Laser technology has made significant contributions to the world of beauty treatments, including skin tightening. This technology is used because of its ability to stimulate collagen production, improve skin elasticity, and produce significant tightening effects.
Laser technology is widely used because it is non-invasive or minimally invasive. This eliminates the need for extensive surgery or a lengthy recovery period to improve skin firmness. Let us learn more about how laser procedures are used in skin tightening.
What is laser skin tightening?
As we age, collagen production naturally decreases. In addition to decreasing, collagen also changes structurally as the previously tightly organized fiber network becomes more irregular.
This decrease in collagen structure causes a loss of skin firmness and elasticity. Sun exposure, pollution, smoking, and other environmental factors can all speed up the aging process and cause skin deterioration. As a result, laser procedures are available to help address the issue of low collagen and elastin production.
Laser skin tightening is the process of tightening the skin using a laser. It is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure that uses laser technology to tighten the skin on the body. This procedure is widely preferred because it is relatively painless and can be performed on a variety of body parts, including the abdomen, neck, face, and jawline.
Read more: Serba-Serbi Laser Care To Remove Scars
Laser skin tightening procedure
Essentially, the laser skin tightening procedure involves heating the skin to a temperature that it can tolerate. The heat generated by the laser stimulates the skin to produce more collagen and elastin.
A typical laser skin tightening procedure looks like this:
- An infrared laser is used to penetrate the skin without causing damage to the surface layer. This allows the laser to reach the skin's deeper layers, which contain collagen and connective tissues
- The laser beam will then heat the collagen underneath the skin. There is no need to be concerned because the laser's heat is comparable to that of a hot stone massage while still stimulating collagen without damaging the skin tissue
- The laser's heat causes it to constrict, triggering the body's natural healing response of producing more new collagen
- The new collagen produced makes the skin firmer and more elastic
Skin tightening with this laser procedure usually takes 30–90 minutes, depending on the amount of area to be tightened. Procedures and time frames may differ between treatment clinics. You can consult first before undergoing the procedure.
Read more: Is It Safe To Remove Hair With A Laser Hair Removal?
Are there any side effects to the laser skin tightening procedure?
Laser skin tightening procedures are generally considered safe to perform. However, only a qualified cosmetic dermatologist or dermatologist should perform this procedure.
However, some risks and side effects may occur, such as:
- Redness
- Mild swelling
- A tingling sensation
- Scarring or skin discoloration
- Discomfort during the procedure
Patients with a history of skin cancer and pregnant women should not undergo laser skin tightening. This procedure may not be suitable for people who are taking certain medications or have certain skin conditions.
Before deciding to do a laser skin tightening procedure, consult with your doctor about the risks and side effects that may occur.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- Sean Edbert Lim, MBBS
Blyss Splane (2022). Types of Cosmetic Laser Procedures. Available from: https://www.verywellhealth.com/cosmetic-laser-procedures-decoding-2710211
Grace Gallagher (2020). Everything to Know About Laser Skin Tightening. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/laser-skin-tightening
Mathieu Rees (2022). What to know about laser skin tightening. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/laser-skin-tightening
Radiation Safety Institute of Canada. Cosmetic Lasers. Available from: https://radiationsafety.ca/factsheets-cosmetic-lasers/
Cleveland Clinic (2022). Collagen. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen
Alicia Ramella (2022). Elastin: What to Know. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/elastin-what-to-know
Harvard TH Chan (2021). Collagen. Available from: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/collagen/