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North Shore Aesthetics offers several non-surgical skin tightening options for the face and neck. These treatments are significantly less invasive than the traditional facelift procedure and seem like the ideal choice for surgery-wary patients. But even though these treatments, such as CO2 laser resurfacing and Renuvion®, provide noticeably tighter skin, can they tighten as well as a facelift?

Women undergoing a CO2 laser resurfacing at medspa facility.

Do You Have Facial Skin Laxity?

Developing skin laxity is a rite of passage for every man and woman, whether you like it or not. This process occurs gradually with time and worsens by repeated facial expressions, sun damage, poor skincare routines, harsh environments, unhealthy diets, smoking, and other lifestyle factors.

Facial laxity shows in varying degrees. It starts with the general thinning of the skin and worsens to become noticeable nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and jowls.

Sadly, there are no ways to tighten facial skin with exercise or home remedies, and skin-tightening creams and skin-tightening foods are not always reliable.

What Is a Facelift?

Facelift surgery is a procedure that manipulates the skin and underlying tissue to tighten sagging skin on the face. This procedure requires IV sedation and incisions on either side of the face around the ears. The incisions typically heal very nicely and are unnoticeable.

This option offers the most extensive amount of facial and neck correction, but it also requires extended downtime and no exercise or strenuous activity for at least six weeks.

How to Tighten Skin On the Face Without Surgery?

Men and women who are considering laser skin tightening have multiple skin tightening options to address sagging facial skin.

CO2 Laser Resurfacing

CO2 laser resurfacing/tightening treatments use ablative CO2 technology to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen and tightening the underlying tissues. Along with the tightening of the skin, CO2 laser resurfacing improves the appearance of your skin’s tone and texture.

Since these treatments are ablative—meaning that they will cause the top layer of skin to flake off, they do require up to a week of downtime or reduced activity level.

Renuvion®

Renuvion® offers significant skin tightening on the neck. This procedure combines helium plasma and radiofrequency and administers that energy beneath the surface of the neck to tighten the tissues.

This procedure uses very small, nearly invisible incisions through which the Renuvion® probe is inserted just beneath the skin. The placement of this probe allows the treatment to heat and repair from the inside out.

Renuvion® can also tighten the skin on the body and may be an alternative to an arm lift, thigh lift, or tummy tuck for qualifying patients.

What Are the Benefits of Laser Skin Tightening?

Laser skin tightening offers the following benefits:

Firms the skin
Restores a more youthful appearance
Often requires less downtime than facelift surgery
Stimulates collagen production
Does not require surgery

Can Laser Skin Tightening Replace Facelift Surgery?

If you are more interested in laser skin tightening than in facelift surgery, you are not alone. The concept of surgery can be frightening, and non-surgical options are enough to achieve a tightened complexion for qualifying patients.

Unfortunately, laser skin tightening cannot achieve the same levels of correction, so not every patient will be a candidate for non-surgical improvement. The only way to determine your candidacy is by scheduling a consultation and allowing Dr. Schlechter to evaluate your skin needs.

Interested in Learning More?

To see which facial treatment you may be a candidate for, contact Dr. Schlechter at North Shore Aesthetics. Schedule your consultation by calling our office at (847) 393-4770 or by filling out our online contact form.

Dr. Schlechter offers surgical and non-surgical skin tightening options for patients in Chicago, IL, and the greater Chicago area.