Laser skin tightening is a minimally invasive procedure with little recovery time. It involves heating the skin, which causes collagen to constrict, giving the skin a tighter, more firm, and less aging look. Laser skin tightening also increases the skin’s ability to produce co llagen and elastin.
How safe is it?
The procedure requires no anesthetic and is typically regarded as relatively safe. Although you might experience swelling and redness, which is quite normal, infections or scarring are rare.
Convenience
Apart from the procedure, there is usually no downtime following laser skin tightening, making it possible to resume your regular activities. The procedure takes 30 to 90 minutes and should only be done by a cosmetic doctor or highly skilled skincare expert.
Efficacy
Although you’ll start to see some results after just one session, the best outcomes will progressively appear after three to six sessions. The effects could last up to three years with appropriate skin care, including the routine use of sunscreen.
Cost
How much is laser skin tightening? Depending on who is operating and where on your body it is being done, the cost of laser skin tightening will vary.
Most people require three to six sessions to achieve the best results, and one session typically costs $600 to $1,000.
Let’s get down to the details of what laser skin tightening is all about, including the risks, how it works, and the before and after.
Laser skin tightening: what is it?
This is a non-surgical and minimally invasive method of firming skin on the body. The operation is not especially painful. While it can be done anywhere on the body, common locations include the following:
- stomach
- face
- neck
- jawline
The laser emits heat to the degree tolerable by the skin and stimulates the skin to produce more collagen and elastin, which leads to firmer, less crepey skin that looks tighter.
It is most effective for persons between 30 and 65, while it may be preventive for those without apparent drooping. Surgery can be a preferable option if your skin is remarkably flexible.
Who needs laser skin tightening
Anyone experiencing overt skin aging indications will benefit significantly from the procedure. Consider obtaining a laser skin tightening procedure if you believe the skin on your face, neck, or abdomen is loose or drooping. As long as you’re in good health, the operation will help you.
It is a suitable procedure for both men and women between the ages of 30 and 60 who want to rapidly get younger-looking skin without surgery, regardless of skin type or color.
Those who undergo successful laser skin tightening operations get lasting effects. Their wrinkles and fine lines are less noticeable. Again, this results from their collagen regenerating, giving the skin a vivid and youthful-looking.
How does laser skin tightening work?
If you are asking yourself, does laser skin tightening work? The answer is yes, and here’s how. As the name implies, laser skin tightening works by penetrating beneath the skin with an infrared laser. The collagen under the skin is heated by the hot laser, which is about the same temperature as a hot stone massage. This causes the collagen to constrict, making the skin appear firmer.
Radio frequency and ultrasound technology are also frequently utilized for skin tightening, even though they are not technically lasers.
Procedures for skin tightening
Although they are all comparable, there are certain variations between the various skin-tightening techniques that you should be aware of:
Ultrasound Skin tightening
Ultrasound energy bypasses the skin’s surface on the neck, chin, brow, and décolleté areas to produce a heat impact that jump-starts collagen formation. Ultherapy has been established for over ten years, but due to the patient-customizable depth delivery, it remains the industry standard for ultrasound-based tightening.
A single treatment followed by a modest booster treatment three to six months later works best. Noting that this is the only skin-tightening surgery that necessitates recovery time, it is recommended that patients who use narcotic painkillers take the day off. What to know about ultrasound skin therapy include:
- Often requires premedication with NSAIDs, opioids, or topical numbing agents
- little to no downtime
- works well for the face, chin, neck, and chest areas
- cures early indications of aging
- takes between 30 and 90 minutes
- It may be slightly uncomfortable for some and highly painful for others
Radiofrequency skin tightening
The dermis is heated by radio frequency using radio energy waves, promoting collagen creation. More significant portions like the belly are best suited for the radiofrequency device Thermage. It targets deeper under thicker skin to smooth and shape the body and tighten closer to the skin’s surface for a lifting impact.
One Thermage session will benefit patients, whereas ThermiSmooth (another well-liked radiofrequency therapy) calls for three to six sessions. Depending on the gadget and area size, sessions cost between $1,500 and $4,500.
- The skin is treated subdermally.
- It is not an actual laser.
- Microneedling can be combined with radiofrequency (RF) treatment to release heat energy into the skin.
- This procedure is generally safe for all skin types
- It is done in-office
- It causes little discomfort and no downtime.
Combination of radiofrequency and intense pulsed light
This is usually the least considered method. Some features of the treatment include the following:
- Post-inflammatory pigmentation can occur in people with darker skin tones
- It is a hybrid treatment option that targets deep layers of skin
- The results are gradual
- It is painless and requires no downtime.
The process is similar for all three. You’ll be asked to sit in the office and might need to put on goggles to protect your eye from the laser for skin tightening. Although the skin-tightening laser beam will feel warm on your skin, and you might experience discomfort, it shouldn’t hurt.
The duration of the operation should range from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.
Although laser skin tightening can be performed everywhere there is loose skin, it is most frequently utilized on the stomach, neck, and face because these areas experience sagging or often loose skin.
The cost of laser skin tightening
The most asked questions are, “how much is laser skin tightening” and “does insurance cover laser skin tightening” Due to the fact that laser skin tightening is an elective cosmetic operation, insurance will not pay for it. Apart from the appointment, which usually lasts under an hour and a half, there should be a little downtime, so you would not need to take much time off from work.
It usually costs between $600 and $1,000 for one laser skin tightening session, and you’ll likely need three to six sessions with the space of a month in between.
Before the Procedure
To remove any substances from your face, be careful to cleanse them. Eliminate the oils on your skin and remove your makeup and sunscreen. After finishing, the dermatologist or aesthetician will apply an anesthetic cream to the part of your body you are treating and have you put on safety glasses to protect your eyes from the laser.
No anesthetic is required because it is non-ablative. Your doctor might also recommend an over-the-counter painkiller for patients with a low pain threshold before the surgery.
What to expect after a laser skin tightening
After the initial laser skin tightening surgery, you should notice some skin tightening. With each additional treatment, the outcome will become more apparent.
You won’t need much recuperation time because there are no incisions made during the entire process, which is carried out with a laser. You might experience minor swelling or redness for a few days following the procedure. This is normal and should go away on its own.
To avoid potential skin damage, stay out of the sun where you are receiving treatment. Every time you go outside, wear broad-spectrum sunscreen. Also, avoid using any topical photosensitive products.
Typically, the effects of laser skin tightening last up to two years. To maintain the outcomes, patients often get follow-up treatments. When two years have elapsed, you may decide to undergo further therapy. This is crucial because it guarantees the consistent production of new collagen.
Possible risks and side effects
More hazards are associated with surgical facelifts and other cosmetic operations than laser skin tightening, which is widely considered safe. Moreover, it is considerably less efficient than a surgical facelift. Only a cosmetic dermatologist or a highly qualified and experienced skin care specialist should perform the operation.
See your doctor for special care if you have skin cancer or are taking prescription treatment for acne. Women who are pregnant shouldn’t undergo laser skin tightening. Although uncommon, side effects could include:
- redness
- tingling
- swelling
- scarring
- color changes in the skin
How to find a provider
Before the procedure, you should visit the dermatologist to discuss your expectations, what to expect, and to view before-and-after images of actual patients. You can contact us at Pure Skin Laser Center and book an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist.
Conclusion
Laser skin tightening is a simple and effective procedure that helps remove wrinkles, sagging, or folds from the skin. It involves the use of lasers to heat the skin, causing the collagen to constrict, thereby making the skin tighter. For a safe and effective procedure, work with a board-certified dermatologist.
