With age, fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin become more noticeable, no matter how hard you might try to prevent them. These changes can make you feel and look older than you really are and can start to show themselves as early as your 40s and 50s. In an effort to rejuvenate your appearance and regain that youthful glow, you might be considering a facelift. But you feel you’re too young for something so invasive, so you’re wondering if skin tightening might be an option.
There is currently no treatment or device that can rival the anti-aging improvements seen with a surgical procedure like a facelift, so skin tightening really cannot be considered an alternative to a facelift. However, for younger patients who are not quite ready for a facelift or older patients unwilling to undergo surgery, a skin tightening procedure is an option worth exploring.
What Is Skin Tightening?
The skincare specialists at Faces, PLLC in Jackson, MS, offer the popular microneedling treatment PiXel8-RF, one of the newest and most successful collagen-induction technologies in the aesthetic industry. The PiXel8-RF is a microneedling skin tightening treatment that utilizes bipolar energy to radiate heat deep into the layers of the epidermis where skin damage, such as wrinkles, age spots, and skin laxity, begins. The addition of heat, along with the micro-channels created by the superfine needles in the handheld device, boosts the body’s collagen production by causing hemostasis and coagulation, bringing about the regeneration of vital elastin cells. This is essential to improving the appearance of skin laxity and textural issues.
What Should You Expect From A PiXel8-RF Treatment?
Depending on the area being treated, a PiXel8-RF treatment at Faces, PLLC usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes to complete. The first step of your treatment involves your skin being thoroughly cleansed and being free of any debris. A topical anesthetic will be applied to your skin to minimize any discomfort. Once your skin is properly numbed, your clinician will begin by carefully and precisely drawing the PiXel8-RF device across the area being treated, creating micro-channels that trigger your body’s natural healing abilities. Afterward, you may experience some redness and minor swelling that typically dissipates within 24 hours after your treatment.
Improvements in loose skin, fine lines and wrinkles, skin tone and texture, age and sun spots, pore size, and scarring typically begin to be appreciated after the 2nd or 3rd treatment. A minimum of 3 treatments is recommended, with additional treatments leading to optimal results.
What’s the Difference Between Skin Tightening and a Facelift?
While the recovery time for skin tightening is significantly less than with a surgical treatment like a facelift, the results are limited to a certain degree. As previously mentioned, a minimum of 3 treatments, or more, may be needed to achieve the desired results. Long-term benefits vary from person to person, but results are typically evident for a year or two. Potential benefits can be enhanced and extended with a good at-home regimen with medical-grade skincare products and routine facials with a licensed medical aesthetician.
Facelifts reposition the skin and muscles to give your skin a tighter, more youthful appearance and remove excess skin. However, a facelift is surgery and therefore more expensive and requires more time to recover from. The most prominent benefit of a facelift is the length of time you have to enjoy your results. Most patients feel that the benefits of a facelift last about 10 years, and they turn the clock back by 7–10 years.
Ready to Turn Back the Clock with Skin Tightening?
While it may not be a substitute for a facelift, skin tightening can still help improve the signs of aging without having to undergo surgery. To learn more about this new treatment, don’t hesitate to call Faces, PLLC at (601) 607-3033, or contact us to schedule your consultation today!