What this market covers
Dissolving threads placed under the skin to lift and tighten tissue and stimulate collagen. Buyers are aesthetic physicians, plastic surgeons and clinics.
Typical segments
- Polydioxanone threads
- Polycaprolactone threads
- Barbed lifting threads
- Smooth collagen threads
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved -7% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +4% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €365.1 million of products under CN code 30061090 (Sterile suture materials, incl. sterile absorbable surgical or dental yarns) from outside the EU in 2025. | 365.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 30061090 were down 7% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€392.1 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | -7 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 30061090 to countries outside the EU were worth €1.07 billion in 2025. | 1.07 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 30061090 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €1.49 billion in 2025. | 1.49 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| United States was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 30061090 to the EU in 2025, with €150.7 million, or 41% of extra-EU imports. | 150.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 30061090 to the United States were €216.1 million in 2025. | 216.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 30061090 was €179.02 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 179.02 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Belgium was the largest EU exporter of CN 30061090 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €426.7 million. | 426.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 63,227 enterprises in NACE class C3250 (Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies) in 2023. | 63,227 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C3250 had net turnover of €105.31 billion in 2021. | 105.31 EUR billion | 2021 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C3250 employed 600,000 people across the EU in 2023. | 600,000 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 4,547 private establishments in NAICS 339112 (Surgical and medical instrument manufacturing) in 2025. | 4,547 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 339112 employed an average of 140,413 people in US private industry in 2025. | 140,413 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 339112 changed by +4% between 2020 (135,655 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +4 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 339112 was $109,475 in 2025. | 109,475 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| PubMed indexed 16 papers mentioning "thread lift" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 16 papers | 2025 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 365105697
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 392084477; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 365105697
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1065551748
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1485206620
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, partner US, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 150695547
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 216053626
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 365105697, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 20394
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter BE, product 30061090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 426651668
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C3250, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 63227
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C3250, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2021, 105308
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C3250, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 600000
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 339112, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 339112, annual_avg_estabs 4547
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 339112, annual_avg_emplvl 140413
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 135655; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 140413
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 339112, avg_annual_pay 109475
- Figure 12
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "thread lift"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 16
esearch count 16
- Figure 16
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Aesthetic physicians
- Plastic surgeons
- Aesthetic clinics
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU aesthetic threads market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €365.1 million of goods under CN 30061090 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €1.07 billion.
Where does the EU import aesthetic threads from?
United States was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Mexico, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic.
What is the average import price of aesthetic threads in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €179.02 per kilogram for CN 30061090 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most aesthetic threads?
Belgium led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Netherlands, Germany.
How many US companies are in the aesthetic threads industry?
BLS counts 4,547 private establishments in NAICS 339112 (Surgical and medical instrument manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the aesthetic threads industry?
Eurostat counts 63,227 enterprises in NACE class C3250 (Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies).
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