Non-Invasive Skin Tightening: What Are Your Best Options?

Dermatologist Singapore, Dermatology Clinic

Reversing the clock and attaining younger-looking, firm, and vibrant skin is something that women could only obtain through a traditional facelift.

However, that has completely changed with the rise of non-invasive skin tightening treatments, including energy-based devices and dermal fillers which can promise to take years off your age without going under the knife.

As compared to taking collagen supplements and applying over-the-counter creams that do not have any substantial scientific evidence to back them up – here is why non-invasive skin tightening treatments are your best bet to get results!

Why skin laxity occurs

As we grow older, our body starts to lose two important proteins: collagen and elastin.

The building blocks to keep our skin looking fresh, firm, and taut – we start to lose these precious resources by the time we reach our early 20s, where we begin to produce 1% less collagen with each passing year. This can be further exacerbated by external and lifestyle factors such as heavy sun exposure and smoking.

Unless we do something to slow down the process, our body has no way of replenishing the collagen and elastin levels fast enough to overcome this natural aging process.

The consequence is skin that is prone to stretching and sagging – resulting in a lowered brow, fine lines and wrinkles, and crepey-looking skin that can make us look dull, tired, and older than we really are.

Stimulating collagen production is key

In order to delay this process, we need to start producing collagen and elastin the moment we start to notice the first signs of aging and laxity – and the best way to do this is to stimulate the body’s natural collagen production process.

Otherwise known as neocollagenesis – we can trigger our body to make more collagen by tricking it to believe that it is injured, and the body will then send growth factors to start remodeling collagen at the site of the injury.

The SMAS layer

In addition to triggering our body to produce more collagen, it is just as important to consider which layers within the skin this is being done.

The skin is made up of three key layers: the epidermis, dermis, and the subcutaneous fat. Deep to this on the face is the superficial musculo-aponeurotic system (SMAS) layer. Whilst each of the layers hold important functions, it is the deepest SMAS layer that helps to provide the “anchor” for the skin and give it shape.

Despite the SMAS layer being abundant in collagen and elastin, it is also where skin laxity starts to occur as we grow older. Because of how deep it is within the skin – traditionally, only a surgical facelift operation is able to effectively target this layer.

However, a non-invasive skin tightening treatment known as ultherapy is able to reach the SMAS layer – sans the knife and incisions.

Ultherapy: a non-invasive skin tightening and lifting treatment

Ultherapy is the only FDA-approved, non-invasive procedure that helps to sculpt and lift the neck, chin and décolletage area, while also improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Using ultrasound energy to generate a thermal effect deep under the skin – it works by triggering immediate tissue contraction and kickstarts the body’s process in generating new collagen – without damaging the skin’s surface.

What makes ultherapy different is that it allows the doctor to see, in real-time, which layers of tissues they are treating to ensure that each shot is precisely delivered to the areas that need it most. With the help of visual feedback, your doctor can also prevent hitting any bones or major blood vessels to minimize the risks and side effects of the treatment.

With three different transducers (1.5mm, 3.0mm, and 4.5mm) to choose from – doctors are able to deliver energy to multiple layers under the skin and customize the treatment to each individual.

The entire process is a comfortable experience for majority of patients, as oral analgesics are typically administered along with topical anesthesia before the start of the treatment. In just one session, you can see natural-looking results that continues to improve over the next 3 – 6 months, and can last up to 1.5 years. There is minimal downtime, and while you may experience some slight redness, swelling, and an “aching” feeling that lasts temporarily – this is often a good indication that the treatment is working!

With over 50 clinical studies and 90 peer-reviewed papers showing the safety profile and benefits of ultherapy – it is no wonder that 1.5 million treatments have been done worldwide, where the treatment boasts a 95% patient satisfaction after one year of treatment¹!

Ultrasound vs radiofrequency treatments vs dermal fillers

In essence, ultrasound and radiofrequency treatments aim to induce collagen remodeling within the skin, but they use differing technologies to do so – which is why they work best to target different issues and areas of the skin.

