Nonsurgical skin tightening is one of the most popular and exciting areas of cosmetic dermatology. From lifting sagging skin to contouring the face and body, today’s procedures such as Sofwave™ Skin Tightening and SkinTyte™, offer many rejuvenating benefits without the need for sutures and surgical downtime. Those benefits make them ideal for people who aren’t ready to commit to surgery or prefer less-invasive methods.
Here at Dermatology Associates of Rochester, we believe in a fully bespoke approach to treatment. We don’t just want to help you choose the best skin tightening treatment; we want to help you choose the best skin tightening treatment for you.
In this guide, we will cover the types of nonsurgical skin tightening services we offer and why they may be an excellent choice for you.
Sofwave
Sofwave is a unique alternative to traditional facelift surgery—and even comparable nonsurgical treatments—because it harnesses the power of ultrasound energy to rebuild collagen and elastin, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles and lifting the brow area.
What It Does
This treatment is considered an ideal “prejuvenation” treatment because it effectively treats mild to moderate skin laxity in the face and neck without breaking the skin. Heat energy passes through the skin’s surface at precisely the right depth to repair and rebuild damaged skin without impacting surrounding fat and muscles.
What Treatment Is Like
Sofwave is performed in-ofice and treament typically takes 30 to 45 minutes:
- First, we apply a numbing cream to the treatment area
- Next, we cleanse the skin and apply a conductive gel
- We move the Sofwave device over the skin’s surface, transmitting the ultrasound energy
During treatment, you’ll likely experience pulses of warmth as the Sofwave device moves over your skin,. However, it features a cooling mechanism to enhance your comfort.
As collagen gradually builds, your skin smooths and firms, with full results usually visible by around 3 to 6 months post-treatment. Most patients only require a single Sofwave treatment to achieve their youthful look.
SkinTyte
A laser-based treatment SkinTyte uses infrared light energy to promote collagen production. The heat it generates amid the subdermal tissues tightens the skin, while the newly created collagen restores suppleness to the skin over the following months.
What It Does
SkinTyte addresses superficial skin concerns, such as sun damage, a rough or irregular skin texture, and visible signs of aging. It can also be safely and effectively used all over the face and body.
What Treatment Is Like
Each SkinTyte session lasts about 30 minutes and treatments are typically very well-tolerated:
- First, we apply gel to the targeted skin
- Then, the handheld applicator transmits pulses of light into treated areas
- The device’s cooling tip prevents the skin from getting too warm
Typically, patients undergo a series of six SkinTyte treatments to achieve the desired rejuvenating effects. The entire procedure is painless and involves no downtime to recover—although the body will immediately get to work on fortifying the tissue with collagen.
Your final results should be visible within 3 to 4 months, though maintenance treatments are encouraged every 3 to 6 months to maximize the skin tightening benefits.
Who’s a Good Candidate For Nonsurgical Skin Tightening?
The best nonsurgical skin tightening candidates are concerned about mild to moderate fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and jowling. It’s an ideal solution for patients who want to appear refreshed without undergoing surgery or setting aside downtime. However, patients with severe sagging or excess skin are usually better candidates for a surgical facelift or neck lift.
Enjoy Firmer, More Supple Skin
If you want to look younger without surgery, we cover several nonsurgical methods to tighten and tone your body in our related blog post. We would love to discuss how we can best help you achieve your skin tightening goals, so please request a consultation or call us at
(585) 272-0700 to get in touch.
This blog was originally published in June 2023 and updated in October 2024.
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