Acquiring years of wisdom and experience should be celebrated! However, these decades of wisdom and experience come with signs of aging. You may notice fine lines, wrinkles, or lax skin. While we cannot turn back the hands of time, we can change how we age.
It seems like there are infinite amounts of anti-aging creams and treatments available for consumers, but where do we start, and how effective are these treatments? Through your research or by word-of-mouth, you may have also come across the terms skin tightening and soft lift. What are the differences, and how would I know which is right for me?
Here at MD Cosmetic, our patient-centric approach is at our core, and we pride ourselves on our staff, which are industry-leading experts, allowing us to provide you with the best techniques using cutting-edge technologies for skin tightening and lifting, such as Morpheus8 and soft lift treatments.
Through our decades of experience and expertise, we have helped thousands of patients feel their best in their own skin. So, let us jump in and have a closer look at what skin-tightening treatments can do for you.
What Causes Aging?
As we age, our skin slows its natural collagen production, which can cause skin laxity, fine lines, and wrinkles. In addition to slow collagen production, our skin loses the ability to hold on to water molecules to keep our skin moisturized and retain volume, which is the work of our natural hyaluronic acid. Some life events, such as pregnancy or weight loss, also impact our skin’s elasticity. Then, of course, there are lifestyle choices that can negatively impact skin health, such as smoking, drinking, stress, and/or lack of sleep.
Explore Skin Tightening Treatments
Skin tightening treatment is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure designed to improve the appearance of laxity or loose skin. This type of treatment typically uses heat or energy-based technology to stimulate collagen production in the skin, which helps to firm and tighten the skin over time. As we age, our body’s ability to produce collagen slows down, resulting in sagging and uneven appearance of the skin. Skin tightening treatments reignite the body’s collagen production and help lift your facial features for a naturally youthful appearance.
Radiofrequency and Microneedling
Morpheus8 is a minimally invasive treatment combining innovative radiofrequency energy technologies and microneedling. This treatment is commonly performed on the face, neck, and around the eyes, but it can also tighten loose skin on the abdomen, arms, and thighs.
Morpheus8 can remodel the skin by creating controlled micro-injuries and delivering radiofrequency through these channels to directly target layers of our skin responsible for collagen production. Morpheus8 results will keep improving along with the skin’s continuous collagen production- boosted by the combinations of microneedling and radiofrequency (RF).
Within a week after the treatment, the skin will look brighter and more radiant. After a few months, you will notice a visible improvement in texture, overall skin tone, and tightening. Although you will see some results on your first treatment, for best results, we recommend starting with at least three treatments spaced one month apart.
What to Expect from a Soft Lift
Soft Lift is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure that combines the use of neuromodulators (a.k.a Botox) and dermal fillers to address a range of concerns on the face, including fine lines, wrinkles, loss of volume, and to rejuvenate the look.
During your Soft Lift treatment, neuromodulators are injected to relax the muscles that cause “dynamic wrinkles.” While dynamic wrinkles are completely normal, the repetition of motion plus a combination of our collagen slowing down can create static wrinkles that will stay on the face over time, even without using facial expressions. They are commonly seen on the forehead, in between the brows (elevens), and around the eyes (crow’s feet).
Dermal fillers, a.k.a “liquid facelift,” complement your neuromodulator injections. A filler injection contains hyaluronic acid, a type of sugar molecule naturally produced by the body and responsible for retaining moisture in the skin. Fillers are designed to decrease the appearance of fine lines on areas such as the marionette lines and nasolabial folds. It also adds volume to areas such as the temples, cheeks, lips, chin, and tear troughs to look rejuvenated and address any asymmetry.
Both are Real Anti-Aging Heroes
Both treatments are non-surgical or minimally invasive. That means there is minimal downtime, and you can resume most of your daily activities right after your appointment.
Both treatments deliver great results for our patients, but there can be subtle differences: the effects of skin-tightening treatments will show gradually over time as the skin rebuilds itself. That also means that your results will always look natural.
On the other hand, neuromodulators have no downtime. However, its results will show within two weeks after the treatment as your muscles will need time to relax. Results are immediate with dermal fillers; however, bruising and swelling may occur a day after the treatment. Your injector will give you aftercare guidelines following the treatment to minimize bruising and swelling. Soft Lift results may last up to 12 months, but neuromodulators will need a touch-up every 3 to 4 months.
Decision Time
Now that you know a bit more about both treatment options, how do you decide which one’s right for you? Consider your specific concerns and the results you’re looking for. Ultimately, skin tightening treatments and Soft Lift treatments work synergistically to create the most natural rejuvenation treatment for aging skin. With skin tightening, we are stimulating your natural collagen to revive youthful skin, while Soft Lift treatments add instant volume to address fine lines, wrinkles, and any asymmetry.
In general, as with any medical procedure, it is best to consult with a certified treatment expert before deciding. Only a medical aesthetic professional who has evaluated your skin, who knows about your medical history, and as well as your personal beauty goals can ultimately advise which path to take.
Start your skin journey with MD Cosmetic
Book a consultation with one of our expert treatment designers today to determine the best treatment plan for yourself.