Nonsurgical Facial Skin Tightening

Nonsurgical facial skin tightening treatments are becoming more popular, and many people are interested in learning how they can address their skin laxity concerns. Aesthetic patients specifically complain about their drooping lower face or sagging neck; however, certain areas of the body are also of concern to some. The increased interest in nonsurgical skin tightening options has led to improvements in technology as well as better results for patients. There are several different modalities currently being used, and they include radiofrequency (RF), micro-focused ultrasound (MFU), high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), lasers, infra-red (IR), microneedling, or a combination of these. Patient selection and expectations are very important aspects of the consultation and treatment plan because results vary widely. Some patients may not appreciate significant differences after treatment until they compare treatment results to photographs taken prior to treatment. A potential disappointment for patients who want to see immediate results is the length of time it generally takes to note improvement in skin laxity. In many cases, 3–6 months is required to stimulate collagen production and subsequent skin tightening however, some note improvements sooner. Younger patients with mild skin laxity tend to demonstrate more noticeable results, while older patients with higher BMI and moderate skin laxity may notice less improvement. Considerations of determining appropriate candidates for skin tightening are the age of the patient, quality of the skin, and amount of subcutaneous fat. The cost of the procedure is also a consideration. Unfortunately, patients with moderate to severe skin laxity in the lower face and neck area are the exact patient category who need and want skin tightening but usually enjoy the least improvement without surgical intervention.