Sagging skin is something that everyone experiences with age although the degree of sagging varies from one person to another. Along with age, someone who has dropped significant weight ends up with loose skin that as it hangs, it gets in the way and makes everyday activities difficult and uncomfortable. Regardless of the cause, the good news is that old and new techniques for skin tightening are available, allowing a person to feel better about appearance and giving an individual back qualify of life.
The most common area of the body that needs skin tightening is the face, especially around the neck area. With skin firmed around the face and neck, a person would immediately have a more youthful appearance, which for many increases level of self-confidence. However, skin tightening procedures can be performed for virtually any part of the body to include underarms, buttocks, stomach, and legs.
Choosing a Qualified Doctor or Surgeon
No matter the reason for loose or sagging skin, the most important factor when choosing a doctor or cosmetic surgeon to perform a skin tightening procedure is finding a board certified professional. Sadly, there are some medical professionals who have completed only basic education and/or training for performing certain skin tightening procedures, which puts a patient at risk for unwanted results or worse.
However, a board certified doctor or surgeon comes with a guarantee of sorts. For a medical professional to become board certified, all required education and training must be completed specific to the type or types of procedures being performed. Along with this, someone who is board certified is held to the highest of standards within the healthcare sector.
Choosing a board certified medical professional provides patient confidence in the doctor or surgeon’s ability but along with this, a patient would be ensured the work performed by the professional is careful scrutiny to ensure high standards are being followed as outlined.
Options for Skin Tightening
Thanks to medical breakthroughs, skin tightening is something that can be successfully performed on a surgical and non-surgical basis. For more severe or delicate cases, some type of surgical procedure would be performed. In fact, there are a few procedures that are performed on an outpatient basis, which dramatically reduces healing time and thereby, time away from work or school.
The other option for skin tightening is by using specially formulated gels and creams. Although there are many products that claim to tighten loose or sagging skin but produce no or little results, others have been shown to provide improvement. Along with gels and creams made with chemicals, a number of effective and safe skin tightening products made with organic or 100% natural ingredients are sold. Below are examples of both surgical procedures and commercial products available.
Non-Surgical Procedures
Below we provided examples of the most innovative skin tightening procedures offered today. Keep in mind that there are times when surgery would be the better solution but when weighing pros and cons of surgical versus non-surgical skin tightening solutions, a number of benefits come from procedures in the non-surgical category such as those listed below.
- Procedures are non-invasive
- No need for sedation
- Minimal pain or discomfort
- Low risk of infection
- Works for all types of skin
- Recovery time is minimal
Arasys
Known as an “inch loss system”, this procedure is not only effective on tightening loose or sagging skin but it also creates a smooth texture. Electrical waveforms are used that stimulate nerve impulses. With this muscles begin to contract, producing results much the same as someone who puts in a good workout. In fact, an individual would need to complete 300 conventional sit ups to get the results of just one, 17-minute Arasys session.
Arasys is said to be so effective at skin tightening that a person could easily lose between two and six inches in just one session. In addition to losing inches, the contraction of muscles actually makes them stronger and more toned. The only downfall is that while Arasys works great on tightening skin on the body, it cannot be used for neck or facial skin.
Laser
With this procedure, collagen located deep within the skin is stimulated, thereby increasing production. With age, the amount of collagen produced naturally in the body begins to decline. As a result, skin begins to droop, contour changes, and elasticity diminishes. However, once collagen production increases, a person’s skin would become tighter and more youthful looking. Best of all, most people going through laser treatment have no pain and the recovery period is short.
Refirme
Another of the more effective non-surgical skin tightening procedures, this uses both light energy and bipolar radio frequencies. Of all procedures done without a person going under the knife, this has been rated as one of the most revolutionary. Using targeted heat energy, results are dramatic and the person experiences little to no discomfort. Not only is this a procedure that works on all skin types, is has been provided with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance.
Thermage
In this case, radio frequencies are used to tighten skin. Results are achieved due to natural collagen growth being stimulated, which in turn tightens skin and produces improved facial contours. Unlike some of the other non-surgical procedures, this one is an excellent choice for the neck and face, to include delicate areas around the mouth and eyes. With Thermage, most people see improvement in one hour.
Titan
With infrared, light penetrates deep into the skin, which stimulates the production of collagen beyond only the outer layer. One of the primary advantages of the Titan procedure over those using radio frequencies is that energy distribution is better. While used on different parts of the body, two to three sessions can make a nice improvement in skin around the neck and jawline.
Thread Lift
Just as the name implies, this skin tightening procedure is performed using a thin thread inserted with a needle into the face. As the threads are pulled, facial skin stretches to become tighter. Interestingly, as time passes, the thread is held securely in place thanks to collage that grows around it so once the face has been tightened, the thread would not loosen to change results. Because the procedure is done in about an hour, it has been nicknamed the “lunch hour facelift.”
Gels and Creams
As stated, different commercial products are available that help with skin tightening. Those that actually work are formulated to increase collagen production, which means not only tighter skin but also skin with more elasticity and firmness, as well as fewer lines and wrinkles. However, gels and creams are used for minor cases of loose or sagging skin and even the best products produce minimal results.
Surgical Procedures
Following are some of the surgical procedures commonly used to help tighten loose and sagging skin. As mentioned, in more severe cases of loose or sagging skin, surgery may be the only viable option. Although non-surgical procedures offer benefits not associated with surgical skin tightening methods, there are some advantages to having the problem corrected with surgery.
One benefit is that when performed by a board certified doctor or surgeon, surgical procedures produce much better results. Additionally, along with skin becoming tighter, skin quality is typically improved. Another consideration is that some insurance companies will not pay for non-surgical procedures, seeing them as elective whereas surgical procedures would be covered. Finally, it usually takes multiple non-surgical sessions to achieve the desired results but with surgery, the outcome is immediate and permanent.
Facelifts
Although there are now safer processes used for facelifts, the concept remains much the same. With this, an incision would be made behind a person’s ear, the skin pulled taut, excess skin removed, and the incision closed. Because skin has been pulled tighter once sagging or loose skin has been cut away, the result is a firmer, tighter, and smoother facial appearance.
Liposuction
This is often referred to as a procedure for skin tightening but in fact, it only creates an illusion of a person’s skin being tighter. With liposuction, a special wand is inserted into fatty areas of the body and with suction, fat deposits are extracted. Although a person would be sedated during the procedure, because of the way fat is pulled from the body to give the effect of tighter skin, there is bruising and weeks of healing time afterward.
Cost of Skin Tightening
The actual amount of money a person would pay depends on the type of procedure being performed, the doctor or surgeon involved, the facility in which the procedure would be done, and the number of sessions needed. For instance, on average an individual would expect to pay $110 for a non-surgical skin tightening procedure. While this might not seem like much, remember that multiple sessions would be needed for results to meet or exceed expectations.
On the other hand, the average cost of having surgery performed is $5,000. Although only one surgery would be required in most cases, there is the additional expense of time missed from work to be factored in. Another thing that would affect actual cost of skin tightening has to do with the procedure being performed as an inpatient or outpatient. Because there are so many things to learn and decisions to be made, the first step is meeting with a board certified medical professional.
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