Laser Clinic MD

Skin Tightening: Thermage & Laser Treatments

Skin tightening treatments are usually performed in a med spa or laser clinic by an aesthetician under the direct supervision of a physician skin tightening treatments don’t require much down time for the patient. While devices used for skin tightening do vary in their modality; the procedures do not require topical anesthetics. These procedures are typically performed in monthly intervals and results can be seen gradually over several months. Because of the gradual improvement, it is important to obtain before photos of the intended treatment area(s) before the procedure, with subsequent photos taken immediately prior to performing each consecutive treatment. A final results photo should be taken one month after the last treatment. This photo journal can show the patient their improvement.

Nonsurgical Skin Tightening Devices

The source of energy used to produce thermal damage can be either radio waves, infrared light, lower wavelength laser or any combination of the three. The intention is to stimulate increased collagen production.

Light wavelengths, specifically in the infrared spectrum, are successfully used to promote tightening of the skin by heating the dermis. This in turn initiates the body’s natural healing response. This type of treatment is called “selective thermal damage”. When the dermis becomes “damaged”, the body will begin to heal itself by encouraging additional collagen production and the rebuilding of the collagen that already exists in the tissue. As the layer of collagen builds upon itself, the underlying tissues of the skin contract, resulting in a tighter appearance to the skin. Most infrared devices deliver their light source in a single grid. This results in a large area of controlled thermal damage. The Palomar LuxDeepIR Fractional is one device on the market that delivers light in an array of columns into the target area of tissue and leaves the surrounding areas untouched. The company says that this type of technology reduces patients’ pain and also promotes quicker healing time as the new developing areas of collagen can attach to and build upon the untouched areas. When using the radio frequency devices, there also is a variance from one source of energy to bipolar devices constituting two wavelengths.

Why is collagen important to Laser Skin Tightening?

Collagen is an important protein and structural component of skin. Large amounts of collagen are contained in the dermis. Collagen fibers build a strong mesh responsible for maintaining the texture, strength and resilience of skin. As we get older, our collagen fibers start to break down and the epidermal layer thins. The results are visible sagging, wrinkles and folds. Even though fibroblasts can produce more collagen fibers, the human body’s ability to do so decreases as we age.

Skin Tightening Results

Although not comparable to plastic surgery, on average, the most dramatic results of laser skin tightening treatments are seen in the neck and jaw line where the dermal layer is thinner. However, results are not seen until months after one treatment or more. Results are also varied depending on differences in skin texture and thickness and a patient’s lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, sleep patterns). Each device states different claims of how painful the procedure is, so some patients may choose to use a topical anesthetic or an analgesic to decrease pain. Side effects may include edema, erythema, or skin blanching immediately following treatment. Rarer side effects of laser skin tightening may include blistering, skin depressions and even slight pigment changes. Post treatment skin care can greatly affect the recovery time from skin tightening.