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POSTED: 15 Feb 2023
The Best Non-Surgical Skin Tightening Treatments According to Doctors
We get a lot of questions from patients about the best ways to tighten loose skin without surgery. Unfortunately there is no "cure" or "miracle" treatment for skin laxity. However, there are a number of non-surgical skin tightening treatments that can help firm and lift skin on the face, neck and body. In this article, we’ll review the main causes of skin laxity and the best treatments and skincare for tightening skin without surgery.
What Causes Skin to Sag?
Skin starts to sag and lose firmness due to a combination of natural ageing and external factors. The underlying cause is mainly loss of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic OnabotulinumtoxinAAbobotulinumtoxinAIncobotulinumtoxinAPrabotulinumtoxinALetibotulinumtoxinARimabotulinumtoxinBHyaluronic Acid FillersCalcium Hydroxylapatite FillersPoly-L-lactic Acid FillersPolymethylmethacrylate FillersAutologous Fat GraftingForehead Lines TreatmentGlabellar Frown Lines TreatmentCrow's Feet TreatmentBunny Lines TreatmentChemical Brow LiftLip FlipGummy Smile CorrectionMasseter ReductionJaw SlimmingDimpled Chin SmoothingCobblestone Chin SmoothingNefertiti Neck LiftMicro-BotoxMesotoxHyperhidrosis TreatmentChronic Migraine ReliefBruxism TreatmentTMJ TreatmentCervical Dystonia TreatmentNeck Spasm TreatmentBlepharospasm TreatmentLip AugmentationLip ContouringCheekbone EnhancementTear Trough FillersNasolabial Fold SofteningMarionette Line FillersLiquid RhinoplastyNon-Surgical Nose JobJawline ContouringJawline DefinitionChin AugmentationTemple VolumisingHand RejuvenationAcne Scar Subcision Filling in the dermis. These are the proteins and molecules that give skin its structural support, elasticity and hydration. There are several reasons this loss speeds up:
In the majority of cases, a combination of these factors causes skin sagging. As such more than one approach is necessary if you wish to tighten skin and slow the development of laxity.
Benefits of Non-Surgical Skin Tightening
Obviously before considering any treatment it’s essential to control the causes of skin sagging that you can. This means stopping harmful things like smoking, excess sun exposure and generally looking after your health. Once you’ve optimised your basic skincare routine and lifestyle, you can then consider non-surgical skin tightening. Thankfully, there are now a range of non-surgical treatments that can address these underlying causes of skin laxity. Whilst they can’t replace what a surgical lift achieves for significant sagging, they offer real advantages over surgery for mild to moderate laxity. The key benefits of non-surgical skin tightening treatments include:
The main non-surgical skin tightening treatments fall into a three broad categories. These include energy-based devices like radiofrequency and ultrasound, injectables like skin boosters and bio-regenerative injections and topical treatments including prescription skincare. Most people benefit from a combination approach rather than relying on a single treatment, and the best choice depends on the cause and severity of your skin laxity. We’ll review the main options below.
Radiofrequency Skin Tightening
Radiofrequency (RF) is one of the oldest non-surgical skin tightening technologies. It uses electromagnetic waves to deliver heat into the deeper layers of the skin. This heat triggers an immediate contraction of existing collagen fibres and stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen over the following months. The result is firmer, smoother and more elastic skin. There are many different RF skin tightening devices and the most popular ones in the UK include:
RF is generally safe and works for all skin types and tones, which is one advantage over some laser treatments. Most procedures have minimal discomfort and take 30 to 90 minutes depending on the area. Results develop gradually over 2 to 6 months and typically last 12 to 18 months.
Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatments like Ultherapy and Sofwave use focused ultrasound energy to heat specific depths beneath the skin. By targeting tissue at precise depths (up to 5mm for Ultherapy), they bypass the surface and deliver heat exactly where it triggers the most collagen production.
Ultherapy targets the deeper SMAS layer of the skin. This is the same layer surgical facelifts target. As such, it’s particularly useful for tightening around the brow, jawline, chin and neck. Sofwave is a newer ultrasound device that targets a shallower depth (the mid-dermis) and is often better tolerated, with shorter treatment times. Results develop over 2 to 6 months as new collagen forms and typically last 12 to 18 months. Most patients need just one treatment session, with maintenance every 12 to 18 months.
Microneedling
Professional microneedling (also called collagen induction therapy) uses fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. The injuries trigger a wound healing response, which in turn encourages fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin. The result over weeks to months is firmer, smoother and more elastic skin. There are two main types of microneedling:
In general, traditional microneedling is best suited to milder skin concerns and patients on a tighter budget. Although RF microneedling gives stronger results for combined laxity and texture issues, it comes with higher cost. It can also require a longer downtime (typically 3 to 5 days of redness and swelling versus 1 to 2 days for traditional microneedling).
