Wrinkles and sagging or crepey skin naturally appear as your body ages. With age, your skin loses its ability to make elastin and collagen, which give your skin elasticity and firmness.
In recent years, many nonsurgical procedures have been developed to help tighten the skin on the face or elsewhere on your body using radiofrequency, ultrasound, and lasers. While these treatments are nonsurgical, they should only be performed by a licensed professional and under the supervision of a doctor.
What Are the Types of Skin Tightening Procedures?
The following treatments use devices to deliver targeted energy to heat deeper layers of your skin and trigger collagen and elastin production.
Ultrasound skin tightening
A micro-focused ultrasound is used to send heat deep into your skin, up to 5 millimeters below the surface. This can tighten and lift skin on your face, neck, and upper chest, helping smooth wrinkles.
Results from your ultrasound therapy can take up to six months to appear, though you may see improvements after just one treatment.
Radiofrequency (RF) therapy
As with ultrasound skin tightening, a handheld device is used to send heat into your skin to trigger collagen production. Unlike ultrasound, radiofrequency targets the outer layer of your skin, called the epidermis. It is FDA-approved to treat the face, neck, body, and hands. RF treatments can be combined with microneedling to treat deeper layers of skin. In either case, results appear gradually.
While many people see results from only one RF treatment, it may take about two to six treatments to get the desired results. Results can last up to three years with the right skin care regimen.
Laser treatment
Here, handheld lasers send heat deep into the skin, destroying the epidermis to reach the underlying dermis. Laser treatments have proven to be particularly effective on the skin of the belly and upper arms. Most people receive three to five treatments.
Intense pulsed light (IPL)
Multiple wavelengths of light are delivered to deep layers of your skin. In most cases, multiple treatments are required.
IPL is often combined with radiofrequency. The RF treatment enables the doctor to target deeper layers of your skin. The IPL allows them to treat a larger amount of skin and a variety of skin conditions. IPL treatments are usually not recommended for people with tanned or darker skin.
Fibroblast skin tightening
Fibroblast skin tightening, or plasma fibroblast skin tightening, uses a small pen-like device to put small holes in your skin. This activates cells called fibroblasts to try to repair or regenerate your skin.
It is a noninvasive technique and has a short recovery time. You’ll see small scabs that will fall off in about a week or so, revealing smoother, tighter skin.
Note: The FDA has approved several of these plasma pens used for fibroblast skin tightening. But it has not approved the actual procedure itself.
What Are the Side Effects of Skin Tightening?
All of these procedures are done in a doctor’s office and should take less than an hour. You should be able to resume normal activity within a day of treatment, and you can take over-the-counter painkillers to treat mild discomfort. Their side effects are generally mild and may include:
- Redness
- Numbness
- Bruising
- Discomfort
Alternative Skin Tightening Treatments
There are several alternatives to the nonsurgical treatments above. You may prefer to use creams or receive dermal injections.
Botox (botulinum toxin type A). When injected into certain muscles, Botox keeps them from contracting. This makes your skin appear smoother. Results take up to three days to appear and last several months.
Soft tissue fillers. These injections include fat, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. They plump your skin and smooth wrinkles. The effects are temporary.
Over-the-counter and prescription topicals. Topical creams and ointments generally result in mild improvements at best. Look for products that contain retinoids such as adapalene, tazarotene, or tretinoin for the best results. While it can take several months, many people notice an improvement in fine lines and wrinkles after continued use.
Other ingredients that may help treat or prevent wrinkles include:
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Niacinamide
- Green tea extracts
- Peptides
- Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)
- Retinol
Finally, applying moisturizer to your skin will also help plump it up, making it look younger. Using sunscreen regularly will also help you prevent skin damage.
Takeaways
If you’re looking for nonsurgical ways to tighten your skin, consider ultrasound, radiofrequency (RF) treatments, laser therapy, intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, and fibroblast therapy. Each method works by heating the skin at different depths to trigger natural tightening and will improve elasticity, often with little to no downtime.
Over-the-counter creams and prescription topicals may provide mild, temporary benefits, including those with retinoids, peptides, or antioxidants. But there is no miracle in a jar, as they don’t penetrate deeply enough to match in-office treatments.
Lifestyle choices such as strength training, a healthy diet, and sun protection can help maintain skin firmness over time.
Skin Tightening FAQs
What is the best way to tighten skin?
It depends on what part of your body you want to tighten. If you are looking for nonsurgical ways to tighten your skin, you can try ultrasound, laser, radiofrequency, intense pulsed light (IPL), and fibroblast skin tightening.
Does skin tightening really work?
Yes. Nonsurgical skin tightening treatments can help improve the elasticity of your skin. Some therapies include ultrasound, radiofrequency (RF), laser treatments, intense pulsed light (IPL), and fibroblast treatments.
Does loose skin ever tighten back up?
Yes. You can use a variety of methods for tightening your skin, including diet and muscle-strengthening exercise, noninvasive medical procedures, and surgery.
Do skin tightening creams work?
Unfortunately, the American Academy of Dermatology says if you are looking for a miracle in a jar, you likely won’t find it. It says you’ll likely see little to no skin-tightening results from skin care products. If you do, the firming results will be only slightly noticeable. A cream or lotion cannot penetrate the skin deeply enough to lift or tighten.
Can skin tighten naturally?
Yes. You can tighten areas of your body with muscle-strength training. Other lifestyle changes include eating a healthy-balanced diet, staying hydrated, and some vitamins and supplements, which can improve the elasticity and overall appearance of your skin. Your age, genetics, and weight loss will also factor into how your skin tightens.
