At ENRICH, we offer the best range of skin tightening technologies available in Australia with our unique TightSkin Program.
One of the main concerns many of us have about ageing is skin laxity. Not only do we see a decrease in volume due to loss of bone, fat, water and collagen, but we also lose elasticity. The results are sagging and the formation of creases, lines, folds and hollows.
To address this, we have treatments at our Melbourne clinic that focus on the various mechanisms: hydration, volume, elasticity and lift.
TightSkin Program – Treatment Information Sheet
OUR RANGE OF TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDE:
- ThermiRF– radiofrequency
- UltraformerIII– laser
- Portrait– laser
- Secret RF– laser
- Venus Freeze– magnetic pulse and radiofrequency
- Slimspec– acoustic waves
- Dermal fillers
- Anti-wrinkle injections
- Thread lift
- Laser resurfacing
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
Contact our Melbourne clinic for more information on a tailored TightSkin program.
*Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM TIGHTENING PROCEDURES?
We aim to get your skin – depending on our starting point – smoother and tighter. Each of you will have a starting point from which we have to work, so if your skin is young and supple, tightening may not even be appropriate or it can be a minor procedure. If your skin is less elastic and gravity is making itself apparent, then chances are we can make a big difference.
Skin tightening is a procedure we need to repeat because we are non-surgically tightening. This process means your skin cells are doing all the work in producing extra collagen. Once the stimulating effect on the cell starts to diminish, so will the effects of tightening, despite this being overall quite a long-lasting strategy.
We recommend a starting point of several strategies (about six) to kick start your regime. Your dermatologist will inform you of the frequency required to keep your skin looking beautiful as you age.
WHY DOES OUR SKIN STOP PRODUCING AS MUCH COLLAGEN AND ELASTIN?
As we age, our cells start to lose their former prowess. Skin cells produce much less collagen and elastin, hydration starts to wane, and our special hydrating molecule content drops. This loss results in fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging, which can appear anywhere on the body. Any stretching or trauma to the skin can also have this effect, for example, the tummy after a pregnancy, or extra skin after losing weight.
THE BENEFITS OF TIGHTENING TREATMENTS:
- More youthful-looking skin
- Greater elasticity and strength
- Extra collagen production
- Smoothing out of fine lines and wrinkles
- Reducing folds
- Plump up sallow skin
- Promote radiance
SKIN TIGHTENING TREATMENT AREAS
There are a few key areas we commonly treat, including:
- Buttocks
- Tummy/abdomen
- Arms
- Face
- Legs
TIGHTENING TREATMENT SCHEDULE
Each of you will have a different schedule, depending on your needs. Your dermatologist will advise, however generally you could expect to have 4-6 procedures, about 2-6 weeks apart. This scheduling allows the cells to ramp up their activity so we can capitalise on their collagen production with the next treatment.
SURGERY-FREE TIGHTENING
We can now tighten without a single cut. New wave-based technology means we use different systems for rejuvenating and tightening: laser and radiofrequency.
We use lasers, LED light-based and radiofrequency-based procedures. These techniques and equipment mean we can achieve results faster, more efficiently, and overall more comfortably. Laser skin tightening and radiofrequency can also reduce fatty deposits without surgery.
LASER TIGHTENING
Laser tightening is a form of tightening using heat to not only stimulate cells but to retract the skin slightly, firming it instantly. With laser tightening, we see improvements to blood flow and lymphatics so the area looks and feels healthier.
Lasers are one way we tighten skin. We find that lasers are effective with short recovery periods, and are popular with our clients. Newer technologies like the ThermiTight, however, are coming up a close second as tightening and fat-deposit removers of choice.
TIGHTENING PROCEDURES CAN MANAGE:
- Wrinkles
- Fine lines
- Fatty deposits
- Cellulite
- Stretched-out skin
- Sallowness
- Loss of volume
- Dehydration
- Poor texture
- Large pores
- Sagging
- Drooping
RECOVERY FROM ENERGY-BASED SKIN TIGHTENING
Recovery is quick for most of these procedures with minimal downtime. You can go back to your normal activities immediately, though you’ll likely have some redness in the area. Redness will dissipate quickly.
