When a person ages, so do their skin: it loses elasticity and becomes flabby. It happens due to the reduction of collagen, elastic fiber, and connective tissue in the dermis. Numerous procedures are available to improve skin laxity; however, non-surgical rejuvenation techniques have become increasingly popular in recent years. In turn, it contributed to the popularity of non-invasive technologies designed to tighten the skin.
Commonly, skin laxity has been treated by invasive surgical procedures such as rhytidectomy, also known as facelifting. Kwan et al. (2020) note that such procedures are quite costly, require a surgery room, take a long time to recover from, and need considerable post-operative care. All the risks connected to invasive procedures have given rise to a demand for minimally- and non-invasive methods, which has contributed to the development of several alternative treatments for skin laxity. Although the results obtained from such treatments are not as significant and require more interventions, they carry no risks and negative consequences associated with invasive surgical procedures (Ko et al., 2017). Therefore, the demand for non-invasive procedures has been increasing among patients seeking cosmetic improvements.
When it comes to the specific technologies in this field that are currently resorted to most often, several are equally popular. Kwan et al. (2020) state that these are laser therapy, ultrasound, radiofrequency, and intense pulsed light. They work by targeting energy focused on increasing temperatures in the skin’s deeper layers. According to Wilkerson and Goldberg (2019), increased thermal energy generates the denaturation of collagen while preserving heat-resistant intermolecular cross-links. As a consequence, the collagen polymer’s rubber elastic properties increase, and the formation of new collagen is stimulated, which leads to the tightening of the skin (Wilkerson and Goldberg, 2019). The approximate temperature at which this procedure takes place is often reported as 65°C/149°F. As for alternative non-invasive techniques, among these are chemical peels and numerous skincare products.
It is important for an individual to know what to expect from the procedure and ensure that they do everything necessary to achieve the desired outcome. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (n.d.) notes that the patient is to address their doctor with possible questions and discuss expectations, risks, and desired results. Moreover, the patient is to avoid taking blood-thinning medication two weeks prior and only do the procedure if they are healthy. Afterward, they might experience mild swelling or bruising, which can last up to a week or two, and/or redness, which usually disappears within a couple of hours. However, if the consequences are more severe and/or cannot be managed at home, the patient is to immediately schedule an appointment with the doctor.
Seeing how cosmetic, medical, and beauty professions tend to merge, new aesthetic equipment is developed, and more cosmetic clinics are established, it is evident that specialists nowadays require a bigger set of skills. This is the case with dermal therapists as well: if they are as qualified as the time’s demand, clinics are able to extend the range of services and provide clients with various treatment options. Considering the ever-increasing popularity of non-invasive skin tightening procedures, a good dermal therapist must know how they work, to whom they are contraindicated, and their benefits and drawbacks. According to De Vries et al. (2021), ideally, one is to know how to perform each of the procedures and be able to provide their services to customers. Granted, it is demanding, but scientific progress needs specialists who are willing to bring the fruits of its advances to people, and dermal therapists are among them.
In conclusion, non-invasive skin tightening procedures are taking precedence over invasive ones in terms of popularity. They carry fewer risks and negative consequences as compared to surgical procedures; however, non-invasive techniques are not as effective and might require additional interventions. Current dermal therapists are to know about the existing and emerging treatment options in this field and be able to perform procedures or at least provide information of interest to clients.
References
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. (n.d.). Non-invasive skin tightening treatments.
De Vries, F., Welbie, M., Tjin, E., Driessen, R., & van de Kerkhof, P. (2021). Reallocations in acne healthcare: Exploring the possible roles and added value of non-physicians by a mixed-methods study design. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), 1-9.
Ko, E. J., Hong, J. Y., Kwon, T.-R., Choi, E. J., Jang, Y.-J., Choi, S. Y., Yoo, K. H., Kim, S. Y. & Kim, B. J. (2017). Efficacy and safety of non‐invasive body tightening with high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).Skin Research and Technology, 23(4), 558-562.
Kwan, K. R., Kolansky, Z., Abittan, B. J., Farberg, A. S., & Goldenberg, G. (2020). Skin tightening.Cutis, 106(3), 134-137.
Wilkerson, E. C., & Goldberg, D. J. (2019). Noninvasive skin tightening. In M. Alam (Ed.), Evidence-based procedural dermatology (pp. 225-241). Springer, Cham.