking medication unless you have been specifically told to do so by your doctor). The most common risks are bleeding and infection, which is why we perform this treatment using sterile technique and advise our patients on how to keep their entry points clean. With proper and clean techniques, these risks are quite low.
- How long do MINT Threads last?
Results from MINT PDO Threads can last up to 1 year, but most patients find they last around 6-9 months. Just like with fillers, threads are broken down by the body over time, so the duration of the result is dependent upon the type of thread used (not just the brand, but the thread style and type), where its placed (and how much stress/weight/movement it’s exposed to), and your metabolism.
- What are MINT Threads?
MINT Threads are PDO threads. There are a couple different styles of threads made by this company – with each creating a different effect. MINT Threads can be used to lift the face, change features, smooth out fine lines, wrinkles, and deep folds, and tighten and firm the skin. They can be used on the face and body.
- Are PDO Threads FDA approved?
Yes – there are currently 2 brands of FDA-Approved PDO Threads: Nova Threads and MINT Threads.
- Am I a good candidate for MINT Threads?
Good candidates for MINT Threads have relatively even skin texture and should not have excessively thin or thick skin. Those with thin skin may experience visible threads, especially if the threads are injected intradermally to try to spur the creation of new collagen. Now you may be thinking wait, but the lack of collagen is why my skin is thin! and that’s true – that’s one of the reasons we don’t love threads for collagen-building, and we generally steer patients towards other procedures. Those with overly thick or heavy skin may find these threads simply aren’t strong enough to lift the weight of their loose skin and therefore won’t be happy with the results. Finally, thread lifts in general work best for those with mild to moderate looseness. Now you can be in your late 30s or your late 60s and experience mild laxity in your skin – this is really just about how you age individually (and its something we will definitely discuss and evaluate during your free consultation), but a thread lift simply is never going to achieve what a facelift can, and it’s not going to be able to get a great result for everyone. But for those who really want a lift and aren’t going to have surgery (whether that’s right now, or ever), this is the best lifting option.
- Are MINT Threads the same as a Thread Lift?
MINT PDO Threads are, generally speaking, a specific type of thread lift procedure. Each brand of thread lift is composed of different ingredients, is best suited to certain scenarios, and has its own list of pros and cons. At Reflections, our expert team matches each patient to the specific type of thread lift that will work best for them. We offer options including Silhouette Soft Instalift and Nova PDO Threads in addition to MINT PDO Threads.
What Is The MINT Threads Recovery Process?
The most common question we get is “Will I need to take time off work? Will my co-workers be able to tell I’ve done something?” With any thread lift, you would likely be able to tell the day of your procedure that something has been done. Most notably, your injection sites will be noticeable for the first 24 hours, though it’s very common to also have swelling and small bruising that lasts for up to 2 weeks after as well.
The First 24 Hours
Usually, your injection sites will look like a little sore, perhaps like a popped pimple — they are red and cannot be covered by makeup right away, and sometimes the skin surrounding them can be red and/or swollen. So, for that reason, patients nearly always spend the rest of the day at home after injection. We can, and often do, schedule these treatments for evenings and weekends to make this a convenient treatment.
You should expect swelling afterward, including areas which swell more than others and can create almost a bumpy appearance (this doesn’t last, but is very normal as certain areas experience more disruption and trauma during the injection than others), and bruising is common with this procedure. You will also need to avoid exaggerated facial expressions for the first 2 weeks.
2-3 Days After
If you have significant swelling — and this is both of where you were injected with threads and your personal propensity to swelling — or if you end up with some bruising, expect it to get worse the first few days after — it’s usually not at its peak in the first 24 hours after, but rather the second 24-48 hours.
Sometimes swelling with this type of treatment can create a puckered or bumpy effect. Most of the time that will settle down in the first few days. However, it is possible that you can have a puckered spot that needs to be smoothed out with a touch-up done during a follow-up visit with your doctor. If this happens, do not worry — these threads are completely reversible, and it can be fixed — this is not something you have to wait out or just live with. But it’s also pretty rare in our patients. So, let us know if you think you’ve got some spots that aren’t smooth, let us know early, and we’ll help you through that as quickly as possible.
2 Weeks After
By the end of the first week, most patients are about 80-90% through their recovery. Usually, by this time, they feel comfortable going back to work and going to social events — and at this point, any lingering swelling is really only noticeable by touch and bruising is starting to fade and can be covered by makeup. However, some patients are more sensitive and they will have more swelling and bruising that lasts for longer, usually throughout the first 2 weeks. Both of these reactions are within the range of normal. If for some reason you had swelling and bruising that lasted beyond that, then we’d want to re-evaluate and treat that.
As always, we know bruising is the most frustrating part of this, and we can use VBeam laser to speed up the bruise recovery process.
The final bits of swelling and any bruising should be gone by end of week 2. Ideally, you’d want any big events to be pushed out 2 weeks or further from your injection date.
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Dr. Renata Wix-Harris has extensive experience as a general surgeon and work in the plastic surgery department has helped to her to become an excellent laser liposuction surgeon. She is also skilled at laser and energy-based skin therapies, injectables, and non-invasive body contouring.
