Treatments To Lift And Tighten – That Aren’t Botox Or Fillers!
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Getting older has its benefits, but it can sometimes be a drag. Ultimately, we can point our finger at three primary aging culprits: lifestyle habits, Mr. Sunshine, and gravity. All three conspire against us in tandem and, just like a plump grape left out in summer, over time we start seeing the signs of time.
Sagging and laxity are high up on the aging complaint list, but it’s the 21st century and we’ve been gifted a handful of effective aesthetic treatments that counteract and reverse both. With dermatologist insight, we’re dishing on the absolute best lifting, toning, and tightening treatments on the market so you can outsmart the clock without having to opt for temporary fixes like Botox and fillers.
1. The Treatment: Ultherapy
Ultherapy is a non-invasive, FDA-cleared procedure that specifically targets sagging and laxity on your neck, just under your chin, and around your eyebrows. It’s now also approved for targeting your décolletage, which is really susceptible to aging since the skin’s so thin.
Results of Ultherapy to lift the brows and hooded lids:
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“The Ultherapy procedure stimulates collagen production by delivering focused ultrasound energy to the skin’s foundational layer, which is typically addressed in cosmetic surgery, without cutting or disrupting the surface of the skin,” says Dr. Sapna Palep, a board-certified dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology in New York.
Dr. Palep says that this treatment is considered the best, non-invasive facelift alternative out there, and that results are apparent almost immediately and will continue improving over the following three months. Most patients just need one treatment, but it’s not cheap at $4,000 to $5,500 for one area.
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2. The Treatment: Vampire Facial with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
Kim Kardashian put the Vampire Facial on the map when she posted a picture of herself mid-treatment to Instagram a few years ago. The blood may be off-putting, but the process is no joke when it comes to toning and tightening.
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“The Vampire Facial is primarily used to improve skin tone and texture, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and to tighten skin. It can also be done to any part of the body where you’re looking to improve scarring, stretch marks, or skin texture in general,” says Dr. Palep.
First, your derm will draw your blood (hence the name of the facial). The blood is deposited into a fancy device that strategically spins it down a centrifuge in order to extract the platelet rich plasma (PRP). That material is then injected or applied topically to your skin.
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“It’s a highly effective treatment and offers great results that last,” says Dr. Palep. “We generally recommend three to six treatments spaced one month apart.” Cost ranged from $500 to $1000 per treatment.
3. The Treatment: Secret RF
Consider the Secret RF treatment “microneedling on steroids,” says Dr. Palep. It combines the power of radiofrequency with microneedling to help stimulate and remodel collagen, which in turn tones and tightens skin while addressing other signs of aging (like wrinkles).
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Dr. Palep adds, “It works best on the face, abdomen, and also anywhere there are stretch marks. In comparison to other treatments, the results are dramatic after you’ve had three to four treatments.” The cost for each treatment ranges from $400 to $1500 depending on what area you’re treating.
4. The Treatment: Vivace Microneedling
Another treatment that’s very similar to Secret RF is Vivace Microneedling, which combines microneedling, radiofrequency tightening, and LED light therapy. It’s intended for just the face, though.
“Not only does it tighten and lift sagging skin, but it diminishes fine lines, wrinkles, and other blemishes,” says Dr. Sobel. “Radiofrequency and microneedling both stimulate collagen production by creating microchannels deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen production. This softens wrinkles and fine lines as well as tightens, creating a lifting effect.”
Full results set in about a month to two months following your treatments and a minimum of three treatments — at $800 to $1000 a pop — is recommended.
5. The Treatment: EmSculpt
If your end-game is to tighten and tone your stomach, butt, arms, or legs, then EmSculpt might be your best bet.
“EmSculpt is a new treatment that stimulates muscles in the [targeted area] to simultaneously build muscle mass while also reducing unwanted fat,” says Dr. Howard Sobel, a cosmetic dermatologic surgeon and the director of Sobel Skin. “No needles or liposuction are needed. Instead, non-invasive HIFEM® (High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic) technology induces supramaximal muscle contractions – [that’s medical jargon for super deep muscle fibers] – which is not achievable through voluntary contractions like sit-ups or regular core exercises.”
In other words, EmSculpt is like a mega-amped version of a workout that allows you to work your muscles more deeply and way more intense than you ever could at the gym. The contractions force the muscle tissue to adapt, and they become tighter and more toned.
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“The results are noticeable with an average of 16% increase in muscle mass and 19% decrease in fat loss,” says Dr. Sobel. “Usually, four 30-minute treatments are done over the course of 2 weeks. Studies show that this is how the treatment works best.” You can expect to pay $3,000 to $4,000 for a series of four treatments.
Figuring out what tightening and toning treatment to spring for ultimately depends on your goals. We recommend setting up a consultation with a couple of different facilities and then moving forward from there. Let us know any questions in the comments below.
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