It’s possible to tighten your skin without a facelift. Do you find yourself gently pulling back skin on your face when you look in the mirror and wishing it would stay there? Does the jiggle in your upper arms bother you?
A surgical lift, such as a facelift or eyelid surgery, will give you the most dramatic results, but you’ll find plenty of other skin-tightening options. These other options offer less downtime and lower cost. Another perk: Many can be used on just about any part of your body that needs a lift.
Here’s the lowdown on your other options.
Skin-firming creams and lotions You’ll find plenty of these products. Many come with such promising claims that you may feel you have to try them. Before you spend money on another skin-firming cream, here’s what you should know.
Bottom line: If you’re looking for facelift-like results from a jar, you’ll likely be disappointed. Despite the claims, the results you see from a skin-firming cream will be subtle at best. It’s also possible that you won’t see any results.
When you see immediate results, the product tends to be an effective moisturizer. A good moisturizer can plump up your skin, making fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable. This result is temporary. To continue seeing any benefit, you need to apply the product every day.
As for the claim that a cream or lotion can lift sagging skin, dermatologists say that’s not possible. A cream or lotion cannot penetrate the skin deeply enough to do this.
Still, you may see a small change if a product contains a retinoid, such as retinol, which can help your body make more collagen.
While creams and lotions produce subtle results at best, the demand for skin care products that can lift sagging skin continues to grow. This demand is fueling research, so researchers are experimenting with various ideas.
One idea they’re testing is using creams to create electrical charges in the skin. These painless charges might increase the amount of collagen in the skin, which would lead to tighter skin.
Non-invasive skin tightening procedures These procedures are called non-invasive because they leave your skin intact. You won’t have a puncture wound, incision, or raw skin afterward. You may see some temporary redness and swelling, but that’s usually the only sign that you had a procedure.
Here’s what you can expect from a non-invasive skin-tightening procedure:
Results: Tend to appear gradually, so they seem natural
Downtime: Little or none
Colorblind: Safe for people of all skin colors
Body-wide use: Can tighten skin just about anywhere on your body
Side effects: Usually some redness and swelling, but little risk of other side effects when performed by a board-certified dermatologist
Time commitment: Most procedures take 1 hour or less
Pain: May have some discomfort during the procedure, but that’s usually it
Makeup: Can often apply immediately after the procedure
Cost: Varies and not covered by insurance, so ask how much it will cost
If you opt for a non-invasive skin tightening procedure, you’ll likely have one of the following:
Ultrasound Dermatologists are using ultrasound to send heat deep into the skin.
Bottom line: The heat can cause your body to produce more collagen. With 1 treatment, most people see modest lifting and tightening within 2 to 6 months. You may get more benefit from having additional treatments.
Radiofrequency During this treatment, your dermatologist places a device against your skin, which heats the tissue beneath.
Bottom line: Most people have 1 treatment and feel some tightening right away. It takes time for your body to make collagen, so you’ll see the best results in about 6 months. Some people benefit from having more than 1 treatment.
Results can last 2 to 3 years with the right skin care.
Laser treatment Some lasers can send heat deep into the skin without wounding the top layer of your skin. These lasers are used to tighten skin all over the body and can be especially helpful for tightening loose skin on the belly and upper arms.
Bottom line: You may need 3 to 5 treatments to get results, which gradually appear between 2 and 6 months after the last treatment.
Minimally invasive skin tightening procedures While these procedures can give you more noticeable results, they still cannot give you the results of a surgical procedure like a facelift, eyelid surgery, or neck lift. Minimally invasive skin tightening, however, requires less downtime than surgery. It also carries less risk of side effects.
You will be sedated during this type of procedure and will have a few days of downtime.
If you have a minimally invasive skin tightening procedure, here’s what you can expect.
Radiofrequency When you have this type of radiofrequency, a thin tube (or needles), is inserted into your skin to heat up the tissue beneath. This allows your dermatologist to provide heat exactly where you need it to tighten loose skin. Dermatologists often use this procedure to tighten the neck or upper arms.
Bottom line: Putting the heat where it’s needed allows you to see results faster — usually in about 1 month. In some research studies, patients see gradual tightening and lifting for close to 1 year.
After the procedure, you’ll need someone to drive you home and you may need to wear a compression garment for 4 or 5 days. You’ll also need to care for the wound.
Laser resurfacing This is the most effective procedure for tightening loose skin. Unlike the laser treatment described above, this procedure requires some downtime. You’ll need to stay home for 5 to 7 days.
Laser resurfacing also gives you the fastest results. After you heal, you’ll see tightening and fewer wrinkles within 2 weeks.
Bottom line: Laser resurfacing can tighten skin, usually better than any other skin-tightening procedure. It can also diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots on the skin, such as age spots. The tradeoff is that it requires downtime and has a greater risk of possible side effects, such as scarring.
Many people can safely have a skin-tightening procedure. You’re likely to get the best results if you:
Are at a healthy weight and maintain your weight
Eat a healthy diet
Quit smoking
Drink little alcohol
Protect your skin from the sun and never tan indoors
Have a small amount of sagging skin
A skin-tightening procedure isn’t right for anyone who is pregnant, has a skin infection, or takes certain medications.
