Skin tightening is a popular aesthetic procedure that can rejuvenate and re-enliven skin on the face that has become droopy or unattractive due to the natural effects of time. This procedure has become quite popular with those looking to shave a couple of years off of their appearance.
Does Skin Tightening Require Downtime?
One of the main advantages of this type of procedure is that it requires little to no downtime. This makes it easy to re-enter your day-to-day activities following whatever treatment you receive.
If you’re interested in receiving skin tightening treatment or already have a session scheduled, here’s everything you need to know about this.
How Does Non-Surgical Skin Tightening Work?
The aging process inevitably decreases the skin’s ability to naturally produce two very important compounds – collagen and elastin. These two proteins are primarily responsible for keeping the skin plump, firm, and smooth. When the amount of proteins decreases, the result is more sagging skin on the face, neck, and body.
Skin tightening can help to reverse these trends. Some of the positive benefits of skin tightening include:
- Provides a lifting effect to the skin
- Tigthens mild to moderately loose skin on the face, neck, or body.
- Doesn’t produce surgery or scar.
- No downtime after surgery
- Very few or no adverse effects
- Long-lasting results
The above reasons mean that many individuals will find that skin tightening fits what they’re looking for in a procedure. However, there are limitations and factors to consider when receiving skin tightening treatment. Some of these include:
- Results appear gradually over several weeks or months
- Treatment needs to be repeated periodically to maintain results
- Multiple treatments are needed to achieve the desired results
- Not effective on more advanced skin sagging, such as pronounced jowling or the sagging that occurs following pregnancy
Am I a Good Candidate for Treatment?
The ideal candidate for skin tightening is a patient who is suffering from mild to moderate skin laxity that does not require more dramatic lifting and skin removal.
In addition, there are certain conditions that may bar someone from receiving skin tightening or at least prompt them to reconsider whether or not it’s the best treatment for them moving forward. Some examples include those who are pregnant, those who take certain medications, and those who have certain certain medical conditions.
The best and most reliable way for you to determine whether or not skin tightening is right for your particular situation is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. They’ll be able to determine if skin tightening is the right path for you and your goals.
Treatments and Techniques
There are two major methods for skin tightening: Ultrasound skin tightening and Radiofrequency treatments. Each has its own set of distinct advantages, some of which are outlined below.
Ultrasound Skin Tightening
Some skin tightening treatments use focused ultrasound energies to heat the skin at specific depths in order to provoke collagen production. This helps the skin become firmer. The treatments are delivered via a handheld device, which transmits ultrasound waves through the surface of the skin.
Ultrasound is generally considered to be a highly safe and dependable procedure, as ultrasound technologies have been used in various medical procedures for decades. It is considered an excellent method for providing patients a mini facelift without surgery. In addition, the treatment is quite expedient and can be completed within 30 to 90 minutes.
Radiofrequency Treatments
Radiofrequency Treatments use another form of energy to heat the skin and trigger collagen production. RF focuses on heating the epidermal layers to achieve a firmer and smoother appearance. There are several brands available for this purpose, including Profound RF, Exilis, and Morpheus8.
RF treatments are effective for smoothing and tightening skin in elderly patients, as well as postponing the need for a surgical lift in younger patients.
Combination Treatments
There is a third class of treatments that combine intense pulsing lights with radiofrequency to heat deeper layers of skin and induce the body’s natural healing response. This in turn triggers collagen production. The addition of IPL allows a provider to treat a very wide range of skin and skin conditions. Combination non-surgical skincare treatments tend to be very effective and are worth asking about during your consultation.
The Skin Tightening Experts of Simi Valley
Simi Doctors and its award-winning staff remain dedicated to offering the residents of Simi Valley the finest quality plastic surgery procedures available. If you find yourself interested in receiving skin tightening treatment, contact Simi Doctors today to schedule an appointment and start looking your best.