Skin Tightening - Patients ask, Dr. Ringpfeil answers
Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about Skin Tightening or to ask Dr. Franziska Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.
Philadelphia and Mainline Center of Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery
Skin Tightening
Facial skin tightening with Infini - after two treatmetns
Treatment Options
| Infini® | CO2 Laser | DeepFX® | Titan | Thermage | Nd:YAG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results | ++++ | ++++ | +++ | ++ | + | + |
| downtime | 1 days | 7-14 days | 2-3 days | None | None | None |
| # Treatments | 2-3 | 1 | 1 | 1-3 | 1-3 | 3-6 |
| Lasting results | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | Unknown | 2-3 years | Unknown |
| Avg. total cost | $2000-3000 | $3000 | $3000 | $4000 | $4000 | $2000 |
Treatments: Surgical revision, CO2 laser, Deep FX, Titan, Thermage , Nd:YAG, fractionated lasers
What is laser skin tightening
Laser skin tightening is a minimally or non-invasive process that uses an infrared light source (a laser) to tighten skin by heating the collagen under the skin's surface, causing the skin to contract (tighten).
Neck - Skin Tightening
Extremely effective treatmeant with Infini®
- Infini® - breakthrough technology (fractionated RF microneedling)
- Quick recovery - minimal downtime
- Creates new collagen to smooth wrinkles and improve aging and sagging skin
Skin tightening is a unique option for facial and body rejuvenation that produces dramatic results. Skin tightening effectively reduces the appearance of loose skin or fine and intermediate wrinkles for a smoother and more youthful appearance. Sometimes, surgical correction (face lift, tummy tuck etc) is the only option. However, most of the time, laxity of the skin is mild or moderate, and a less invasive treatment can achieve the desire results.
Who can benefit from skin tightening
People who start noticing loose skin in their cheeks, neck, chest, abdomen, buttocks, legs, and arms as a result of aging or weight loss could consider skin tightening treatment. Laser skin tightening is appropriate for men and women of all skin types and skin tones who wish to achieve dramatic results without painful surgery and lengthy recovery.
Skin tightening expected results
Skin type, body area, and downtime play a role in the outcome. Also, various laser technologies provide different degrees of skin tightening. In general, the more aggressive the treatment the more noticeable the results are.
CO2 laser treatment is the most aggressive approach and is usually used when skin tightening and skin rejuvenation are desired. It delivers the most drastic results. It is effective for the treatment of the face, and neck in fair and Asian skin.
A newer technology that is based on the CO2 laser is fractionated CO2 laser (DeepFX). It delivers similar results for skin tightening with greatly reduced downtime. In addition, it treats effectively other body areas such as the chest and the lax abdomen after pregnancy.
Titan laser can treat all body parts. In comparison to CO2 laser treatments, the downtime is much shorter but it requires multiple treatments to achieve substantial results. Results can last up to 2 years and additional treatment can follow to maintain the desired look.
Nd:YAG, Thermage™ ( radiofrequency), ReFirme™ are also used for tightening lose skin. These products use lower energy levels to deliver reduced patient discomfort. Consequently, multiple treatments are required to achieve significant results.
Skin tightening down time
If the 7-14 day-downtime of the conventional CO2 laser is unacceptable, fractionated CO2 with a downtime of 3-6 days may be used with minimal sacrifice of results.
Nd:YAG, Titan, Thermage™ do not harm the surface of the skin. Therefore, those treatments do not involve downtime. However, allocating time for multiple treatments should be considered.
Skin tightening pricing
Skin tightening cost depends on the desired results (number of treatments) and the size of the treated area and can vary between $500 to $7000.
CO2 laser or fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing require usually a single treatment with an average cost of $3000.
Thermage™ and Titan treatment cost structure is similar. A single session usually costs around $1500. As two to three treatments are usually needed, a patient should expect an average cost of around $4000.
Is there anything you can do to improve the bags under the eyes without surgery?
hello im 21 years old and getting ready for a bodybuilding contest. I have lost about 60lbs and have some loose skin on my lower abdomin. What do you feel is the best non invasive procedure for this problem. Also my show is in june do you think i could see improvements with any of these procedures by then?
