How It Works!
Sometimes our skin ages faster than we want it to. It loses elasticity, it gets muddy looking, it breaks out, it gets wrinkly – it goes crazy. In fact, we lose about 1% of our elasticity every year after the age of 30. Collage breakdown is the main culprit. Grrr.
With both our VBeam Perfecta and our GentleYag, we are able to deliver a specific wave length of light into the skin, affecting a very specific area. The result is that collagen is revived and it gets back to doing what it is designed to do – make you look young. The FDA allows us to call our laser skin tightening procedures non-surgical lifts.
There is no down time with our skin tightening treatments.
You can get a skin tightening treatment on your lunch hour and return to work (if you want J). Your skin may look a little red, like you’ve had a nice workout. There is typically no swelling or bruising.
You can use laser skin tightening on any part of your body:
Face, neck, chest, breasts, arms, stomach, or legs. A series of treatments is usually recommended. Results can often be seen within a few days, and overall results, once you’ve completed the series of treatments, typically last about four years.
The hand piece is moving over the entire face, pulse by pulse.
Why our lasers are the best:
Lasers of various wavelengths and other heat-delivering technologies have been marketed specifically for wrinkle reduction, including Thermage and Fraxel. However, the versatility of the high-powered GentleYAG, including its efficacy for skin tightening offers a superior and consistent result for a fraction of the cost, level of discomfort, and down time. There are a variety of setting and parameters that can be used, depending on the age of the skin, the depth of the wrinkles, and amount of discoloration, and the loss of elasticity.
- Shave the area to be treated the day prior to your laser treatment is recommended.
- Avoid direct sun exposure (being in the sun without sunscreen) on the area(s) you’re having treated for seven days prior to your treatment.
- Don’t use Retin A on the area(s) to be treated for seven days prior to your treatment.
- Finally, if you are using Accutane, please let us know prior to scheduling your appointment.
During the Treatment:
If you’ve never been to our office before, you’ll have some paperwork to complete, including a medical history, skin type chart, and laser consent form. This takes just a few minutes. Once our technician has reviewed your history and has answered all your questions, we’ll escort you to the laser room. You’ll need to take clothing off any area we’re treating. We’ll ensure there is no hair present on the area(s) we’re treating, then wipe the area to be treated with a wash cloth or baby wipe. We’ll calibrate the laser for your procedure, then you and the technician will don the appropriate safety goggles. Let the zapping begin! Typically, the laser pulses each section of your face with a 10mm spot size. Several passes are made over the treated area with the laser.
Length of Time for the Treatment:
A typical treatment on your face will take about 25 minutes. Larger areas, like upper thighs, can take longer.
After the Treatment:
After a skin tightening treatment, the treated area will usually look a little flush, like you’ve just come off the tennis court with a victory. Your skin will be sensitive to the sun, so you’ll apply sunscreen before you leave our office. We have sunscreen for your use, so don’t worry about bringing in your own (though you can if you want). We also apply a product called Vitaclude, manufactured by Sanitas, which is like Neosporin for a laser treatment. It is part of a post-laser kit which we recommend you purchase, particularly if you get a treatment on your face. It contains a sensitive skin cleanser (your skin is sensitive now), as well as two moisturizers that are designed to help facilitate the healing. You will be able to go about your life after the treatment, and you can shower, apply makeup, etc. In other words, there’s no down time after a skin tightening treatment.