Your treatments will usually take between 15 and 45 minutes, depending on the treatment area (speak to your dermatologist about how long to leave for your appointment).
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE AFTER RF AND LASERS
After your procedures, you can expect to see instant skin tightening. The real beauty of these treatments is that the effect increases over time as the cells regenerate and produce more collagen. Tightening can sometimes be profound, but it will depend on the elasticity of the skin to begin with and what treatment number we are on.
Fine lines and wrinkles will start to diminish from day one, with elasticity and tautness improving over the coming weeks. Tone is improved over time as the cells produce increasing amounts of collagen.
These procedures are very comfortable. The FDA and TGA approve our equipment in Australia for skin tightening, and we train our staff extensively.
All of our technologies are chemical-free. We can provide consistent, reliable results as part of your anti-ageing strategy.
SURGICAL TIGHTENING AS PART OF YOUR PLAN
Traditionally, we use surgical skin tightening such as a facelift, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and brow lifts. These procedures lift and tighten the skin on the face, though they require a skilled surgeon to pull off well. Surgery is also not an option for everyone. Surgery can be expensive in time, money and healing time.
The laxity required to benefit from a facelift is reasonably significant compared with the gentle and lightweight nonsurgical variations, which can be done on much younger people. We can use the lighter-weight tools over a lifetime, rather than waiting until things are bad enough to warrant a facelift.
Some people are not able to undergo surgery due to medical conditions or being unwell. Being unwell doesn’t mean you don’t want to look good; thus, collagen-stimulating procedures can be an effective alternative.
COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT TREATMENTS
It can be difficult to know what you need, which is why your cosmetic dermatologist will explain – after listening carefully to your desires – what your options are. Here is a brief overview of the differences between treatments so you know what to expect.
RESULTS (MOST EFFECTIVE TIGHTENING AT TOP)
- ThermiTight radiofrequency/laser/ultrasound
- Thread lift
- Anti-wrinkle injections/dermal fillers/radiofrequency
RECOVERY (SHORTEST TO LONGEST)
- Ultrasound
- Radiofrequency (mild redness)
- Laser (mild redness)
- ThermiTight radiofrequency
- Anti-wrinkle injections (possibly some mild bruising)
- Dermal filler injections (possibly some mild bruising or swelling)
- Thread lift (swelling and bruising for a week)
- CO2 laser (two weeks recovery at home, significant downtime)
HOW MUCH DOES SKIN-TIGHTENING COST? (LOWEST TO HIGHEST)
- ThermiTight radiofrequency
- Radiofrequency
- Anti-wrinkle injections/dermal fillers/
- Ultrasound
- Thread lift/CO2 laser
NON-SURGICAL RF AND LASER SKIN TIGHTENING IS THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Skin tightening used to be the domain of the surgical facelift, but we now have such a great range of high-tech devices that do the hard work for us, no scalpels in sight. We use heat and light waves to stimulate cells, to the energy factory of each cell, the mitochondria. The mitochondria then kickstart the cell into action, so it performs at a higher level.
Ultrasound or radiofrequency or light/heat beams from a laser can penetrate where nothing else can without piercing the skin. Now we can get deep without causing damage.
ADJUNCTS WE MIGHT USE IN YOUR TIGHTENING REGIME
- Anti-wrinkle injections
- Dermal filler injections
- Laser resurfacing
- Threadlift
ANTI-WRINKLE INJECTIONS AS PART OF YOUR TIGHTENING PLAN
Anti-wrinkle injections are muscle relaxant injections that can help stop wrinkles from forming or depending but can also be used to create lift. One facial muscle lifts the face up, while another pulls it down à la frowning versus smiling. We can selectively moderate the action of the downward-pulling muscles, causing the upward-pulling muscles to become stronger. This tweak creates a natural-looking lift.
We can use anti-wrinkle injections to great effect under the brows to create a brow lift, or at the sides of the mouth to help bring the ‘sad-face’ upwards. The neck, jowls, jaw and cheeks can also be lifted.
Anti-wrinkle injections may be part of an anti-ageing strategy that your dermatologist puts into place for you. Skin that moves more often tends to get saggier quicker, so immobilising some small muscles (without ruining your ability to express yourself of course!) is useful for future-proofing your face to a certain degree.