Do you have lots of sagging skin? If so, skin-tightening may not be helpful.
Seeing a board-certified dermatologist is the safest way to find out what skin tightening can do for you. With so many skin-tightening options available, you want to see an expert who is familiar with the different treatments and can determine the best option for your concerns.
You can find a board-certified dermatologist in your area by going to, Find a dermatologist. Select the specialty Cosmetic Dermatology.
Images
References
American Academy of Dermatology:
“New and improved laser and light treatments take aim at cellulite, fat, tattoos, wrinkles and sagging skin.” News release issued Mar 21, 2014. Last accessed Nov 30, 2017.
“Electricity sparks interest in new technologies and cosmeceuticals for aging skin.” News release issued Mar 15, 2011.
el-Domyati M, el-Ammawi TS, et al. “Radiofrequency facial rejuvenation: evidence-based effect.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011;64(3):524-35.
Fabi SG, Massaki A, et al. “Evaluation of microfocused ultrasound with visualization for lifting, tightening, and wrinkle reduction of the décolletage.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013;69(6):965-71.
Hilton L. “The real deal with nonsurgical skin tightening.” Dermatology Times. November 2017. 76-8.
MacGregor JL and Tanzi EL. “Microfocused ultrasound for skin tightening.” Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2013;32(1):18-25.
Tanaka Y. “Long-term nasal and peri-oral tightening by a single factional noninuslated microneedle radiofrequency treatment.” J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(2):45-51.
Tierney EP, Hanke CW, et al. “Treatment of lower eyelid rhytids and laxity with ablative fractionated carbon-dioxide laser resurfacing: Case series and review of the literature.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011;64(4):730-40.
In general, non-surgical skin tightening procedures work by using targeted energy to heat deeper layers of skin, which stimulates collagen and elastin production and gradually improves skin tone and texture. Some treatments also affect fibrous tissue to help smooth cellulite. There are numerous FDA cleared skin tightening treatments and technologies on the market, and each uses a unique mechanism to achieve the desired result. This guide will help you learn more about non-surgical skin tightening and your various options.
Key Benefits
Glossary
As we age, production of collagen and elastin—two proteins that help our skin stay plump, firm and smooth—slows down, resulting in areas of lax, sagging skin on the face, neck and body. If you are bothered by skin laxity, non-surgical skin tightening can temporarily halt this process and restore a firmer, smoother, more youthful appearance with little to no downtime.
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Non-surgical skin tightening is generally best suited for patients who are bothered by mild to moderate skin laxity and do not need the more dramatic lifting and skin removal possible with cosmetic surgery.
While there are very few serious side effects associated with non-surgical skin tightening, it may not be appropriate for patients who are pregnant, taking certain medications, or have certain medical conditions.
The best way to find out if non-surgical skin tightening is right for you is to consult with an experienced cosmetic surgeon. Start by finding surgeons in your area who are certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS). Diplomates of the ABCS have undergone extensive training in surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and can help you choose the best option for your needs and goals.
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Outlined below are the most common FDA cleared technologies available in the U.S.
Some skin tightening treatments use focused ultrasound energy, which heats skin at specific depths (up to 5mm deep) and locations to induce collagen production and help skin become firmer. Treatments are delivered via a handheld device, which transmits the ultrasound waves through the skin’s surface. Ultrasound technology has been used in medicine for many decades, and ultrasound skin tightening has an excellent safety profile. It is effective for older patients looking for a mini facelift without surgery and for younger patients who want to maintain their skin profile and prevent skin laxity as they age.
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Radiofrequency (RF) energy can also be used to heat the skin and trigger collagen production. In contrast to ultrasound, RF focuses on epidermal layers to achieve a firmer, smoother appearance. Brand name treatments include Profound® RF, Exilis®, Morpheus8®, and Thermage®. Like ultrasound treatments, RF treatments are effective for smoothing and tightening skin in older patients as well as postponing the need for a surgical lift in younger patients.
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A third class of skin tightening treatments combines intense pulsed light (IPL) with radiofrequency (RF) to heat deeper layers of skin and induce the natural healing response, which in turn triggers collagen production. The addition of IPL allows a provider to treat a large amount of skin and skin conditions, while the RF energy can be hyper-focused to treat deep layers of skin. Combination non-surgical skincare treatments tend to be extremely effective, as they are able to treat multiple concerns in one procedure. Commonly used treatments include Venus Versa®, and VelaShape®.
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Non-surgical body contouring includes much more than skin tightening. Today, you have options to reduce fat, smooth cellulite, rejuvenate vaginal tissues, and remove unwanted hair. The guide below outlines all of your options.
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In general, completely non-invasive skin tightening treatments can be safely performed by a licensed, trained aesthetician or registered nurse working under physician supervision. Subdermal treatments that require an incision, such as EmbraceRF, should be performed only by a qualified cosmetic surgeon or provider with equivalent training and experience.
The best place to start? Schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon near you to discuss your needs and goals, review your treatment options, and learn how non-surgical skin tightening can help you feel more confident in your appearance.
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