Laser skin tightening has taken a procedure that in the past was closely associated with only a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia, extensive cutting, the potential for unsightly scarring, and of course several days to weeks of recuperation time and instead has put it into the realm of a safe and quick procedure that will have patients back on their feet and out and about within a matter of hours! Laser skin tightening may be indicated if you are simply trying to overcome signs of ageing, want to get rid of some sagging that might be the result of weight loss, or if you are seeing cellulite!
The procedure of laser skin tightening is amazing in its simplicity: the outer layer of skin is cooled while the underlying layers are heated and thus tightened. This laser skin treatment process causes the formation of collagen which not only smoothes out the upper layer of skin but also creates a healthy softness and suppleness in the underlying layers. Due to the formation of the collagen, the danger of dips in the skin – previously associated with surgical skin tightening – is greatly reduced, as is the occasional lump that appeared to develop, especially at the area of incision.
Proponents of the process are quick to point out that in addition to eliminating some of the most commonly found unsightly side effects the technique employed in laser skin tightening also does away with the narrowly focused target group that was known to benefit from the procedure. At this point in time, the old as well as the young patient have equal chances of receiving great benefits from the procedures, although there is of course no guarantee that they will be equal in scope, execution or final result. One of the caveats that needs to be considered is the fact that only loose skin will benefit from laser skin tightening – if you have muscles which require tightening or an elevated amount of fat underneath the skin, you will unfortunately not benefit as much from this procedure as perhaps you would the surgical procedure.
Cellulite in particular has been successfully attacked during laser skin tightening procedures, but patients must be aware that more than one session is needed. It is estimated that six treatments are the average amount for patients with average amounts of cellulite. These treatments are spaced two weeks apart to give the skin a chance to heal and for the tightening to take place. It is unfortunate that the amount of time the treatment results will last is not generally predictable. Estimates vary widely, depending on the patient’s skin, her or his ability to follow the physician’s directions, and of course secondary skin treatments the patient is undergoing, such as the use of lotions, medicated balms and other substances.
To truly understand the possibilities of laser skin tightening as opposed to surgical skin tightening, it is vital to meet with the laser surgeon and discuss your options, the number of treatments estimated, and also the average results experienced by patients with similar laser skin tightening procedures having been performed.
