Did you know that the collagen market was valued at nearly $3.5 billion in 2018? This refers to the manufacturing and distribution of collagen protein in the food and healthcare industries. Collagen is responsible for keeping your skin look healthy and youthful.
But as you probably know already, skin collagen levels drop with aging. This is where laser skin tightening comes into play. Skin tightening is a non-surgical treatment that can stimulate collagen production in your skin.
If you’d love to look at least 5 years younger, keep reading. You’ll learn everything you need to know about this laser treatment and its benefits.
What Is Laser Skin Tightening?
Laser skin tightening is a minimally invasive procedure done on various parts of the body such as the neck, face, shoulders, etc. It uses a laser that heats up the tissue under the skin. This stimulates the production of collagen and gives the person in question a more youthful appearance.
This laser procedure is safe and effective. It has already been used on hundreds of patients with great success. It works best on loose neck skin as it redefines the line of the neck and tightens up loose skin.
How Does Laser Skin Tightening Work?
As the name implies, this procedure is done with the help of a handheld device that uses a powerful laser. A laser is nothing else but a concentrated beam of light.
The laser is strong enough to penetrate the deep layers of the skin and promote collagen production. However, don’t think of it as a lightsaber that could hurt you. Most patients feel a pleasant heating sensation on the skin area that’s being treated.
But why does this procedure work? How does simple heat make you look younger? Well, the explanation is simple. Anything that works against the body is called a stimulus. Any stimuli produce a response.
For example, if a virus enters your body, your body responds by sending white blood cells to neutralize it. If there’s an infection in the body, the response is high fever to fight the foreign substances. Even if you scratch your skin a little, the area will turn red in response.
This is exactly what happens when the tissues under the skin are stimulated. They respond by producing more collagen. You want this because more collagen will improve the elasticity of the skin and make you look younger.
In the simplest terms, laser skin tightening works by “forcing” your body to respond to the signs of age and produce more collagen. This protein is naturally produced by your body, just that the amount produced decreases with age. Laser treatments can increase this production with long-lasting results.
There Are 3 Main Types of Laser Skin Tightening Treatments
There are many ways you can stimulate the area under the skin using handheld devices. Medical specialists have experimented with different types of treatments including radiofrequency, ultrasound, and radiofrequency microneedling. Let’s talk about each of them separately.
Radiofrequency Treatment
This treatment uses intense radiofrequency waves to create heat under your skin. It’s one of the most popular laser skin treatments and it requires little to no aftercare. A handheld device is placed above the skin, giving you a hot sensation.
Your skin will not burn, this is just your sensation. The radio waves stimulate the skin to produce more collagen. Most people require a few sessions of this treatment spaced about a week from each other. A typical session can take less than an hour to complete.
Radiofrequency Microneedling Treatment
This procedure is similar to microneedling, just that it causes less discomfort. It involves using a device that resembles a stamp. This stamp has multiple gold-plated needles that create heat under your skin using radio waves.
Radiofrequency microneedling is slightly more powerful than regular radiofrequency treatment. It can create a lasting effect on your skin and that’s why most patients need only a few sessions. Each session takes about an hour and you can do one every 4-6 weeks.
However, keep in mind that this type of treatment requires some aftercare. You are not allowed to wear makeup for 24 hours after the procedure. If you’re treating other areas than your face skin, make sure that you are not exposed to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight for 24 hours.
Ultrasound Treatment
This is another popular treatment method. It involves using ultrasound technology to treat the skin of your body. This procedure is very advanced and it delivers some of the best results. However, you need to be patient as these results might take a few months to show up.
This doesn’t mean that you won’t see marked improvements right away. Most patients get an immediate skin lift, but the production of collagen will generate the best results in up to 3 months. It’s recommended to do two sessions of skin tightening using an ultrasound device.
At the same time, keep in mind that one session can take up to 90 minutes. The recovery time is minimal and you might be able to get back to work immediately afterward. This procedure penetrates deep layers of the skin, that’s why the best results take a while to show up.
