The best non-surgical treatments for firming and tightening loose skin

Non-surgical skin tightening treatments, West Malling, Kent

The processes to achieve lifted, firm skin have long involved highly invasive procedures requiring longer recoveries and post-op care. But with today’s tools and technology, the newest and most sought-after techniques allow you to lift, smooth and tighten loose skin safely, quickly, and comfortably. So, whether you’d like to lift sagging jowls or rejuvenate an ageing neck, here are some of the most effective non-surgical treatments to try.

What causes loose skin?

There are many reasons why the skin starts to droop downwards with age. Firstly, it loses its natural firmness and elasticity with age, and its collagen and elastin become depleted. Then the fat pads – which give the face its lovely youthful curves – shrink as we age, and the bones in the skull start to recede. All of this leads to skin that droops and sags, making us look tired or older than we feel.

Radiofrequency Microneedling (RF)

For tightening and freshening the skin, radiofrequency microneedling – sometimes referred to as RF microneedling — is fast becoming one of the most talked-about tweakments on the market due to its low downtime and impressive results. You may be familiar with the skin tightening benefits of radiofrequency (RF), and you may also have heard about the collagen-boosting, skin-smoothing and rejuvenating benefits of microneedling. Well, radiofrequency microneedling brings those two technologies together in one powerful treatment.

Here at Illuminate, we use Profound RF, which has been clinically proven to create all three skin fundamentals: up to 5x more elastin, up to 2x more collagen, and increased hyaluronic acid. It has FDA clearance for the face and body, and just one treatment is required to achieve lasting results. It also has a 100% response rate for facial wrinkles, and its effects have been proven in eight clinical studies.

Ultrasound

With the right device, Ultrasound lifts, sculpts and tightens skin from the inside out – without surgery and with minimal to no downtime. It is designed to lift the upper and lower face, under the chin, neck and eyebrows, and improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the décolletage.

The Sofwave device is an innovative, non-surgical and non-invasive technology that uses SUPERB™ Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam Technology designed to minimize downtime and optimize patient convenience. The treatment aims to heat skin tissue at different depths, triggering a natural healing response, and leading to the formation of new collagen.

Laser

Laser can be used to treat the surface of your skin, usually to make it smoother, reduce wrinkles, and remove sun damage. A laser uses a precisely focused beam of light, a powerful tool that smooths the top layers of the skin to soften fine lines and deep wrinkles and reduce the appearance of large pores. They’re excellent for improving the overall skin texture, but don’t expect any major lifting or firming. If you’re concerned about moderate skin laxity, RF microneedling or Ultrasound may be better options.

Facial fillers

You can reduce some of the sagging with dermal fillers, but to tighten the skin itself, energy-based devices are usually the most effective option. However, some of these hyaluronic acid-based products not only restore lost volume, but also lift sagging areas on the face, based on the product used and the injection technique. For example, HArmonyCa is a novel hybrid injectable which combines hyaluronic acid with calcium hydroxyapatite, a potent collagen stimulator. They can be used to help restore collagen levels and rebuild the appearance of better bone structure in an ageing face to support hanging tissues to allow a more pleasing conformation of the face.

What about surgical treatments?

A surgical facelift will, of course, lift the skin immediately and may be the most appropriate option for severe skin laxity. However, increasingly people are looking for alternatives with less downtime. The non-surgical options mentioned above can provide dramatic improvements to those hoping to rejuvenate mild to moderate skin sagging.

Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.