Top 6 Non-Surgical Skin Tightening Treatments

 

How do non-surgical skin tightening treatments work?

Non-surgical skin tightening treatments use advanced techniques, such as Ultrasound, Radiofrequency, Laser, and microneedling, to administer energy to the deepest layers of the skin. This stimulates collagen and elastin production, which tightens the skin and improves skin texture and health. The skin can be tightened without any surgical procedures, meaning no scarring from incision marks, a lower risk involved, and a quicker, easier recovery process. 

Who are the best candidates for non-surgical skin tightening?

The best candidates for non-surgical skin tightening are those who have mild to moderate skin laxity and are in search of a little extra contouring to help their skin look its best. During consultation, the condition of the patient’s skin will be examined to see if non-surgical skin tightening is suitable for them. 

What causes sagging and loose skin?

Both internal and external factors can lead to the development of saggy skin. 

Internal factors: 

Ageing

As we inevitably age, elastin and collagen proteins in the deeper dermis layer of the skin will decrease. Collagen adheres cells together and provides strength and structure to the skin, whilst elastin contributes to skin elasticity. With decreased levels comes sagging skin. 

Genetics 

Every individual’s genetic code differs, and the outcome of this is that some people’s collagen and elastin levels may remain high into their 40s, whilst some people’s may start decreasing in their 30s. In other words, some individuals are genetically predisposed to lose tightness in their skin at an earlier age than others. 

External factors:

Weight loss 

Rapid weight loss may cause excess loose skin as a side effect, due to the fact that the skin expands during weight gain. Additionally, studies have shown that those left with loose skin after weight gain have a lower density and thickness of collagen fibres as well as damage to the elastin protein. 

Sun Exposure 

Unprotected sun exposure is one of the main causes of premature skin ageing. UV rays can damage the DNA in skin cells and penetrate the skin most deeply due to longer wavelengths, being able to reach all the way to the hypodermis layer of the skin. This results in premature skin ageing, pigmentation, and, in severe cases, skin cancer. It is highly recommended that you wear a high-SPF facial sunscreen every day to minimise sun damage. 

What areas can you have skin tightening?

1. Abdomen 
2. Face 
3. Arms 
4. Thighs  
5. Buttocks 
6. Chin and neck area 
7. Facial (eg. eyelids) 

6 Different types of non-surgical skin tightening treatments:

1. Morpheus 8 

Morpheus8 is the latest technology in the aesthetic market. It combines Radiofrequency and Microneedling to reach the deepest layers of the skin (hypodermis), then heat is applied to create micro-injuries in the skin which triggers the body’s healing response to create more collagen and elastin. Read more about Morpheus8 here.

2. Radiofrequency 

Radiofrequency therapy works by transmitting energy waves to heat the deep layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production. Collagen is the most common protein in your body, however collagen levels decrease with age and are slow to regenerate. RF therapy encourages the body’s natural systems to produce proteins that improve skin appearance and health. 

3. Jett plasma pen 

The Jett Plasma Pen has proved to be one of the safest devices on the market. It works by using plasma energy to target and damage skin cells. This triggers collagen and elastin production, which can improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and scars, resulting in an overall improvement in skin tone and texture. The results aren’t instant, however, and can take up to 2-3 months for maximum effect. We must also disclose that this treatment evokes more discomfort than other non-surgical skin tightening treatments. It also requires more downtime – up to 10 days for the treated area to heal fully.

4. Thermage Flex

Thermage Flex is the only procedure that is able to rejuvenate collagen levels in all three layers of the skin. It does this by delivering radiofrequency pulses through the skin, allowing more collagen to be produced, and causing pre-existing collagen strands to contract and thicken. This treatment smoothes, tightens and contours the skin. There is virtually no downtime, however, some people may experience swelling and redness which subsides within 24 hours.

Thermage Flex is suitable for all skin types and is able to treat a universal range of areas, including the face (even in the delicate areas such as skin around the eyes), neck, arms, abdomen, love handles, thighs and buttocks region. What’s amazing about Thermage Flex is that it only takes 1 session to achieve these results which can last between 1-2 years. 

5. IPIXEL – Harmony 

Harmony uses fractional ablative lasers to resolve skin texture problems, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scarring. It creates tiny ablative dots on the skin, removing the upper dermis and epidermis layer of the skin, whilst leaving the untreated regions unaffected. This causes the untreated regions surrounding the ablative zones to produce collagen and new skin cells healing the ablative zones, promoting skin rejuvenation and an improvement in skin texture. 

IPIXEL is gentle enough to treat all areas of the body, including very sensitive areas around the eyes, neck, chest and hands. This is an extremely safe and effective solution to combat uneven skin texture and scarring. 

1. HIFU 

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) uses ultrasound energy to heat multiple layers of the skin. There are 3 cartridges used in the face treatment, which penetrate 1.5mm, 3mm and 4.5mm of the skin in order to heat 3 layers of the skin. 

Whilst for treating the body area 4 cartridges are used to penetrate 8mm, 10mm, 13mm and 16mm of the skin. 

The heat produced by the ultrasound energy damages the targeted skin cells, causing the body to produce more collagen and elastin, which enables new and healthy cells to be produced in order to heal the treated region. 

Several studies have shown that HIFU significantly increases skin elasticity 14 weeks after treatment completion. The procedure has been shown to work best on wrinkles around the jaws, cheeks and mouth areas.

Why consider non-surgical skin tightening?

These non-invasive procedures have many advantages over surgical procedures: 

1. More affordable 
2. Sessions are quick and don’t require time off work 
3. Less painful 
4. Less risk than surgery 
5. Quick and easy recovery 
6. Can combine different treatments 
7. Can target delicate areas (eg. eyelids) 

How do you know what skin tightening treatment is best for you?

During consultation, our expert practitioners will examine the condition of the patient’s skin and thoroughly discuss all available skin tightening options with them. The goal is to lead patients to make a well-informed choice that will yield the best results for their skin. 

Patients should also bear in mind that non-surgical procedures often require multiple sessions spaced apart for maximum results, with varying prices, and that results are not as ‘instant’ as some surgical procedures, due to the body needing time to gradually increase collagen and elastin levels. They also require upkeep over the years to maintain results, though some treatments last longer than others. Again, all this will be discussed during consultation. 

What are the risks of non-surgical skin tightening?

There are very minimal risks involved with non-surgical skin tightening. However, some side effects may include redness, swelling, tingling, skin peeling, and perhaps bruising. It is entirely normal for you to experience these side effects, and they will only take a few days to subside. 

Does skin tightening hurt?

The majority of clients have reported that non-surgical skin tightening is minimally painful. Possible discomfort from the heat produced and the microneedles is present, but the pain subsides quite quickly during the recovery period. 

However, we must disclose that certain techniques are more painful than others, and it also depends on the thickness of the patient’s skin and the area receiving treatment. For example, a plasma pen on the eyelids would be more painful as the skin layer is much thinner than in other parts of the body. 

Book a consultation with a Premier Laser Clinic expert for a skin-tightening treatment plan here