Skin Tightening without Surgery - Korman Plastic Surgery

Non-surgical skin tightening is possible with the latest in radiofrequency, ultrasound, microneedling, and laser treatments. ThermiTight, Ultherapy, and Microneedling, are three procedure options for tightening skin in the face, neck, and body, allowing patients to rejuvenate skin throughout their bodies without setting foot into the operating room.

Finding the most effective skin-tightening treatments without going through a surgical procedure can be challenging. But, after a thorough assessment of patient concerns, surgeons can provide cost-effective, customizable treatment options to the individual.

Nationally-recognized plastic surgeon Dr. Joshua Korman provides individualized non-surgical treatments to refresh and rejuvenate aging skin at three locations in San Jose, Mountain View, and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Discuss skin tightening without surgery with him by arranging a personal consultation at your nearest location. Prospective patients need only reach out at one of the numbers below, or complete a simple online contact form to schedule their appointment.

Mountain View: (650) 671-2035

San Jose: (669) 318-0259

Carmel: (831) 244-8681

Before & After Photos

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How Skin Changes Over Time

Skin laxity is among the most challenging signs of aging to combat. However, there are many ways to do so. Surgical options like the facelift, neck lift and the tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) physically lift, tighten, and excise skin undoubtedly provide patients with dramatic results. However, not everyone wants the significant downtime and expense of surgery. This is why non-surgical procedures are so beneficial.

Sagging skin is a result of numerous intrinsic (internal) physiological processes and external (extrinsic) factors like UV damage that cause the skin to show its age. ⁽¹⁾ One of the most important areas of decline is the extracellular matrix (ECM).

What is the ECM?

The ECM is made up of the molecules that support the skin’s structure. Two of its most important components are collagen and elastin, which serve to keep our skin supple, plumped, and taut. However, with age, the quality and the quantity of these molecules declines, and the body slows their production. This results in detrimental effects in many different areas of the body.

Common Signs of Aging

Nasolabial Folds
Cheek Hollowing
Perioral Lines
Prominent Jowls
Double Chin
Platysmal Bands
Neck Sagging
Upper Arm Sagging
Abdominal Laxity
Stretch Marks
Thigh Laxity
Cellulite

About Non-Surgical Skin Tightening

Skin tightening taps into non-surgical technological advances that enhance ECM function and revitalize skin. With the minimally-invasive use of mechanical or heat energy (or a combination of the two), surgeons can cause controlled injuries in the deeper layers of the skin to induce tissue remodeling, the effects of which include skin tightening and a lessening of the appearance of common signs of aging.

How Lax is Too Lax?

Although skin tightening without surgery is extremely versatile, there are some limitations. More severe cases of skin laxity may require a surgical procedure such as a facelift, brow lift, arm lift, or thigh lift if results cannot be achieved with a less invasive procedure.

The best way to find out which skin tightening procedure is right for you is to book a consultation with Dr. Korman.

ThermiTight

ThermiTight, or thermistor-controlled subdermal skin tightening, is a minimally-invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to smooth and tighten skin in the following areas.

Face
Neck
Breasts
Arms
Abdomen
Thighs
Knees

RF is a form of electromagnetic energy used in many medical settings. It is a proven method of skin rejuvenation that heats the lower level of the skin, the dermis, while leaving the upper level of the skin, the epidermis, unaffected. ⁽²⁾

Does ThermiTight Really Work?

Yes! The ThermiTight platform produces an RF current that generates heat. This thermal energy passes through tissues, causing subcutaneous remodeling and tissue rejuvenation. ⁽³⁾ Performed using local anesthesia, ThermiTight treatment employs the use of specially-designed probes placed strategically in the treatment area. The ThermiTight device not only tightens skin, but also stimulates collagen and elastin production to boost the skin’s overall appearance. With the use of this treatment modality, patients can reap the rewards of smoother, tighter, younger-looking skin.

Ultherapy

Ultherapy is known as the “non-surgical facelift”. It’s an FDA-approved ultrasound-assisted treatment with no needles, no incisions, and no sutures. The treatment can be customized to meet the unique physical characteristics of each patient changing the depth and strength of the ultrasound waves. ⁽⁴⁾ With the use of a specialized handpiece, Dr. Korman helps his patients achieve striking results in the face, neck, and decolletage and avoid the healing-intensive downtime of a facelift or brow lift.

How Can Ultrasound Tighten My Skin?

Simply put, ultrasound is high-frequency sound waves. Special minimally-invasive transducers on the Ultherapy handpiece direct this sound energy to a targeted point in the treatment area. Once this is done, the high temperatures produced cause controlled tissue coagulation (damage), tightening and remodeling tissues from within.

