Skin Tightening

Why is collagen so important?

The key to our laser and RF skin tightening treatments is the initial collagen remodeling in the treatment areas, coupled with an increase in the production of new collagen. Why is this so important? Collagen is the protein responsible for providing the skin with structural support. As we age our body produces one additional percentage point less collagen every year after our 20th birthday. Do the math — when you’re 50 your body is producing basically one third less collagen. That’s why your skin starts to loosen and sag.

You can address this sagging with a surgical facelift, but many people aren’t prepared for surgery and the lengthy recovery it entails. That’s why our non-surgical skin tightening treatments have become so popular at Skin & Laser Surgery Center of New England.

“Dr. Khatri and his staff are excellent. I have had numerous skin procedures taken care of by Dr. Khatri, his expertise, professionalism, and kindness are the best. I would highly recommend Dr. Khatri and The Skin and Laser Surgery Center of New England to anyone.”

– Deb L.

“Dr.Khatri is amazing. He is very knowledgeable and has many years of experience as a doctor. He has traveled all over the world which has exposed him to a wide variety of clinical studies. He’s an expert in his field and is very professional. The staff is very friendly & attentive. Beautiful office, very clean.”

– Karleth T.

How does laser skin tightening work?

In this procedure, the single wavelength of laser energy is set to penetrate directly through the skin’s outer surface, the epidermis, down into the dermis (the skin’s second layer). The dermis is where collagen provides the structural framework for the surface skin. The laser causes two effects in the dermis. First, it makes the collagen in the area contract, immediately tightening the skin. Second, the heating causes fibroblasts to react as if a wound has occurred. Their reaction is to produce new collagen to send to the perceived wound, although the skin isn’t actually wounded in the least. This increased collagen production provides further skin tightening for several months.

What is radiofrequency skin tightening?

If you replace laser energy with radiofrequency energy, you have RF skin tightening. Because radiofrequency energy is so easily tolerated by the body and skin, higher levels of energy can be used without worrying about damage to the epidermis.

How does radiofrequency skin tightening work?

The mechanism of skin tightening is the same as with laser energy. But with these procedures, when the RF energy penetrates into the dermis layer it converts to heat. This triggers the same instant collagen remodeling followed by new collagen production that occurs with laser skin tightening.

The true difference between the two energy forms is that the surface skin is less susceptible to damage with RF energy compared with laser energy. This is not a problem at the Skin & Laser Surgery Center as our aestheticians have extensive training in both methods of energy delivery.

Skin tightening Treatment

Laser Skin Resurfacing can be used to tighten the skin but there are other non-invasive lasers and radio-frequency devices that can be used to make the skin tighter. Laser liposuction is also used to makes the skin tighter especially on the neck for jowls and double chin. We have several laser and radio-frequency devices that we use as a stand-alone skin tightening procedures.

Is laser skin tightening and radiofrequency skin tightening safe?

At Skin & Laser Surgery Center of New England, our laser and RF skin tightening procedures all have FDA clearance. These have proven to be safe, painless options for rejuvenating loose skin across your body. Both energy options simply penetrate the epidermis to reach the dermis layer, where the collagen heating and stimulation is effective. They don’t harm the outer skin at all.

The only aftereffects can be some minor redness and possible minor swelling on the treatment locations. This is true of both laser and RF energy treatments. This passes usually within a day.

Are these laser and RF skin tightening treatments as effective as a surgical facelift?

You may have heard promises from some practitioners of results equal to that of a surgical facelift. Of course, those are absurd claims. A surgical facelift has two main components: it tightens and elevates the underlying musculature support system, and it removes excess skin. Obviously, there is no way non-invasive energy skin tightening treatments can match those changes.

However, if you have only mild laxity in areas of your skin, certainly not enough to merit a surgical procedure, these are great procedures for tightening the skin. Our skin tightening treatments can improve areas such as your jowls, delivering slimmer, tighter contours. And they do so without any recovery or downtime.

How long can I expect my skin tightening results to last?

We find that our laser and RF skin tightening patients experience tighter, younger-looking skin for up to two years after their treatments. This can be extended with some touch-up treatments over those two years. At that point, the body will have stopped producing new collagen and its overall production continues to decline. But another series of treatments will maintain your results. We have patients continue these treatments as maintenance to keep up with the decline in their body’s natural collagen production.