Skin Tightening in Santa Cruz, CA
What Skin Tightening Treatments are Available at RSMD?
At RSMD Medical Aesthetics, we take a customized approach to skin tightening, carefully evaluating each patient’s needs during an initial consultation. Based on your goals, skin qualities and anatomy, we will recommend a plan using one or more skin tightening techniques. As experts of non-surgical skin tightening treatments, we are proud to offer advanced skin tightening solutions that deliver significant results and minimal downtime. We currently offer the following treatment options:
MicroLaser Facial
Our MicroLaser Facial is RSMD’s signature treatment for addressing anti-aging issues as well as unwanted pigmentation. Dr. Small’s combined state-of-the-art 1064nm laser protocols with prescription-grade esthetician treatments effectively stimulate collagen remodeling at the cellular level while addressing a multitude of concerns for your skin texture and tone. This is a great option for patients who want to achieve skin tightening benefits while also addressing cosmetic concerns such as melasma, enlarged pores, uneven skin texture, or oily skin.
Radiofrequency (RF) Microneedling
Radiofrequency microneedling is a minimally-invasive treatment that combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to remodel collagen and elastin at varying depths of the skin. Like traditional microneedling, the RF microneedling treatment is administered using a handheld device with tiny needles. The device is carefully pressed into the skin, inflicting micro injuries to trigger the body’s healing response. This healing response causes the body to produce new collagen to rejuvenate the skin, leading to cosmetic and skin health benefits. While the needles are beneath the skin’s surface, they’ll emit heat via radiofrequency energy. This gentle heating further boosts collagen production, while also causing the skin tissue to contract for skin tightening benefits.
523nm Laser Peel
Our 532nm laser peel stimulates collagen remodeling at the dermal level to improve overall skin texture, and also removes unwanted pigmentation at the same time. It’s a non-ablative laser treatment that tightens the skin and rejuvenates the complexion to give you younger, healthier skin.
Infrared (IR) Skin Tightening
IR (infrared) skin tightening uses infrared light energy to renew and tighten the skin. IR skin tightening works by using infrared wavelengths to safely deliver heat into the deeper layers of skin tissue without harming the surface. This process gently heats the skin tissue, stimulating new collagen and elastin production. Over time, the body uses this new collagen and elastin to smooth wrinkles and lift sagging skin. Additionally, the heating process causes skin contraction to instantly create firmer skin.
Vampire Facial
The vampire facial, also known as a PRP facial, utilizes your body’s own healing abilities and growth factors to achieve transformative facial rejuvenation. This is done by combining microneedling with PRP. Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a technique that involves inflicting micro injuries to the treatment area using tiny needles. These small injuries trigger a healing response in the body, resulting in a dramatic increase in collagen production. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, therapy, is another rejuvenative technique that uses the growth factors in the blood to stimulate healing and tissue repair. It naturally stimulates collagen and elastin production to diminish signs of aging. Together, microneedling and PRP offer impressive skin rejuvenation benefits.
Frequently asked questions
How Does Skin Tightening Work?
Generally, most skin tightening treatments trigger the same reactions in the body to tighten the skin, although the tightening process is activated with different techniques. For example, most of the skin tightening treatments we offer at RSMD Medical Aesthetics use one or both of these strategies:
- Collagen & Elastin Stimulation: Collagen and elastin are two vital proteins in the skin, which play a large role in keeping the skin hydrated, tight, and youthful. These proteins naturally decrease during the aging process. Many skin tightening treatments stimulate the natural production of collagen and elastin in the body. The body will increase the production of these proteins in response to treatment, directing these resources to the skin to repair and rejuvenate it. This creates gradual, but long-lasting skin tightening benefits.
- Skin Tissue Contraction: When the skin tissue is heated to the optimal temperatures, it naturally tightens in response. This heating process can also stimulate collagen and elastin stimulation, but the immediate skin tightening is a desirable benefit and a common goal of many skin tightening techniques.
What Areas of the Body Can Be Treated with Skin Tightening?
