Everyone likes to keep certain secrets. Our true age is one of those secrets. Unfortunately, our skin likes to tell everyone exactly how old we truly are. In order to keep others from finding out our true age, we turn to skin tightening procedures. By contracting our sagging skin and filling the cells with healthy collagen, we are able to look younger.
Understanding Skin Tightening
The process for skin tightening varies by the treatment method. Each has a different procedure for pulling skin tighter. Some also offer collagen induction to help plump up the skin by using tiny needles to inject the ingredient into the body. The more effective methods do both – tighten and plump the skin.
Various Ways to Tighten Skin
There are a lot of different choices when it comes to tightening your skin. Every method has it’s own costs, risks, and associated side effects:
- Lotions, creams, and serums: The least expensive of all treatments, topical ointments are available for personal use at home or in a clinic. They also have the least amount of risk, other than potential allergic reactions.
Collagen induction. This method involves multiple injections into the skin using needles to deliver the collagen deep into the skin. It has a lower cost than many treatments. The risk is moderate, including allergic reaction and infection. Side effects include reddening and itchy at the site of the injections. - Cosmetic surgery. The most risky of all methods, cosmetic surgery is also the most expensive. Risks include complications from anaesthesia, infection, and poorly performed surgery. Side effects are numerous and include swelling, redness, and a long recovery period.
- Laser procedures: This method uses medical laser equipment to force the skin to contract, or tighten, while stimulating the skin to produce collagen to naturally heal the cells. The lasers of today are far more advanced than a decade ago, so the risk of being burned is now minimal. Side affects include flushed skin and a sensation of heat where the treatment was applied.
Deciding Which Treatment Option is best for you:
Before choosing a treatment, you need to look at the condition of your skin. How advanced are the wrinkles and sagging? For the mildest signs of aging, topical creams might be the best answer. With moderate aging signs, laser procedures are a highly effective option. If the condition is severe, plastic surgery may be the only choice.
The Best Candidates for Clinical Treatments
While it would be great if everyone had the best results every time they were treated, that doesn’t happen. Several things affect the outcome of every procedure. How old the client is plays a major factor. Prime candidates for most treatments fall into the age range of 30 to 60 years old. The skin needs to be healthy and in fairly good condition and free of breakouts in the area being treated. Plus the client needs to be healthy at the time of treatment.
Reputation is Everything
Don’t forget to look at the reputation of the doctor or clinic you are looking at seeking a treatment from. Visit their website to see what they offer and read the reviews. Then research them to verify they have a good reputation. These steps are necessary to finding a good clinic where you will receive a great treatment. Remember to seek referrals from your own physician or dermatologist as well.