DERMAL FILLER INJECTIONS AS PART OF YOUR TIGHTENING PLAN
Dermal fillers are a range of collagen-stimulating substances that are injected into the dermal layers to stimulate collagen and provide hydration. We tend to use dermal fillers here at ENRICH Clinic with a substance naturally found in your connective tissue. This magical little molecule holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it one of the biggest contributors to anti-ageing ever discovered.
Dermal filler injections can provide much-needed volume in a face or neck that is starting to see the effects of gravity. We can arrest sagging and wrinkling using volume and collagen-stimulators, while other anti-ageing and skin-tightening procedures can be applied.
LASER RESURFACING AS PART OF YOUR TIGHTENING PLAN
Laser resurfacing, as the name suggests, takes off the top layer or layers of skin using a specific technique and one of our excellent skin resurfacing lasers. But that’s not all it does. Laser resurfacing stimulates the skin cells to bump up their collagen production, to firm and rejuvenate your skin. Laser resurfacing is not for everyone, but it can be a very useful adjunct in skin-tightening anti-ageing plans.
A THREAD LIFT AS PART OF YOUR SKIN TIGHTENING PLAN
A thread lift is a gentle variation of a nonsurgical facelift using – you guessed it – threads. The thread is strategically placed with tiny hooks to lift the facial skin. We make no cuts and we can remove the threads any time. Skin is pulled backwards and upwards, with the threads invisible.
ThermiTight – Chin
ThermiTight – Chin
ThermiTight – Neck
*Results may vary from person to person
ThermiTight – Abdomen
ThermiTight – Abdomen
ThermiTight – Arm
FURTHER READING
- What is the ThermaFrax Lift?
- Dissolvable thread lift – a new take on an up and coming favourite
- The thread lift: is it worth it?
- Can my second facelift be as successful as the first?
- Older first-mums: tightening treatments
- ThermiRF wins cosmetics technology award
- What are ‘chinkles’ and how do I get rid of them?
- Thread Lift (Suture Lift)
SKIN TIGHTENING FAQs
Our skin-tightening treatments are generally very well-tolerated and involve easy recovery, so tend to be accessible to everyone no matter your age or stage. Some of our advanced treatments require extensive healing, but we don’t do these treatments without proper consultation. You need to be able to heal well in those cases.
General skin tightening using laser and RF isn’t dramatic in terms of recovery since we’ve stimulated your skin cells to produce more collagen and elastin, and not much more. We haven’t damaged your outer skin; thus, the healing procedure is the product of the treatment itself and desirable.
When we stimulate the cell, it responds as if it’s had a microtrauma. It produces collagen as a result, which is what we want to happen. We do not break the skin at any point.
If you are generally healthy with mild to moderate skin laxity, you are a great candidate for skin tightening treatments. If you are young with supple skin, you don’t need skin tightening treatments. In saying this, keeping collagen levels up as you age can have a protective effect and be useful as an ongoing strategy.
We can’t do skin-tightening procedures if you have a skin infection in the treatment area, broken skin or have impaired collagen production capacities. The latter may apply if you are elderly, but we find that almost anyone with mild to moderate sagging skin can benefit. In some cases, the sagging may be very advanced, and these treatments may not be the best way forward. You can discuss your options and suitability with your practitioner at your appointment or give us a call to talk it over.
Generally, you do not need to take time off work after treatments. Many of our treatments produce just minor redness for the rest of the day of the procedure. If you have extensive or deep treatments, in some cases you’ll need to take time out of your life to heal.
You can expect mild redness from most treatments. Injections may result in some mild bruising and swelling at the treatment site. The inflammation after a thread lift will take about a week to resolve. The CO2 laser requires significant downtime, with two weeks expected for full healing.
We can tighten any sagging skin using one of our many tools, depending on the area and the severity of laxity. The face and neck are common treatment sites, but we also frequently treat the belly and arms. Skin laxity occurs across the body, and we can treat any area.
It depends. If skin tightening is part of your ongoing anti-ageing plan, then it can be used to great effect with other treatments. Each of you has different needs, so we can assess you when we see you.
