Laser Skin Tightening

You’ve probably heard of laser skin resurfacing, which removes wrinkles and age spots to restore a youthful appearance. That’s not the only option for people seeking a younger look. Lasers are also being used to restore firmness to the skin. Many patients prefer laser skin tightening to traditional face-lifts because of its relative ease and very short recovery period.

Also popularly known as “Thermage” or “Titan”, laser skin firming is a good choice for patients who are just beginning to experience facial sag. People with pronounced sag generally don’t get dramatic results from laser skin tightening. Studies have shown that up to fifty percent of patients get no noticeable results from the procedure, but a small minority do come away looking much younger and fresher.

Laser skin tightening remains a popular procedure because it is non-invasive, it requires only one to three days of downtime following administration, and the cost is much lower than that of a surgical face-lift. The cost is about $2,000 to $2,500 for two sessions, three to six months apart.

During this type of laser skin treatment, the surgeon applies a laser which heats the subdermal layers of the skin while cooling the top layer to prevent burns. The heat penetrates to the collagen below the skin, causing it to contract. This has a tightening effect on the epidermis. Some patients feel pronounced heat when the laser is applied, but this is not considered to be a painful procedure. Sensitive patients are encouraged to take a mild pain medication beforehand.

As with other facial cosmetic procedures, patients should avoid using creams, lotions, or makeup before their laser session. Some bruising, swelling, or redness can be expected after the procedure. Despite the cooling effect of the laser, some patients do experience superficial burns or blisters that require a longer recovery period. Any discomfort lasting more than three days should be discussed with a doctor.

Laser skin tightening is a relatively new procedure, so you won’t find surgeons with decades of experience. Still, make sure your surgeon is board certified, has at least two years of experience, and has done several dozen laser tightening sessions on a daily or weekly basis. Watch out for discount work that might be very costly in terms of pain and disappointment! In cosmetic laser treatment surgery, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for.