In my best judgment and considering that you are 21 years old, your body should be able to tighten the skin up with regular toning exercises. If you had these extra 60 lbs for many years, it can take some time to reduce the lax skin. If progress is not fast enough, you could consider out several radiofrequency treatments (Thermage) or skin tightening laser (Titan) treatments to bridge this time.
Hello,
I am very interested in the MiXto SX Fractional Laser Skin Tightening For Loose Skin of the Elbows. First, is this something that you have available? I would be very interested in the loose skin on my elbows, and wrinkles on my knees.. please advise the best treatment options. Thank you in advance.
The Mixto SX is a fractional CO2 laser that sets itself apart from the gold-standard CO2 fractional lasers by lesser discomfort during the procedure through a unique way of delivering the microspots and due to lesser energy delivered in each spot.
Significant skin tightening is achieved with all deep reaching CO2 lasers, however, even the more superficial CO2 lasers, such as the Mixto SX can achieve some degrees of tightening. Most people will not elect to tighten the skin on the elbows and knees with a fractional CO2 laser due to the length of immediate downtime (scabbing may last as long as 2-3 weeks on the knees and elbows) and redness that can last 2-4 months. However, most people will tolerate the treatment of stretch marks on the abdomen with CO2 laser technology because this area is easily concealed by clothing for several months during the year.
An Nd:YAG laser is typically recommended to tighten skin in non-facial areas. Several treatments are usually necessary to deliver results. These will usually last for 2-3 years, at which time the treatment can be repeated.
what happens if you get pregnant after a procedure on your stomach? My current extra skin is from a pregnancy so in the event that I get pregnant again will I have the same issue?
Yes, that is expected.
I am a dark skinned African american female. Of the treatments mentioned above, which would be safest for my skin. I have loose skin on my abdomen and am looking for a more non invasive procedure to tighten the skin in this area.
Radiofrequency, ultrasound and Nd:YAG laser are non-invasive and are suitable for all skin colors and ethnicities. They deliver subtle results when used on the body.
I am an african american female with stretch marks on my stomach. I have had them for 23 yr and want to know if skin tighting will eliminate them or make them less noticeable.
Unfortunately, non-ablative skin tightening techniques using radio frequency, ultrasound or Nd:YAG laser will do very little to stretch marks. CO2 laser treatments can improve stretch marks but do not eradicate them. While the settings used to tighten skin with a CO2 laser are “colorblind” and therefore safe in all skin colors, CO2 laser treatments are ablative and require healing time. In my opinion, an optimal treatment is not yet available.
Titan treatments use infrared light to heat the skin and produce collagen.
There can be minimal to moderate discomfort during the procedure. Results after 1-2 treatments can last some time and on the face, the jowls seem to respond best. However, these are not your concern. You are presenting a complex scenario. I am uncertain that there is a perfect solution that fits your expectations and needs, particularly in view of the anticipated surgery next year. It may be safest to continue the time consuming topicals.
Dr. Ringpfeil,
What procedure do you recommend for turkey neck—-that sagging skin in the throat area? Also, what can you do for jowls? Are fillers the only answer?
A lower face and neck lift by a trained plastic or reconstructive surgeon is most appropriate for lax skin on the neck and will also correct jowls. Depending on the degree of jowl formation, a liquid face lift (using fillers) can provide great results, however it will fail to address the lax neck skin.
I’m a 30 year old white female. I’ve had four children and breast feed them all so my large breasts are sagging. Have you considered or previously done any of these laser skin tightening techniques on breasts to provide an noninvasive lift? What are your thoughts on this concept?
The current laser technologies for skin tightening are CO2, erbium (FRAXEL) and Nd:YAG. Non-laser technologies are ultrasound (only available for face and neck) and radiofrequency. Each of these will take several sessions to achieve some tightening but I do not predict that either can achieve a lift due to the gravity of the fatty breast tissue itself. A mastopexy is the best procedure for your quest.
Hi doctor!
I’m 33 and currently considering laser skin tightening however, I am currently pregnant. How long after delivery do you recommend patients waiting before getting these types of procedures?
You could start non-surgical skin tightening immediately after delivery yet I recommend to wait 6 months to take advantage of your skin’s capacity to firm up if your focus is the trunk or thighs. Facial procedures can be started any time after delivery.