Seeking Treatment for Sagging Skin?

There’s a type of skin-tightening treatment taking the aesthetics industry by storm. We’ve been using it for a while, and our patients have seen significant benefits and amazing changes in their skin.

How does it work?  Is it right for you?  Find out in this blog from Innovations Medical.

How Does Skin Get Loose?

As we age, gain weight or have children, our collagen tends to thin and stretch. Just like an elastic waistband, with enough stretch, it will eventually lose its elasticity. In the skin, the stretched collagen results in loose skin. The main areas where this is noticed is in the abdomen, upper arms, and thighs.

What Is Radiofrequency Skin Tightening?

It is precisely what it sounds like; it is a skin-tightening procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to tighten the skin. Radiofrequency energy works by heating water inside the tissue of the treatment area.  Legend Progressive Skin Tightening heats the tissue to 40-42 degrees Celsius in a gradual and controlled manner. Thermage Skin Tightening Treatment targets the water in collagen fibers. Once the water is heated above 40 Celsius, the collagen protein contracts. This gives an immediate result of tightening that studies have shown occurs in over 85% of the time. The new collagen then contracts, and further skin tightens over the next 6-12 months.

Why Would I Want to Heat My Skin and Tissue?

Heating the tissue to 40-42 degrees Celsius has several beneficial effects on the skin. First collagen molecules respond to the heat by getting shorter. Collagen is the main support protein for our skin. Loss and aging of the collagen fibers are responsible for most of the sagging and wrinkling we associate with loose skin and with aging. Shortening collagen with heat generates some immediate skin tightening and this continues to improve over the next 6-12 months.

What Does Radiofrequency Skin Tightening Treat?

Radiofrequency skin tightening helps to target sagging skin. As we age, the body’s production of collagen and elastin slows down, and the collagen and elastin in the skin break down, leaving skin sagging and stretched out. By stimulating the body to produce these vital proteins again, the skin is pulled tighter.

What are the Benefits of Radiofrequency Skin Tightening Procedures?

Heating tissue to 40-42 Celcius generates a beneficial healing response to the skin. Chemical messengers called growth factors are released to begin the healing response. The healing response rejuvenates the skin. Specialized cells from the body are called to remove the shortened collagen and to respond to other changes caused by heating the tissue. Other cells called fibroblasts respond to the growth factors by laying down new collagen. Over time, much more collagen is produced resulting in better supported and healthier skin.

Why Is Radiofrequency Skin Tightening Gaining in Popularity?

One reason the treatment is appealing to more people each year is that it is a non-invasive and relatively gentle way to tighten loose skin. Radiofrequency does not damage the top layer of the skin, as some other skin-rejuvenating procedures can. It is also gaining in popularity because of where it can be used; it can treat the loose skin of the face, neck, and chin, and it is useful to target wrinkles, lines, and creases that develop between the nose and mouth. Radiofrequency skin tightening can also be used on the thighs, midsection or abdomen and upper arms. It is an excellent treatment to not only reduce wrinkles but also improve the appearance of cellulite and help to improve the contours of the body.

How Long Does Radiofrequency Skin Tightening Take?

One other reason the radiofrequency treatment is in demand is that it takes almost no time to perform. Each appointment takes between 20 and 45 minutes. After the procedure, you will have virtually no downtime. You may have a bit redness for up to 24 hours afterward, but no significant discomfort like you can get with some other procedures.

Is Radiofrequency Treatment for Everyone?

Most people can benefit from radiofrequency energy; even those individuals with broken blood vessels and rosacea. Radiofrequency skin tightening treatments will also not negatively impact artificial joints. But, if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electrical device, radiofrequency skin tightening treatments are a no-go.

Want to learn more? Give Innovations Medical a call now at 214-643-8665 to set up a consultation.