A Beginner’s Guide to Laser Skin Tightening

What is it?

Laser Skin Tightening, simply put, is the tightening of the skin on your face, neck or parts of your body, using lasers to produce heat. It can be used to treat a variety of issues, and some of the most common include:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Loose jowls and sagging skin around the neck and jawline
• Drooping brows
• Under-eye bags
• Sun damage
• Loose skin on the abdomen, following pregnancy.

Once we hit thirty, the production of collagen and elastin in our bodies begins to slow – and these are the proteins we need to keep our skin looking plump, firm and toned.

As our skin slackens, many people find their newly saggier appearance lowers confidence and self-esteem, Laser Skin Tightening can help. It’s one of the most effective methods available for tightening loose, wrinkled skin, as the lasers target energy into the hypodermis (the fatty, deeper layer of our skin) to stimulate elastin and collagen production. This improves the outward appearance of our skin’s texture, restoring a more youthful, firmer and lifted look.

 

How can it help me?

Laser Skin Tightening is non-invasive and can create a brighter, tighter and younger-looking appearance by stimulating the production of new skin cells and collagen.

It can be used as a preventative measure by those in their 20s who though might not yet require tightening, wish to get ahead of potential sagging skin later in life.

The procedure can help to “bank” collagen, meaning your skin is less likely to loosen later on, and postponing the need for Botox, anti-wrinkle injections or more drastic, invasive surgical lifting.

Since Laser Skin Tightening is a less aggressive option than laser resurfacing or chemical peels, the skin rejuvenation procedure can be carried out with little to no pain, only mild side effects and no downtime.

The results are longer-lasting than at-home alternatives, such as facials, anti-ageing and firming creams that claim to have similar effects – but none of these so-called “quick-fix” solutions are capable of penetrating the deeper layers of skin where the real magic happens.

Since Laser Skin Tightening is safe and non-invasive, our lasers are suitable for all skin types, and almost all areas of the body – meaning that the treatment can be used to target areas of skin with unsightly cellulite, loose skin on the upper arms, loose skin on the thighs, neck, hands and even the abdomen.

 

How does it work?

At the Cambridge Laser Clinic, we use two types of lasers for our skin tightening procedures: Radiofrequency and Near-Infrared Energy.

Radiofrequency heats the skin on a superficial level to trigger collagen production, and is often compared to ultrasound treatments as it can feel very hot, but not uncomfortably so – a little like a hot stone massage.

This type of procedure is gradual, and so although you may be finished in an hour, you’ll need several treatments for the process to be completed – we usually recommend six, and spaced apart.

Laser Skin Tightening with Radiofrequency uses invisible radio wave energy. This energy passes through the skin into the deep fatty layer, and slowly heats the tissues beneath. As it does this, it alters the collagen fibre that already exists below to remodel it and encourage further production of more collagen and elastin by disrupting the fat cells, which the body then reabsorbs – leading to a more youthful appearance.

 

Near-Infrared Energy works in a similar way, using safe and targeted light to penetrate the surface of the skin and improve the architecture below. By stimulating the formation of new collagen and new cell growth, skin elasticity and resilience is improved, effectively bolstering the skin against the signs of ageing by making the surface appear smoother and tighter.

During your initial consultation, your medical practitioner will discuss with you which option is more appropriate for your needs, though both approaches are relatively painless and have no downtime.

 

What are the benefits?

For younger patients who are seeking a preventative measure to avoid the signs of ageing in later life, Laser Skin Tightening can help to “bank” collagen in the skin, reducing the need for more treatments down the line.

For patients in their 30s and beyond – when collagen and elastin production has begun to slow – Laser Skin Tightening can help to reshape the face and body using proven laser technology to contour a once-more youthful appearance.

It is also an effective treatment for those who have recently lost weight or had a baby, as it can target stretch marks, the sagging abdomen common in women post-pregnancy, and improve the appearance of cellulite for firmer, tighter skin.

 

How long does it last?

Laser Skin Tightening is an innovative and incredibly effective treatment for tightening the skin around the face, neck and most parts of the body.

You are likely to notice improvements after only one treatment, and this will continue to improve over the days and weeks following your session. This is because the body takes a little time for the skin cells to regenerate, and for the production of collagen to be stimulated fully. As such, we tend to recommend more than one treatment.

The effects of this procedure can last anywhere from 12 to 18 months, however, you may also require additional maintenance treatments every six months to keep your new, tighter and firmer skin looking its best. This way, the initial result can be maintained indefinitely – and you can have maintenance treatments more often if required.