Chemical Peels
Peels are a versatile professional treatment that can help with skin tightening, particularly for milder cases of of laxity. Chemical peels can also address surface concerns like hyperpigmentation, fine lines and texture. Although there’s a huge variety of different types of chemical peels, the underlying principal is generally the same. A chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the outer layers. This then also triggers cellular renewal and stimulates collagen production in the dermis. Although there are many different types, peels are generally categorised by depth:
For most patients with mild skin laxity, a course of superficial to medium peels is most accessible and appropriate. If combined with prescription topical skincare can produce meaningful results without the cost or downtime of energy-based devices.
Skin Regenerating Injectables
Skin boosters are a growing category of injectable treatments that improve skin quality through hydration, biostimulation or regenerative signalling. Unlike traditional dermal fillers, they don’t add structural volume. Instead, they work in the dermis to stimulate collagen and elastin or improve hydration. The main types of regenerative injectables treatments that can help with skin tightening include:
Skin boosters are often used alongside other treatments and prescription skincare rather than instead of them. If you’re interested in finding out more, our skin boosters guide covers each option in detail including evidence behind them, ideal candidates and limitations.
Topical Skincare
The foundation of any non-surgical skin tightening strategy is a good skincare routine. Although topical products won’t dramatically lift severe sagging, they can improve skin quality, slow the progression of laxity and enhance the results of any in-clinic treatment. The most effective topical skincare ingredients for skin tightening are:
Topical skincare can help improve the quality and appearance if skin. If you combine anti-ageing skincare with in-clinic skin tightening treatments, you can generally improve outcomes and results typically last longer.
Non-Surgical Neck Lift Treatments
The neck and jawline are often the first areas to show ageing which is why it’s worthy of covering separately. This is because the skin here is thin and the underlying platysma muscle weakens over time. Gravity also acts more visibly than elsewhere on the face. As such you usually need more than one skin tightening approaches if you want a non-surgical treatment. Hence the rise of the "non-surgical neck lift" which is a term that usually describes a combination of the technologies covered above. Whilst the treatments it involves may differ, in general the aim is to tighten the skin, soften jowls, smooth horizontal neck lines and restore jawline definition without surgery. The most effective non-surgical skin tightening treatments for the neck and jawline area are:
The right combination depends on the cause and severity of your neck laxity. For mild crepiness, skin boosters and Botox may be enough. For moderate laxity, ultrasound or RF microneedling and skin boosters typically produces the strongest results. Of course, topical skincare agents like Tretinoin, lifestyle measures and adequate sun protection will boost and maintain the results. However, everything has its limits. For advanced sagging with significant skin excess, a surgical neck lift remains the gold standard. Non-surgical maintenance can delay or complement surgical intervention.
How to Choose the Right Treatment for You
The right non-surgical skin tightening treatment depends on the cause and severity of your skin laxity, the area being treated, your skin type and your goals. Here are some of our tips for choosing the best non-surgical skin tightening treatments:
A good practitioner won’t recommend the same treatment to every patient. The best results come from a personalised assessment that considers the cause of your laxity, your skin type, your tolerance for downtime and your long-term goals.
When Should You Consider Surgery?
Whilst non-surgical treatments have come a long way, they still have limits. If you have significant skin excess (rather than just laxity), advanced jowling, or skin that has been heavily sun-damaged over decades, surgical options like a facelift, neck lift or blepharoplasty will produce stronger and longer-lasting results than any non-surgical treatment. The trade-off is higher cost, longer recovery and surgical risks. A combination approach that pairs surgical lifting and non-surgical skin tightening treatments like skin boosters, RF microneedling and prescription skincare often gives the best long-term outcome for patients with advanced ageing.
Non-surgical skin tightening treatments are no longer the marginal options they were a decade ago. With well-established technologies like Ultherapy, RF microneedling and skin boosters and supportive prescription skincare, it’s now possible to meaningfully tighten and rejuvenate skin without surgery. The best results come from a personalised, combined approach matched to the specific cause of your skin laxity.
At City Skin Clinic, we are passionate about personalised skincare. We offer safe and effective custom skincare treatments using ingredients like tretinoin, hydroquinone, niacinamide, tranexamic acid, azelaic acid and arbutin where appropriate through our online skin clinic. Our doctors treat acne, hyperpigmentation, melasma, rosacea and skin ageing through bespoke compounded treatments designed around your specific skin. To start your personalised skincare plan, book a virtual video consultation or use our online consultation form. The journey towards great skin starts here.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified medical provider for any medical concerns or questions you might have.
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