Several minimally invasive skin-tightening solutions are available if you are looking for a non-surgical way to tighten loose skin without going under the knife. Non-surgical skin tightening effectively tightens lax skin on the body to improve your appearance and boost confidence.
At MD Brothers, we offer advanced minimally invasive skin tightening and lifting solutions such as Ultherapy for younger-looking skin. We want you to look and feel your best at all times without the worries and complications of surgery. Whether it is loose skin, or fine lines and wrinkles, with Ultherapy, you can forget loose skin and enjoy a smooth, firm, and youthful appearance.
What Are Minimally Invasive Skin Tightening Treatments?
Aging causes the production of elastin and collagen to slow down, resulting in sagging skin, mainly in the face, neck, abdomen, arms, thighs, and buttocks. Your skin gradually gets loose due to the breakdown of elastic fibers, loss of collagen, and hydration. Other causes of skin laxity include:
- Substantial weight loss
- Smoking
- Harsh skin products or detergent
- Drinking alcohol
- Illness
- Menopause
- Pregnancy
While this does not cause medical concern, it may impact your social and mental quality of life. To address this, noninvasive skin tightening treatments can help.
Minimally invasive skin tightening treatments are nonsurgical devices that use targeted energy to heat deeper skin layers to stimulate collagen and elastin production. This shrinks tissue that has lost its elasticity to improve its texture and tone gradually. There are various FDA-cleared skin-tightening devices and technologies produced by different companies, with the majority using radiofrequency energy, ultrasound energy, laser energy, or a combination of all to administer heat to the skin and tighten it. The number of treatments you require is based on the device, location, energy source, and your needs.
There are a few things and lifestyle habits that can help prevent and maintain a longer, youthful skin appearance after skin tightening treatment, including:
Exercise: Minor skin sagging can be reduced by workouts such as resistance training, weight lifting, or Pilates.
Taking Supplements: Collagen supplements and hyaluronic acid helps reduce age-related skin sagging.
Topical treatment: Vitamin A derivatives are found in anti-aging products like firming face creams and face serums that contain retinol and include hyaluronic acid, tretinoin, retinoic, and adapalene. They increase the proliferation, maturation, and turnover of skin cells.
Lifestyle changes: Some basic everyday routines will go a long way in keeping your skin fresher and tight. These include:
- Getting regular massage
- Maintain your weight
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid tanning and excessive exposure to UV/UVA rays (apply SPF 30 and higher when outdoors)
- Choose and use the right skin products.
- Cut down on alcohol
Types of Skin Tightening Treatments
There are several minimally invasive skin-tightening treatments, including:
Chemical Treatments
Facial skin peels are a safe, non-surgical procedure that can boost your skin’s appearance and help reduce the effects of skin damage. It involves the removal of the outer skin layer to reveal new and smoother skin.
Ultrasound Skin Tightening
This procedure stimulates collagen production by using heat to transmit focused ultrasound waves through the deepest skin’s surface. Treatments are delivered using a handheld device. This can tighten and lift skin on your face, neck, and upper chest, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. You may notice subtle lifting and tightening within 2-6 months; the effects will last up to 1 year.
Radiofrequency (RF) Therapy
This targets the outer layer of the skin, known as the epidermis, to trigger collagen production. A dermatologist will place a device against the skin to heat the tissue underneath. It takes about six months for the treatment to effect fully, and with proper skin care, the results may last for 2-3 years.
Microneedling or Collagen Induction Therapy
Microneedling is a skin-resurfacing technology that repeatedly punctures the skin with tiny, sterile needles. Instead of removing layers of skin with chemicals, this procedure creates microscopic ‘injuries’ in the skin that trigger its natural healing response and prompt it to produce collagen and elastin.
Combining IPL/RF Treatment
This class of skin tightening treatment combines Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) with Radiofrequency (RF) to heat more profound layers of the skin and induce natural healing, which triggers collagen production. IPL allows a provider to treat a large skin area and conditions.
Laser
These treatments have proven effective on the skin of the belly and upper arms. Handheld lasers send heat deep into the skin, destroying the underneath dermis and promoting collagen production.
Neuromodulators or Botox
It is an injection treatment using botulinum toxin, which essentially causes specific muscles in your face not to move, which makes your skin appear less wrinkled and smooth.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Skin Tightening Procedures
Noninvasive procedures can be very effective in targeting sagging skin, wrinkles, deep creases, and loss of facial volume, skin tone, and texture, with effects lasting up to one year. Benefits include:
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- Little to no downtime
- Very low risk of adverse effects when performed by a qualified provider
- In and out of the doctor’s office quickly. Many nonsurgical treatments take less than an hour to complete
- Fewer risks. General anesthesia or large incisions are not required in this cosmetic procedures
- Less discomfort. Unlike surgical procedures, these treatments typically have minimal aftercare. You can primarily manage any pain or discomfort with over-the-counter medication
- Less recovery period. They take a significantly shorter recovery time, and with some procedures, you can return to your normal activities the same day.
- More affordable. Compared to surgical procedures, minimally invasive skin tightening treatments are a fraction of the cost.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Minimally Invasive Skin Tightening?
Most people can safely have a skin-tightening procedure since there are very few side effects associated with it. If you are bothered by mild to moderate skin sagging or laxity and do not want a surgical approach, then minimally invasive skin tightening procedures are suited for you.
These procedures might not be recommended when:
- You are pregnant
- Have a current skin infection
- Have blood clotting disorder
- Are on certain medications
Consulting with your cosmetic surgeon is the best way to determine if the procedure is correct for you and help you choose the best treatment based on your skin goals and needs.
Possible Side Effects
The side effects of these treatments are mild to moderate. Possible side effects may include the following:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Soreness
- Bruising
Rare side effects may include:
- Infection
- Skin burns
- Contour changes
- Inflammatory/allergic reactions
- Numbness or tingling
- Muscle weakness
Contact MD Brothers today for more information on minimally invasive skin tightening and our services or to schedule an appointment online. We are glad to help.