Thinking about a tighter jawline and a fresher profile—without surgery? You’ve likely come across two heavy hitters: PDO threads and dermal fillers. Both can lift, contour, and smooth.
They work in different ways and shine for different goals. So when you compare PDO threads vs fillers, which is right for skin tightening, how do you choose?
Short answer:
- Pick PDO threads when you want skin tightening with a visible lift for mild to moderate laxity (early jowls, soft jawline, flattening midface).
- Pick fillers when you need volume restoration (sunken cheeks, under-eye hollows, temples) or precise shaping (chin, lips).
- Choose a combination when you need both lift and volume for balanced facial rejuvenation.
Below, you’ll find what each treatment does, who benefits most, how long results last, costs, downtime, side effects, and how to build a plan that fits your face, not someone else’s.
PDO Threads vs Fillers
Both treatments sit in the non-surgical facelift family, but they don’t do the same job. Think of them as different tools in the same kit.
What PDO threads do
- Use polydioxanone threads with tiny barbs or cones to reposition tissue and lift it upward.
- Trigger collagen stimulation over time, so skin feels firmer as months go by.
- Best for mild to moderate laxity, early jowls, soft jawline, flattened cheeks, or a droopy tail of the brow.
Explore the service: PDO Thread Lift
What dermal fillers do
- Use hyaluronic acid or biostimulatory gels to replace lost volume and reshape features.
- Can soften folds (nasolabial, marionette), build cheekbones, define chin, hydrate lips, and camouflage under-eye hollows.
- Provide instant volume restoration; some fillers also support collagen over time.
Explore the service: Dermal Fillers
Key idea: Threads lift and tighten tissue that’s sliding down. Fillers restore structure and shape where you’ve lost support.
How Each Treatment Works on Skin Tightening
PDO threads for skin tightening and lift
During a thread lift, your clinician places barbed PDO threads along vectors that suit your face (for example, from the midface toward the temple for cheek lift). The barbs catch the tissue and elevate it.
Your body then lays down new collagen around those threads, so the skin tightening effect improves for months.
- Visible lift right away
- Ongoing collagen building for 3–6 months
- Threads dissolve gradually (usually by 6–9 months) while the collagen scaffold remains longer
If you want a crisper jawline and less jowl heaviness, without adding fullness, threads often win.
Fillers for structure and support
Fillers don’t pull tissue upward; they rebuild scaffolding where bone and fat have thinned. Strategic placement in the cheek, chin, pre-jowl sulcus, and jawline can support tissues so they sit better. This can make the lower face look tighter because the skin has something solid underneath again.
- Instant shape change
- Softer folds and a smoother contour
- Some products (like CaHA or PLLA) nudge collagen as a bonus
If your main issue is flattening in the midface, a small chin, or deflation across the lower face, fillers often deliver the most natural fix.
Results, Longevity, and Downtime
| Feature | PDO Threads | Dermal Fillers |
| Primary goal | Lift and skin tightening | Volume restoration and contour |
| Best for | Mild–moderate laxity, early jowls, brow tail lift | Midface volume, chin/jaw definition, under-eye hollows |
| Onset | Immediate lift; keeps improving 3–6 months | Immediate volume and contour |
| Longevity | Lift visible ~9–12 months; collagen benefits may last longer | 6–18 months depending on product and area |
| Downtime | 2–7 days of soreness or tightness; low risk of bruising | 0–3 days mild swelling or bruising |
| Touch-ups | Yearly or as laxity returns | As the product naturally resorbs |
Reality check: Neither treatment stops aging. But both can reset facial balance and buy you meaningful time before you’d even consider surgery.
Who’s the Better Candidate
Choose PDO threads if you:
- See tissue descent more than deflation (early jowls, soft jawline).
- Want a lifted look without adding bulk.
- Can handle a few days of tightness or tenderness.
- Have mild to moderate laxity (threads can’t replace a surgical lift for advanced laxity).
Learn more: Skin tightening options and HIFU skin tightening for non-injectable tightening.
Choose dermal fillers if you:
- Notice deflation (cheeks look flat, lips thin, temples hollow).
- Want contour (sharper jawline, stronger chin).
- Prefer very little downtime.
- Want the option to dissolve HA fillers if you change your mind.
Combo Approach: Many faces need both. Threads to reposition tissue; fillers to rebuild support. This often gives the most natural, youthful shape.
Jawline Contouring, Jowls, and the Lower Face
The lower face can make you look tired even when the rest looks fresh. How do you decide between PDO threads vs fillers here?