Ultherapy works to precisely heat the skin at temperatures ranging from 60°C – 70°C, while RF treatments relies on a bulk-heating strategy that reaches a maximum of 40°C – 55°C. In addition, only Ultherapy is able to reach deeper into the layers of the skin, specifically the SMAS layer, to stimulate collagen production.

This is the key reason why ultherapy is often chosen for patients who want a stronger lifting effect in lesser sessions. However, RF treatments can still provide safe and effective skin tightening effects with minimal discomfort², although this is limited to the higher planes of the skin.

On the other hand, dermal fillers work best to add volume and fill out fine lines and wrinkles instead of lifting loose skin. While there has been some debate on whether or not ultherapy and RF treatments can be safely used with dermal fillers – studies have shown that it is possible, with no significant adverse effects reported. In fact, a 2015 study suggested that performing ultrasound treatments before dermal fillers can offer synergistic effect³!

In fact, many patients will find that utilizing multiple treatment modalities as part of a holistic program can bring better results in restoring their skin’s youthfulness. Depending on the severity of skin laxity, amount of fat, and volume loss you have – a good dermatologist and doctor should be able to offer you a range of treatments to treat every aspect of skin aging.

The ideal candidate

The patients who will see the best results from non-invasive skin tightening treatments are those who are currently facing mild to moderate skin laxity.

Important to note is that ultherapy is NOT a substitute to a surgical facelift. If you wish to obtain more dramatic results, or are experiencing a severe loss of skin elasticity, undergoing surgery may still be the best solution for you.

Our approach

Designing a treatment that is safe, painless, and minimally-invasive is a key factor for many patients today – directly linked to patient satisfaction, as well as a primary factor in patients’ decisions to continue treatments³, our dermatology clinic is proud to offer a comprehensive list of non-invasive skin tightening solutions that meets all these factors.

A dermatologist specialist that is devoted to seeking out the most innovative and effective treatments for her patients, Dr. Angeline Yong is Singapore’s trainer for ultherapy. She is also Cynosure’s Asia Pacific key opinion leader, and will be obtaining the upgraded TempSure Vitalia platform in the near future – our clinic will be the first in Singapore to feature this device to run trials!

An FDA-approved treatment that uses RF energy to penetrate deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen production and cause skin tightening – what sets TempSure apart from traditional RF treatments is that it is able to stimulate deep into the layers of the skin at much lower levels, which means we are able to set a higher temperature without increasing the pain levels and downtime, while increasing the treatment’s overall effectiveness. This non-invasive device is also able to deliver precise heating for smaller, harder-to-reach areas, and is safe for all skin types.

We strongly believe in using a combination approach to treat all our patients, and with the addition of Tempsure – Dr. Angeline Yong will be better able to provide multilevel remodeling and give you the renewed, younger-looking, and luminous skin you deserve!

References
1. Werschler WP, Werschler PS. Long-term Efficacy of Micro-Focused Ultrasound with Visualization for Lifting and Tightening Lax Facial and Neck Skin Using a Customized Vectoring Treatment Method. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2016;9(2):27–33.
2. Tanaka Y. Skin Tightening Following Multisource, Phase-controlled Radiofrequency Treatments with Novel Unique Concentric Electrodes in Asian Patients. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2019;12(12):E58–E63.
3. Hart DR, Fabi SG, White WM, Fitzgerald R, Goldman MP. Current Concepts in the Use of PLLA: Clinical Synergy Noted with Combined Use of Microfocused Ultrasound and Poly-L-Lactic Acid on the Face, Neck, and Décolletage. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015;136(5):180S-187S.
4. Sabrina G Fabi, MD, Julius W Few, Jr, MD, FACS, Shay Moinuddin, MHA, CANS, RN. Practical Guidance for Optimizing Patient Comfort During Microfocused Ultrasound with Visualization and Improving Patient Satisfaction. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2020; 40(2):208-216.

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Non-Invasive Skin Tightening: What Are Your Best Options?