Skin tightening methods vary based upon the area of treatment and the desired results. There are many skin tightening options to explore, all of which have their own ins and outs. These procedures can take year of aging off your face and body.
Skin 101
The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It grows, stretches and shrinks with the physical changes of the body over time. There are many factors that influence the skin’s ever-changing shape and appearance. Skin-changing factors include, but are not limited to, aging, weight loss, poor diet and nutrition, dehydration, smoking and prolonged sun exposure.
Treatment Choices
There are natural, non-invasive guidelines to help you maintain firm skin:
- Do not lose weight too fast; lose 1-2 pound a week.
- Exercise, including weight lifting, to prevent lean muscle loss when on a weight loss program.
- Just wait it out but it can take up to two years for skin to naturally tighten after a significant weight loss and then, it is usually not effective without some definitive physical or cosmetic intervention.
- Dietary intake should include protein-rich foods like fish, nuts, tofu, milk, beans and legumes. They all have an abundance of oil, collagen and elastin-forming elements for healthy skin.
- Hydration with plain water is best to help maintain skin elasticity.
- General skin care is important and should include exfoliation and skin hydration with skin tightening creams and lotions, especially those that contain aloe vera, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A and soy protein.
Non-surgical skin tightening methods include:
- Laser skin tightening treatments, which use high energy laser frequencies to enhance natural collagen production and a tighter appearance to the skin.
- Thread lifts, which involve a thin thread woven into the area of the face to be “lifted” and stretched to achieve the desired results.
- Dermal fillers are injected to reduce facial creases and restore fullness to otherwise wrinkled skin.
Surgical skin tightening procedures include:
- Laser skin resurfacing can rejuvenate tired and creased facial skin to give a tighter appearance
- Facelift, which surgically uplifts the skin on the face, jaw and neck areas
- Mini facelift, which is less involved than a full facelift but targets problem areas
- Tummy tuck removes extra skin on the abdomen, and also tightens the underlying muscles for full effect
- Upper arm and thigh skin-tightening treatments are also an option, but most patients concentrate on skin tightening procedures that involve the face and neck areas
Areas for Concern
As with any procedure, skin tightening treatments carry risks. The non-invasive options have fewer side effects, which include swelling, bruising, bleeding, discomfort and skin pigmentation changes. The more invasive surgical procedures carry a higher risk of infection and adverse reactions to anesthesia in addition to the typical swelling, scarring, bruising, bleeding and pain of surgery.
Anticipated Outcomes
After careful evaluation and consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon or cosmetic dermatologist, patients choose the appropriate skin tightening treatment option to attain their desired results. Choose your cosmetic dermatologist after careful research to ensure that it is with great skill and care that the physician performs these procedures.
Whether a non-invasive option or a surgical procedure is performed, most patients need a touch-up procedure as time marches forward. There is no magical procedure to completely stop the hands of time and the effects of gravity.