Microneedling

Microneedling uses the mechanical power of tiny needles to tighten and revitalize skin. It can be used as a standalone treatment, or as part of a combined facial rejuvenation procedure using platelet-rich plasma (PRP), sometimes referred to as the Vampire Facial. As one of the many popular minimally-invasive facial rejuvenation procedures, microneedling requires very little preparation and a short recovery period compared to facial surgical procedures.

One of the clearest examples of the success and versatility of microneedling is its use in, and outside the doctor’s office. In addition to its ability to tighten skin, microneedling is also an effective and safe way to treat wrinkles and lines and atrophic (pitted) acne scarring. ⁽⁵⁾

As well as tightening skin, one of the great benefits of microneedling is its ability to stimulate the ECM. Sometimes known as collagen induction therapy, microneedling causes multiple small mechanical injuries in the skin at a controlled depth, stimulating new collagen and elastin production and rejuvenating every area targeted.

Is Microneedling a Painful Procedure?

Microneedling is accompanied by local numbing in the treatment area, meaning patients will only feel slight, short-lived discomfort during the procedure.

Candidates

Finding a non-surgical treatment that tightens skin and improves overall skin condition is simple with the professional guidance of a board-certified plastic surgeon. Most patients with mild-to-moderate loose skin can consider a non-surgical skin rejuvenation procedure with either ThermiTight, Ultherapy, or Microneedling treatment.

Some conditions may prevent a candidate from receiving skin tightening treatment. These include the following.

Allergies to local numbing agents
Active inflammation or infection in the treatment area
Inherited or acquired conditions that affect blood clotting
Autoimmune disorders that affect connective tissues
Serious medical conditions such as heart or liver failure
Pregnancy or still in the process of nursing

Personal Consultation

Dr. Korman meets with patients to discuss how best to move forward with their skin treatment at a personal consultation in one of his three office locations in Mountain View, San Jose, and Carmel. Patients are free to describe the areas of skin sagging they wish to address as Dr. Korman notes the severity of skin laxity in those areas. After a thorough discussion of anti-aging strategies, and a review of their medical history, Dr. Korman will determine whether a surgical or a non-surgical procedure is most appropriate.

Cost of Non-Surgical Skin Tightening in Mountain View

The cost of non-surgical skin tightening treatment depends on the treatment modality and the number of sessions needed to achieve the desired results. For an accurate estimate, and for an assessment of skin laxity, we invite patients to book a personal consultation with Dr. Korman by calling Mountain View at (650) 671-2035, San Jose at (669) 318-0259, or Carmel-by-the-Sea (831) 244-8681. Alternatively, patients may reach us by filling out an online contact form on our website.

Read more about non-surgical face and body procedures on Dr. Korman’s blog.

FAQ

Can I tighten facial skin without a facelift?

Yes! Provided a patient has mild-to-moderate sagging in the face it is possible to undergo a minimally-invasive procedure such as ThermiTight, Ultherapy, or microneedling in various areas of the face and body. Non-surgical skin tightening is a more cost-effective way to achieve effective results with minimal downtime in most cases.

How effective is non-surgical skin tightening?

The effectiveness of skin tightening procedures like microneedling is supported by research and thousands of satisfied patients. Although every procedure and patient differs from the next, in most cases, non-surgical skin tightening can treat mild-to-moderate skin sagging in most skin types.

Is non-surgical skin tightening worth it?

Compared to a facelift, a brow lift, or another significant “investment” surgery, non-surgical skin tightening, when performed early enough can set a patient up very well in combating more severe skin sagging in the future.

References

Zhang S, Duan E. Fighting against Skin Aging. Cell Transplantation. 2018;27(5):729-738. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0963689717725755
Bonjorno AR, Gomes TB, Pereira MC, et al. Radiofrequency therapy in esthetic dermatology: A review of clinical evidences. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2019;19(2):278-281. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.13206
Dayan E, Burns AJ, J. Rohrich R, Theodorou S. The Use of Radiofrequency in Aesthetic Surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2020;Publish Ahead of Print. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000002861
Guillen Fabi S. Noninvasive skin tightening: focus on new ultrasound techniques. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. Published online February 2015:47. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/ccid.s69118
Thi Minh, Phuong Pham, et al. “Microneedling Therapy for Atrophic Acne Scar: Effectiveness and Safety in Vietnamese Patients.” Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 7, no. 2, 29 Jan. 2019, pp. 293–297, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6364723/?report=reader