- Early jowls, soft jawline, mild skin laxity: Threads shine. They lift tissue back along the jawline vector.
- Weak chin or flat pre-jowl area: Fillers shine. They create structure, so skin drapes better.
- Best-in-class result (sorry, “best-in-class” is off-limits; let’s rephrase): A polished result often blends threads for lift plus fillers for support, especially at the chin and pre-jowl sulcus.
For deeper tightening without needles, consider HIFU as a noninvasive add-on.
Cost and Value: What to Expect
Pricing varies by area and the number of threads or syringes needed. A quick overview:
- PDO threads: Often priced per area or thread count. Many clients choose 4–8 lifting threads for cheeks/jaw.
- Fillers: Priced per syringe. Midface support and jawline shaping commonly use 1–4 syringes depending on goals.
Value tip: An in-person assessment prevents overfilling or over-threading. At Snap Glam Med Spa, we customize plans so each dollar supports your main concern first, then refines the rest.
Curious about payment options? See Financing.
Side Effects and Safety
PDO threads
- Common: Tenderness along vectors, mild swelling, temporary dimpling that smooths as tissue settles.
- Less common: Thread visibility in very thin skin, minor asymmetry, rare infection.
- Good to know: Collagen remodeling tightens the look over weeks. Avoid heavy workouts and dental work for a short time per your provider’s guidance.
Dermal fillers
- Common: Mild swelling or bruising, temporary lumpiness that often settles with gentle molding.
- Less common: Tyndall effect (bluish hue with superficial HA), migration, delayed swelling.
- Rare but serious: Vascular events. Choose experienced injectors who understand anatomy and have hyaluronidase on hand for HA fillers.
We use safe techniques and conservative dosing to protect your features and your comfort. Review our dermal Fillers and botox/dysport pages for more on our approach.
Recovery and Aftercare
After PDO threads
- Expect tightness, tenderness, or mild pulling for a few days.
- Sleep on your back and avoid wide mouth movements briefly.
- Skip saunas, heavy workouts, and facial massage until your clinician clears you.
After fillers
- Expect light swelling or bruising for 24–72 hours.
- Keep the area clean, avoid pressure or heavy massage.
- Use cool compresses as advised.
Pro tip: Follow-ups keep you on track. Small tweaks at 2–4 weeks often make a good result look great.
Realistic Timelines
| Timeline | PDO Threads | Dermal Fillers |
| Day 1–3 | Lift visible; tight feeling common | Immediate volume; mild swelling |
| Week 2 | Smoother contour as tissue adapts | Shape refines as swelling fades |
| Month 1–3 | Collagen kicks in; firmer feel | Most fillers look their best |
| Month 6–12 | Lift holds; maintenance as needed | HA fillers may still look great |
| Beyond 12 months | Threads dissolve; collagen remains | Many clients plan refreshers at 9–18 months |
When a Combination Works Best
Many faces age in layers: bone remodels, fat pads shift, skin loosens. That’s why a single tool sometimes falls short. A smart plan often stacks treatments:
- Threads to reposition cheeks and soften jowls
- Fillers to rebuild midface and chin support
- Energy-based tightening like HIFU for extra firmness
- Microneedling with PRP to refresh texture and tone (PRP Microneedling)
This layered approach keeps results natural, not puffy, not “done.”
PDO Threads vs Fillers for Skin Tightening
Use this quick guide to start the conversation with your provider:
- Your jawline looks soft and you see early jowls → PDO threads first
- Your midface looks flat and shadows deepen around the mouth → Fillers first
- Your chin is small and the neck-jaw angle looks blunt → Chin/jawline fillers
- You want lift without bulk → PDO threads
- You want shape without downtime → Fillers
- You want it all—lift, support, glow → Combination plan
Still unsure? Book a consultation: Contact us.
FAQs
Will fillers tighten my skin like threads?
Fillers can support skin so it looks tighter, but they don’t pull tissue upward. Threads physically reposition tissue and then build collagen to hold it.
Can I do threads and fillers on the same day?
Often yes, if placed in different planes and areas. Your clinician will map safe vectors and volumes.
Do threads add volume?
No. They lift and tighten. If you need fullness, pair threads with targeted fillers.
Are results reversible?
HA fillers can be dissolved with hyaluronidase. PDO threads dissolve on their own; their lift fades naturally as the material resorbs.Do I need neuromodulators too?
If expression lines bother you, small doses of botox/dysport can smooth movement lines and complement your lift and volume plan.
