Last updated on February 26, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Ultherapy vs Thread Lift: This question arises a lot when people start looking at ways to tighten and lift their skin without going under the knife. Makes sense, because both treatments are specifically designed to address that frustrating middle point where your face has started to change in ways you notice but you’re not ready for, or interested in, actual facelift surgery. The jaw line may not be as sharp as it used to be. The skin around the cheeks may have softened and sagged slightly. Whatever the case, you’re going to want to do something about it – you just want to figure out which of these two popular options will actually work for your face. This article will help you find out.
Ultherapy vs Thread Lift: What are they?
ultratherapy Does not touch the surface of your skin at all. it Uses micro-focused ultrasound energy to heat to a very precise depth beneath the skin. At the deepest level, it is actually reaching the SMAS layer. This is the same layer that a surgeon tightens during a traditional facelift. The heat creates small, controlled injury points, which sounds worrying but that’s really the whole point (I know, weird, right?). Your body responds by producing new collagen to repair those areas, and it is this collagen that gradually tightens and lifts the skin over the following months. One thing that sets it apart from other HIFU treatments is that the therapist can see your tissue layers in real time before delivering the energy so they can direct it exactly where it needs to go.
picks up the thread It’s a different story. it This is a minimally invasive procedure – so it involves needles but no cutting, No stitches, no surgical recovery. Dissolvable threads (usually PDO threads) are inserted under the skin and physically fixed in the tissue with tiny barbs. They mechanically pull the skin upward. You can actually see the table lift. As those threads dissolve over the next months, they also trigger some collagen stimulation around the insertion points, giving you a secondary biological benefit on top of the immediate lift. Local anesthesia is used, it takes 30 to 90 minutes, and you will see some visible signs of healing after a few days.
Ultherapy VSThread Lift: What Are Their Benefits?
The biggest selling point of Ultherapy is its accuracy, zero downtime and the fact that it actually improves skin quality. Instead of reinventing what already exists. Because the ultrasound technology targets the deeper layers of skin without touching the surface, you come out looking exactly the same as you came in – just maybe a little redder. You can go straight back to normal activities. No one knows you’ve done anything.
And the results, when they come, are supported by some solid clinical evidence. A 2023 systematic review found that more than 90% of patients saw improvement in skin tightness Or wrinkle reduction in 90 days. A 2025 meta-analysis combining 42 independent studies found that 84% of patients reported noticeable results. The brow lift effect is one of the most documented benefits, with measurable brow height increases of approximately 0.5 to 1.7 mm across all studies. The lower face and jaw also respond well. And the results of one session can last for one to two years, making it good value for money when you do the math.
Thread lifts are really about urgency and structural restoration, And for the right person, that’s exactly what they need. If you have visible sagging (tissue that has actually moved and shifted) threads can smooth it back out in a way that no non-invasive treatment can replicate. Immediate lifting effect from day one. For people who have a specific event coming up, or who want to see a visible change now rather than waiting six months for the collagen to rebuild, this is a really attractive benefit.
The collagen stimulation that begins when the PDO threads dissolve is also real, albeit less dramatic and less uniform than that produced by Ultherapy. A 2025 study from Taiwan showed significant measurable improvements in joule reduction over three sessions combining both treatments.. This suggested that both treatments may actually work better together than alone, because they are targeting different things.
Ultherapy vs Thread Lift: Side Effects
With Ultherapy, the main complaint people have is the pain during the procedure. On a scale of 1 to 10, most people experience pain as a 5. Not unbearable, but enough for most physicians to manage with topical numbing creams and occasional oral pain relief. Afterwards, you may have redness, slight swelling, and some tenderness in the treated areas for a day or two. That’s all for most people. Rare but documented side effects include temporary numbness or nerve-related tingling, which is why the physician’s experience really matters here.
