The name: Skin Tightening
The sell: “A non-surgical way to reinforce your skin’s supportive elements to firm and plump the skin.”
The treatment: As far as non-invasive treatments go, Skin Tightening really does deliver. The treatment itself only lasts for approximately 30 minutes, and there is virtually no recovery time post-treatment. So you could definitely walk in and out of the clinic in your lunch break.
Skin Tightening involves the use of single-wavelength light energy emitted via a laser to firm and improve skin tone, skin plumpness and texture. The treatment works to stimulate the production of new collagen cells by gently heating the dermis (the inner-layer of your skin) and causing collagen contracture, or in other words, the tightening of your skin.
The heat metabolises older collagen within your skin, making way for new fibres that are more compact and organised, resulting in less wrinkles.
Before beginning skin tightening treatments, it’s essential that your skin hasn’t experienced sun exposure, or fake tan, two weeks prior to your appointment.
I opted to focus on my face, but the option for abdomen, arm, neck, thighs and even breast tightening is on offer.
As soon as the laser was directed at my face, a comfortable warmth began to build in the area that was being worked on. However, as the skin’s temperature is expected to rise to approximately 43 degrees celcius for the treatment to be effective. At times, I experienced mild discomfort, similar to a light, pinprick sensation.
Of course, if the pain gets to be unbearable, let your clinician know and they will stop working on the area immediately. Once a single area has reached temperature, a layer of aftercare cream is applied to reduce redness.
Post-treatment, you can pretty much go about your day as normal—you can even apply a light layer of makeup if a bare face isn’t an option for you. However, you will be advised to avoid exercise, excessive sweating, and rubbing of the skin for 24 hours after your treatment. You should also avoid direct sun exposure for two weeks following your appointment, and be sure to apply SPF to the treated area.
The truth: I have personally undergone two sessions of Skin Tightening on my face, and have not had a single negative experience to date. While I ended up flushed cheeks and a couple of tiny bumps on my skin following my first treatment, any redness had completely subsided after 30 minutes. And immediately following my second treatment, I had no redness on my face at all.
Seeing as I’m still in my early 20s and my natural collagen production is still in check, I may not be the target client for this particular treatment. But there’s no denying that my skin did look that little more plump following each of my treatments. Afterwards, I found that my skin was clearer and brighter, however, this is not listed as one of the treatment’s benefits.
To see optimum results, clinicians recommend a course of approximately six treatments, every four to six weeks. Skin tightening will continue to work up to 12 weeks post-treatment, so the skin will continue to improve for a number of months once you’ve completed six sessions.
The cost: At Laser Clinics Australia, Skin Tightening starts at $99 and varies in price depending on the area that is being treated. For more information, visit Laser Clinics Australia’s website.