If you were just after a single area tightened, such as the neck or chin, then other procedures may be unnecessary. We assess your needs on a case-by-case basis.
We ensure you are very comfortable during your treatments. Some treatments don’t cause skin injury specifically, so are warm or prickly, but not painful and therefore do not require any anaesthetic. If your treatment is likely to cause discomfort, we may use a topical anaesthetic cream.
Each treatment is different and comes with unique characteristics and requirements. We’ll carefully and thoroughly explain each treatment to you before we start, and advise you what sensations to expect. We know our treatments very well and our practitioners are highly trained and very experienced. If you are concerned, feel free to call the clinic and ask about a treatment that caught your eye.
Lasers and RF devices are very low risk when in the right hands. We have medical-grade equipment and our cosmetic nurses and doctors perform your treatments. Our experienced doctors perform deeper treatments using only the very best equipment.
While no procedure is without risks, skin tightening is overall very well tolerated, and we don’t anticipate issues. Unexpected reactions do occur from time to time, but what you should look out for will be explained to you based on your treatment choice.
The risks of laser and RF treatments include burns or other adverse reactions. With deeper treatments, infection and poor healing are risks. We manage all risks to the best of our ability to avoid adverse outcomes. We guide you on what to do when you get home, and what to look out for in case something unexpected occurs.
Your at-home care will depend very heavily on what treatment you’ve undertaken. One of the most important care routines for all skincare treatments is to protect your skin, especially the treated area, from the sun. Avoiding contact with the sun completely in some cases may be required, but sunscreen is usually enough.
You may need extra products or care and check-ups as required. We will advise you accordingly. General laser and RF treatments require minimal care, as the action is occurring underneath the surface of the skin.
We’ll assess you at your appointment and guide you to the best options. We love our skin-tightening devices and they all excel in certain areas, depending on the concern.
The cost of your procedures depends heavily on which treatment we choose. Radiofrequency treatments cost less than injections, ultrasound, thread lifts and the CO2 laser. We work with your budget when we’re assessing your skin – no surprises! The cost of treatment doesn’t necessarily equal its ability to do a great job; they’re all different with different running costs.
Each treatment takes between 15 and 40 minutes. If you’re having a few areas treated, expect longer. We’ll advise you when you book your appointment how long you should expect to be in the clinic.
Your treatment schedule will depend on what treatment you want. Some tightening procedures are complete after one treatment; for example, the CO2 laser requires just one session for dramatic results, while we suggest about six laser or RF treatments for best results. The thread lift is also a once-off treatment.
Injections require repeats since they wear off and are absorbed by the body over the coming months. The areas we inject come with different durations of effect, for example, injections into the nose last up to 18 months, while lip injections may last a few months. This difference is due to the amount of movement the area experiences, which increases the absorption of the substance.
We determine the frequency of appointments by the procedure(s) you are undertaking. We repeat RF and laser treatments at 3-6-week intervals for best results.
We do not repeat injections until the effect starts to wane or disappears. The CO2 laser is a one-off treatment; however, it may be repeated further down the track as needed.
We perform a thread lift just the once, but after natural ageing continues, we may suggest a repeat.
The deeper the treatment, the more dramatic the results. Deeper treatments are often avoidable since most people don’t need deep treatments to correct mild or moderate sagging. Our regular treatments provide great results. Each treatment has characteristics in terms of results, so we choose the treatment based on what your skin needs.
With injections, you can expect instant results. The laser and RF treatments provide an instant tightening effect, but the true results take three months to appear. If you’re in a series of treatments, you can expect to see ongoing positive results across the year.
CO2 treatments require significant healing and downtime. The treated skin peels off, revealing fresh skin underneath. This peeling and refreshing process takes about two weeks.
A thread lift also takes time to develop, though you’ll see an instant lift due to the presence of the threads. Collagen production which then holds the threads in place takes a while to develop, so you can expect best results several months after the threads are in place.
We base the tool of choice on your needs and budget. We offer radiofrequency, ultrasound, laser, magnetic pulse, acoustic waves, dermal filler and anti-wrinkle injections, thread lifts, and others. We may use a combination of treatments to maximise results, in what we call the one plus one equals three cosmetic equation. Two treatments can have the effect of three when applied correctly together.
