Skin Tightening Procedures

Skin covers the entire body and is the first line of defense against infection and toxins that can harm the body. But because it is exposed to the elements the skin is one of the first to show signs of aging, such as wrinkles and sagging skin.

Collagen and elastin keep the skin smooth and taut, but over the years the body begins to produce less of these two compounds. As a result, the skin starts to sag and lose its elasticity. A number of skin tightening procedures are available to reverse the effects of skin aging.

Surgical procedures such as a facelift or tummy tuck can tighten sagging skin with dramatic results, but these procedures are often expensive. Besides, there are people who do not wish to undergo cosmetic surgery. For those who prefer non-invasive methods, the following skin tightening procedures are good alternatives:

Skin Tightening Creams and Lotions
There are numerous skin tightening creams and lotions available today. They offer a cheaper way to tighten skin but they may not be that effective. Creams that claim to be able to inject collagen into the skin are least effective since collagen molecules are too big to penetrate the skin pores. Thus, the collagen simply sits on the surface of the skin. Skin tightening lotions that stimulate collagen production may be more effective in making the skin firm and taut.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, or synthetic fillers can be injected into the skin to make folds and creases less noticeable by filling the crevices. They can also be used to restore volume to the cheeks. Dermal fillers are often used on the face. The result is such that the skin appears tighter and more youthful.
Laser Skin Tightening
Laser skin tightening treatments use heat to penetrate the skin and stimulate the production of collagen. TITAN skin tightening uses infrared laser light to penetrate into the middle layer of the skin and generate heat. This causes the collagen molecules to contract and make the skin firm and tight. This procedure can be used on the face, neck, arms, thighs and other parts of the body.
Skin Tightening with Radio Frequency
Thermage is a skin tightening procedure that makes use of radio frequency technology known as ThermalCool. This procedure uses a high frequency pulse to warm the skin and stimulate the production of collagen in the skin. It is used to tighten the forehead, cheeks, jowls, neck, etc. Thermage also helps reduce wrinkles on the skin.
Effectiveness of Non-invasive Skin Tightening
Many patients see noticeable results after 4 to 6 months but with improvements in the technology more patients are seeing positive results sooner. Devices using laser light or radio frequency to tighten skin cannot produce the same results as a surgical lifting procedure but they allow patients to be treated successfully without downtime. Results can last for 1 to 3 years, depending on the skin tightening procedure used.