Thread lifts have an extensive side effect profile, which makes sense since you’re really putting things in the face. A 2021 study Mild swelling was found in about 35% of patients, pitting or creases on the skin in 10%, temporary nerve tingling in 6%, threads visible or felt under the skin in 4%, infection in 2%, and thread protrusion (where the thread grows toward the surface) in 2%. FYI, research shows that patients over the age of 50 have slightly higher rates of dimples and infection, so have a chat with your doctor if this applies to you. Asymmetry is another thread lift risk that isn’t talked about enough. Applying threads evenly across the entire face requires real skill and a strong understanding of facial anatomy – and when it goes wrong, it’s visible.
Who is the ideal candidate for each treatment?
This is where it becomes personal, as the best treatment is always one that suits your specific face, condition and needs.
Ultherapy works best for people with mild to moderate skin laxity who still have good facial structure. If the skin has softened and lost firmness, but the tissue has not dramatically changed its condition, Ultherapy is often the gold standard recommendation. People who really can’t take any downtime are perfect for this. It also works on a variety of skin types and skin tones without the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation that occurs in some laser skin treatments. On the other hand, if the laxity is significant (if the tissue has actually shifted) then Ultherapy alone probably will not give you the level of change you are hoping for.
Thread lift works best for people with more noticeable sagging – the type where tissue clearly descends and resets on the face. Good elasticity of the skin really improves the results as the skin needs to respond well to repositioning. Too thin skin may increase the risk of thread visibility, which is worth discussing with your doctor beforehand. Those with sagging as well as significant volume loss are sometimes better served by addressing volume first – lifting sagging skin can sometimes produce an unnatural appearance, so proper assessment of your facial structure and individual skin condition is important before getting involved.
Ultherapy vs. Thread Lift: Downtime and Recovery
With Ultherapy, there is essentially no downtime. You may be slightly red for a few hours. There may be some slight swelling the next day. Most people return to daily activities, including work, straightaway the same day. No restrictions on sleeping position, no pressure, no special care routine. The tradeoff is patience – because you’re waiting months to see full results, and that requires a level of trust in the process that not everyone finds easy.
With a thread lift, expect to look like something happened to your face for a few days. Slight swelling, some bruising and tenderness around the entry points are all normal. Most physicians recommend avoiding strenuous exercise and large facial expressions for one to two weeks while the threads settle and stabilize. It is generally recommended to sleep on the back. Minimal recovery time is still the correct description when you compare it to surgical procedures – but it’s a very different type of recovery to Ultherapy’s essentially nothing approach.
How do the results last?
The results of Ultherapy typically last 12 to 24 months, depending on your age, lifestyle, and how your skin ages. A single session is standard, with some people opting for a top-up around 12 months. In the UK, full-face Ultherapy typically runs between £1,500 and £3,500. In the US, expect $2,500 to $5,000.
The results of a thread lift vary greatly depending on the type of threads used and how many are placed. PDO threads dissolve within about 6 months, while PCL threads can last up to 18 months. The visible lift is most dramatic in the first few months and softens as the threads absorb. Most physicians recommend revisiting treatment every 12 to 18 months to maintain results. Costs vary greatly – a basic thread lift can start around £1,000 to £1,500, but more extensive treatments in multiple areas of the face can reach £3,000 or more.
So which one is really right for you?
Here’s the honest answer: It depends on what your face needs right now. If your skin has started to lose its firmness and you want to slow it down, improve skin texture and tone, and do it with zero recovery time, Ultherapy is probably your best option. If your sagging is visible, you really want to move the tissue, and are okay with a few days of recovery and some mild bruising, a PDO thread lift is likely to give you more dramatic and immediate results. And if the research is anything to go by, a combination of the two may actually be the best approach of all, as they’re working on different skin layers and addressing different aspects of the same problem. Whatever you decide, make sure you’re sitting in front of someone who takes your medical history seriously, really assesses your face rather than offering a one-size-fits-all treatment plan, and is honest about what each option can and can’t realistically achieve. The right choice is the one that fits your face, your life, and your goals – full stop.
