/assets/images/provider/photos/2485332.jpg)
As the years pass, you may begin noticing loose skin and fine lines around your lower face and neck area. While this is completely normal, men and women alike seek skin tightening treatments that can reverse those telltale signs of aging.
As the years pass, you may begin noticing loose skin and fine lines around your lower face and neck area. While this is completely normal, men and women alike seek skin tightening treatments that can reverse those telltale signs of aging.
Think a facelift or neck lift is your only solution? We’ve got some great news for you! You don’t have to go under the knife for great results! Thanks to advanced non-invasive technology and science-backed skincare products, you can lift and tighten your facial and neck skin, without surgery.
At Medical Aesthetics & Laser in The Woodlands, we are proud to offer nonsurgical skin tightening treatments like RF microneedling and Ultherapy to our patients across North Houston.
Learn more about these treatments and other considerations before scheduling an appointment with our skin experts.
WHAT CAUSES LOOSE SKIN ON THE LOWER FACE AND NECK?
The short answer: time and gravity cause loose skin. If you feel powerless against both, think again! While none of us can escape the inevitable, there are measures to reduce severity and fight the signs of aging.
It turns out, how you treat your skin and body plays a major role in how soon your face and neck age.
Besides smoking and secondhand smoke exposure, one of the biggest influences on skin aging is photodamage. Spending time in the sun can do wonders for your body; vitamin D is your friend! However, time spent in the sun (especially the Texas sun!) with no protection can be very harmful.
UVA and UVB rays affect your skin at the cellular level. Over time, they break down collagen and elastin fibers. These structural proteins help maintain your skin’s framework and its ability to bounce back from damage. But once those fibers become more sparse, laxity, wrinkles, and fine lines make their appearance.
Whenever you skip out on SPF, you slowly increase your rate of photoaging. You may not notice the damage in your teens and 20s, but as you reach your late 20s and early 30s, the lack of protection shows as freckles, redness, and brown patches. That’s why it is always important to wear sunscreen daily, even if you stay indoors (UV rays can penetrate windows!). However, even with protection, time will catch up. At some point, everyone faces an aging face and neck.
While preventative care is the best care, we aren’t saying you can’t tighten your neck skin later in life. It might surprise you just how far aesthetic treatments and skincare products have come to help you achieve the look you’re after!
RF MICRONEEDLING FOR LOOSE SKIN | HOW IT WORKS
Scarlet RF is an innovative skin tightening treatment that uses the power of radiofrequency energy-enabled microneedles to boost collagen production and provide natural-looking results. With the help of RF energy penetrating at specific depths, Scarlet RF works to:
- Treat skin laxity and sagging
- Tighten the face and neck
- Improve skin texture and smoothness
- Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
- Plump the skin
- Promote collagen production
- Treat scars
Unlike lasers, which are light-based forms of energy, RF energy is electricity that we carefully control with specialized devices like the Scarlet RF. When conducted into the skin, this electricity produces heat.
The heat from RF treatment causes fat coagulation and tightens collagen fibers in the skin, while also stimulating fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin. RF energy helps promote a more youthful appearance by reducing sagging skin.
Related: Everything you should know about Scarlet RF microneedling
To heal the skin, your fibroblasts—aka cells that make up connective tissue—work overtime to create more collagen. Collagen then builds into a fresh framework to support your skin, helping you achieve a tighter, younger look. We typically recommend clients undergo a series of Scarlet RF treatments to achieve the ultimate results.
Many of our guests hear the word “needles” and feel concerned that a Scarlet RF microneedling treatment will hurt. The truth is, most clients only feel minor discomfort. That’s mainly because of the topical numbing cream we use to keep you comfortable throughout the process. However, you should expect to feel a heating sensation and slight pricks. We also offer you the option of Pronox for pain management.
After treatment, you may feel like you have a sunburn. This feeling may continue for 24 to 48 hours. You may notice brighter and tighter skin after just one treatment. However, to really see the full results of Scarlet RF microneedling, most people require a series of 3 to 4 treatments. But don’t worry, your specialist will help you determine how many treatments you’ll need. Keep in mind that results vary based on how quickly your skin heals and regenerates.
We recommend scheduling maintenance treatments every 12 to 24 months to maintain the results of your treatments.
ULTHERAPY IN NORTH HOUSTON | HOW IT WORKS
Ultherapy is the only FDA-approved device shown to lift the skin without surgery. This non-invasive treatment offers great results for people with mild-to-moderate skin laxity, and helps rejuvenate your face and neck for a more youthful appearance.
Through the power of ultrasound technology, Ultherapy reaches into the deep layers of your skin tissue to deliver the optimal amount of heating. As tissue heats, it stimulates collagen production and leads to skin retraction for natural, long-lasting results.
Ultrasound technology has benefited the medical industry for decades (you’re probably aware of ultrasound for pregnancy). Because it sends sound energy beyond the skin’s surface, it has a more profound effect on the underlying causes of an aging face and neck. Plus, ultrasound imaging during the procedure ensures the energy hits the optimal depth. This leads to the greatest possible impact without damaging surrounding tissues. As a result, you get a phenomenal treatment without downtime!
Related: Maintaining Facelift Results with Ultherapy→
It surprises most people when they find out that Ultherapy treatments don’t take much time at all. You won’t be in the office for hours on end; in fact, the treatment only takes about 15 to 90 minutes, depending on your treatment area(s).
You may notice results from Ultherapy right away, but the treatment area(s) will continue to improve 2 to 6 months after your treatment. So, definitely be patient and allow the collagen to work its magic. Soon, you’ll truly see why Ultherapy works as a great alternative to a facelift or neck lift.
One of the best things about Ultherapy in North Houston is that it’s virtually painless for most people. You may notice mild discomfort such as a warming sensation, but other than that, there’s nothing much to it. No pain or downtime? It honestly doesn’t get much better than that.
SKIN CARE PRODUCTS & TIPS TO TIGHTEN SKIN ON THE FACE & NECK
Great skin begins with a great at-home skincare routine. You can undergo all the aesthetic treatments at our office in The Woodlands, but if you don’t practice healthy skincare habits with the right products, your results won’t be nearly what you expect.
With caring for both your facial and neck skin, both areas require generally the same high-quality products and routine to appear smooth and ageless. Plus, your neck has fewer oil glands than your face, so it can handle heavier creams and products without causing clogged pores.
When choosing anti-aging products, you at least want to consider these three factors:
- Sun protection
- Collagen production
- Cellular turnover
Ingredients for sun protection:
- Titanium oxide
- Zinc oxide
- Vitamin C
- Peptides
- CoQ10
- Antioxidants