What Are the Benefits of Laser Skin Tightening?
Apart from the obvious benefit of looking younger and more attractive, there are other advantages you can reap from this cosmetic procedure. Let’s take a look at them.
No Downtime
As mentioned earlier, these cosmetic procedures require little to no recovery time. That’s because the laser device doesn’t cause harm to your body and doesn’ mess with your hormones. Patients just need to avoid makeup and exercise for 24 hours after the procedure.
Strenuous physical exercise can be bad for you after laser skin tightening because it can make you sweat and increase inflammation markers. If you take it easy for 24 hours and give your skin some time to heal, you’ll be fine.
It Reduces Wrinkles and Fine Lines
Another benefit of laser skin tightening consists of eliminating fine lines and wrinkles that could compromise your image. Such skin imperfections are customary with age. They can also be amplified by long exposure to wind and sunlight.
Wrinkles usually appear when the body produces less collagen. This will cause folds in the skin and some of them can be visible from a distance. Depending on your lifestyle and diet, wrinkles can appear as early as 30 years of age.
Luckily, laser skin treatments can mitigate this problem. Not only that you can tighten up loose skin, but you can also get rid of fine lines, dark spots, and other skin imperfections. Most patients look 5-10 years younger as a result of trying laser treatments.
Best of all, the results are long-lasting and you can amplify them by coming back for multiple treatment sessions. Stimulating the body to produce more collagen on a regular basis will help you achieve a more youthful appearance and these results will be consistent over time.
You Can Get Back to Work Immediately
Most of us live hectic lifestyles and have to juggle multiple responsibilities at the same time. Your weekdays are probably occupied with your job and your weekends with your family. However, you can still find some free time for a laser skin tightening session.
Most of these sessions take between 45 and 90 minutes. Busy individuals can schedule one of those during the lunch break. After the session, you can get back to work and maintain your productivity, not to mention that this will also make your boss happy.
Even if you raise small children and are constantly busy at home, you can still fit one session of laser treatment into your schedule. You just need approximately 2 hours in total to go to the doctor’s office, get the procedure done, and get back home.
It Works on All Skin Types
Not all people have the same type of skin. The health of the skin is influenced by various factors such as age, diet, fitness level, nutrition, etc. You might also have a type of skin that’s generally more sensitive than other people.
Luckily, laser skin treatments work well on any type of skin and regardless of your age. Doctors also prepare your skin before using the laser device, so you don’t get infected. Remember that these treatments also work on most parts of the body, so you have nothing to worry about.
How Do You Prepare for Laser Skin Treatments?
As mentioned earlier, your doctor will prepare your skin before each treatment session, so you get the best result possible. On top of that, you can also do a lot of things to prepare for this type of cosmetic procedure.
For example, you should make sure that there are no creams, lotions, or fragrances on your skin when you arrive at the doctor’s office. Your skin needs to be freshly washed and clear of any chemicals or pollutants.
It’s strongly recommended not to use tanning beds for at least two weeks before going for a laser skin tightening session. If you have to go out in bright sunlight, make sure that you wear sunscreen and protect your skin the best way possible.
Shaving the skin area that needs to be treated is also required. Make sure that you do this a few hours before going to the doctor’s office so that your skin is as clean as possible. Avoid using topical products such as retinol, hydroxy acids, and other chemicals on your skin before going for a laser treatment procedure.
Finally, talk to your doctor about any medication or antibiotics you might be taking. Some of these can interfere with the procedure and you might need to discontinue medication for a few days. Your doctor will also provide you with a list of drugs you should avoid before having your skin treated with a laser device.
Are You Ready to Look 5 Years Younger?
Laser skin tightening might not be a silver bullet, but it’s definitely one of the best and most popular ways to improve your appearance. It uses revolutionary devices and top medical procedures that ensure your safety and wellbeing during your treatment.
So what are you waiting for? Make sure that you contact us today and schedule a free consultation. We have the right solution for each patient, whether this means using laser skin treatments, injectable fillers, or other types of cosmetic procedures.
