Skin Tightening Treatments: Research, Cost, and More

Skin tightening treatments, mainly in a non-surgical way, works by heating more deep layers of skin with targeted energy. This increases collagen and elastin production and gradually improves the skin’s tone and texture. 

Some treatments also work on fibrous tissue to help make cellulite less noticeable. But today, the FDA has approved many skin-tightening therapies and technologies. 

Each one works in a different way to get the desired result. This guide will help you learn about skin tightening and how to do it without surgery.

Why Consider Skin Tightening Treatments?

As we age, our bodies make less collagen and elastin, two proteins that keep our skin smooth, firm, and plump. This makes the skin on our face, neck, and body loose and saggy. 

If loose skin bothers you, skin tightening methods can temporarily stop it and give you a firmer, smoother, younger-looking look with little to no downtime. But other than those factors, this process can help you in many ways. Here are those. 

Advantages of Skin Tightening Methods

• Tightens light to moderately loose skin on the face, neck, or body without surgery or scars.
• A noticeable lifting effect can come from many treatments.
• When done by a trained professional, there is a meager chance of side effects.
• Treatments can be done in the doctor’s office, and most take an hour or less.
• The results can last for up to a year.

Side Effects & Limitations

• Results may take a few weeks or months to show up after treatment, and you may need more than one to get the desired results.
• Treatment will have to be done again and again to keep the results.
• Not suitable for more severe skin sagging, like pronounced jowling or stretched skin after pregnancy or losing weight.

Skin Tightening Processes

Most skin-tightening processes work in a non-surgical way. The following treatments use devices that send focused energy to deeper layers of your skin to heat them and boost collagen and elastin production. Here are those methods to consider. 

Ultrasound Skin Tightening

 A micro-focused ultrasound is used to send heat up to 5 mm below the surface of your skin. This can lift and tighten the skin on your face, neck, and upper chest, making wrinkles look less noticeable.

The effects of your ultrasound therapy may not show up for up to 6 months, but they may be apparent after just one session.

Radiofrequency Therapy (RF)

As with ultrasound skin tightening, this method uses a handheld device to send heat into your skin to make collagen. Radiofrequency, different from ultrasound, works on the epidermis, the top layer of skin. 

According to the FDA, it is safe to use on the face, neck, body, and hands. RF treatments and microneedling can be used together to reach deeper layers of skin. In both cases, changes happen slowly.

Many people see results after just one RF treatment, but it may take two to six treatments to get the desired results. With the proper skincare routine, results can last up to three years.

Laser Methods

Laser treatment works with handheld lasers that send heat deep into the skin, destroying the top layer of skin (the epidermis) to get to the layer underneath. 

The skin on the belly and upper arms have shown to respond well to laser treatments. People usually get between three and five treatments.

IPL Treatment  

Deep layers of your skin are hit with different kinds of light. Most of the time, more than one treatment is needed. Radiofrequency is often used with IPL. With RF therapy, the doctor can reach deeper layers of your skin. 

With the IPL, they can treat more skin and a more comprehensive range of skin problems. Most of the time, people with tanned or darker skin should not get IPL treatments.

The Ideal Candidate for Skin Tightening Treatments

A procedure to tighten the skin can be done safely on many people. The best results are likely to come if you:

• Are at a healthy weight and keep it up.
• Eat healthy foods.
• Quit smoking
• Don’t drink too much.
• Use sunscreen 

Pregnant people with skin infections or taking certain medicines shouldn’t get a procedure to tighten their skin.

Other Techniques

Some people would take the chance to use skin tightening treatments, but it’s always the safe thing. Either way, here’s some of what you can try at home. 

Ultrasound

As mentioned above, ultrasound tightens your skin by sending ultrasound waves deep to make collagen. You can buy handheld devices that use this technology online and at some stores that sell beauty supplies.

These tools are costly, and you must use them regularly if you want them to work. You need to have the help of a trained provider to find that these devices work.

For Your Stomach

The stomach is more prominent in terms of surface area than the face. It’s also more likely to sag and get stretch marks. Generally, treatments like Thermage, Thermalift, and Exilis all work on the front, but Velashape is usually used on the stomach.

There are also other non-surgical treatments besides the ones listed above. You could use creams or get dermal injections instead.

Wrinkle Treatments

There are also skin tightening treatments that you can consider, especially if you have wrinkles and sagging skin. 

Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A) 

Botox stops specific muscles from contracting when it is injected into them. This will make your skin look softer. Results can take up to three days, but they last for months.

Soft Tissue Fillers

Fat, collagen and hyaluronic acid are all in these injections. They make your skin fuller and get rid of wrinkles. The effects won’t last.

Over-The-Counter Creams

There are both over-the-counter and prescription creams. Most of the time, creams and ointments applied to the skin only make minor improvements at best. 

For the best results, look for products with retinoids like adapalene, tazarotene, or tretinoin. Even though it can take a few months, many people see a difference in their fine lines and wrinkles after using it regularly. 

Costs of Skin Tightening

The cost of skin tightening treatments depends on many factors. But know that your insurance won’t pay for them, so you’ll have to pay the total.

Your cost will depend on several things, such as the type of treatment you choose and the number of treatments or appointments you need. 

It will also matter how many areas of skin you want to treat and what you hope to get out of it. Talk and consult with your provider for more details about the treatment. 

Choosing The Best Provider

In general, a licensed, trained aesthetician or registered nurse working under the supervision of a doctor can safely do completely non-invasive treatments to tighten the skin.

Set up a meeting with experienced experts near you to discuss your needs and goals, review your treatment options, and find out how non-surgical skin tightening can help you feel better about your appearance.

Contact us today with Krystle M Collins and our team to help you achieve the best of your aesthetic goals. We can’t wait to meet you here in our office!