At RSMD Medical Aesthetics, our skin tightening treatments can be safely used for either the face or the body. However, we may recommend certain treatments over others depending on your treatment area and your unique cosmetic goals. By specializing in numerous skin tightening treatment options, we are able to provide skin tightening treatments for various areas of the body, including:
- Face
- Neck
- Hands
- Arms
- Abdomen
- And more
What is the Best Skin Tightening Treatment for Me?
When it comes to skin tightening, there is no “best” singular treatment option that’s ideal for everyone. At RSMD Medical Aesthetics, Dr. Rebecca Small takes a customized approach and carefully considers each patient’s unique needs and goals to determine the optimal skin tightening treatment plan.
Several factors come into play when deciding the ideal approach, including the patient’s areas of concern, extent of skin laxity, skin type, skin tone/color, time frame for treatment, discomfort tolerance, and budget or cost considerations. During a one-on-one consultation, Dr. Small completes a thoughtful assessment looking at a patient’s overall health, areas bothering them most, their aesthetic vision, and all other relevant factors. She then draws upon her clinical expertise and artistic eye to suggest a customized protocol of skin tightening techniques that will address the patient’s precise problem areas and goals. Her goal is always to provide an individualized skin tightening plan for natural-looking outcomes.
What is a Skin Tightening Treatment Like?
All of the skin tightening treatments we offer at RSMD Medical Aesthetics are non-surgical, requiring no anesthetics or incisions. This means that your skin tightening treatment can be performed comfortably in our office, and typically takes no longer than one hour. Of course, the exact techniques and processes involved in your skin tightening procedure will depend on the treatments administered for your customized treatment plan. During your consultation, Dr. Small will outline this plan and explain exactly what you can expect leading up to, during, and after your treatment.
Is There Any Downtime After Skin Tightening Treatments?
Our skin tightening treatments offer little to no downtime, with most treatments allowing patients to return to work and other normal activities immediately after their appointment. Some treatments may cause temporary skin irritation, such as swelling, redness, or sensitivity, but these side effects are typically minor and resolve within a few days of treatment. We may also provide specific aftercare instructions depending on the skin tightening treatment you receive. Patients can feel confident starting a skin tightening treatment plan knowing that it will have minimal impact on their usual routines and lifestyles.
How Long Do Skin Tightening Results Last?
Skin tightening treatments often produce long-lasting results thanks to their ability to stimulate collagen and elastin production. While these results may take a few months to become fully visible due to the gradual process of the body producing and implementing these proteins, they can last up to 2 years with optimal treatment. Furthermore, some skin tightening treatments also produce immediate skin tightening via skin tissue contraction. For best results, we may recommend a series of skin tightening treatment sessions, as well as routine maintenance sessions to prolong your results as long as possible.
How Much Do Skin Tightening Treatments Cost?
At RSMD Medical Aesthetics, the cost of skin tightening treatments may vary depending on how we customize the treatment approach, which could include a varying number of treatment sessions and various treatment techniques that are unique to your skin qualities and cosmetic goals. During your consultation, Dr. Small will develop a customized treatment plan and explain the procedure costs associated with it. Our goal is to provide you with upfront pricing before you begin your treatment so that there are no surprises throughout your treatment experience.
Why Choose RSMD for Your Skin Tightening Treatments?
Dr. Rebecca Small is an industry leader in facial aesthetics with extensive experience customizing skin tightening treatments to help patients refresh and rejuvenate the appearance. Her artistic vision and technical skill with skin tightening techniques means she can develop a tailored approach to target your unique skin concerns and goals for rejuvenation. From your initial consultation through maintaining your optimal results long-term, Dr. Small oversees every part of your skin tightening experience at RSMD to ensure your satisfaction.
If you’re interested in skin tightening treatments, we invite you to schedule a consultation at RSMD Medical Aesthetics. Call us today to take the first step towards achieving your cosmetic goals, and discover why patients trust Dr. Rebecca Small and her team at RSMD Medical Aesthetics for their skin tightening procedures.
Dr. Small has the experience and expertise to treat individual facial anatomy because there is no one else exactly like you. We are serving the communities of Santa Cruz, Aptos, Watsonville, Capitola, Soquel, Scotts Valley. Call 831-475-1077 to book your appointment today. Your skin will thank you.