Injectable dermal fillers are relatively well-known as effective ways to address lost facial volume and lines or wrinkles. Laser skin tightening is a more recent technique that can be used in several situations to achieve similar results. This blog post discusses the circumstances when each technique is recommended.
Which situations are best handled by laser skin tightening?
Laser skin tightening is an effective way to reduce or remove fine lines and wrinkles and tighten sagging skin. The non-invasive procedure uses focused laser light pulses to gently heat and stimulate moisture inside the collagen fibers that are primarily responsible for the elasticity and resiliency of our skin – the procedure results in a realignment of the collagen fibers, tightening the skin, as well as stimulating the body’s continued natural production of collagen long after the actual procedure. The procedure is relatively painless, low-risk, and typically does not result in any downtime after treatment.
Which situations are best handled by dermal fillers?
While laser skin tightening stimulates the body’s natural collagen, injectable dermal fillers primarily replace lost collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin. This can help restore the skin’s resiliency and plumpness and help reduce or eliminate lines and wrinkles, as well as compensate for lost volume caused by loss of subcutaneous fat. They are more effective at rejuvenating the appearance of parts of the face that have become hollow, for example, beneath the eyes or the lower cheeks. They are also especially effective at smoothing out fine lines around the eyes or lips and reducing skin folds between the sides of the nose and the mouth.
When used to tighten loose skin, dermal fillers that compensate for lost volume can give a more natural-looking result than simple laser skin tightening can – this is because merely tightening loose skin without compensating for lost volume beneath can result in an unnatural stretched appearance to the skin’s surface.
How to choose between different dermal fillers?
There are a considerable number of different dermal filler products available – we’ve covered the first available options in other blog posts. Your practitioner should be ready to help you choose the best product (or combination of products) to help address your particular situation. Different products are available with a range of different characteristics, suitable for treating problems ranging from fine lines to moderate wrinkles, all the way to deep lines and skin folds. Specialized filters are available to help address more extensive areas of lost volume and provide “lift” to areas that have suffered from sagging over time. Some fillers are also designed to stimulate collagen production over extended periods, much like laser skin tightening.
Dermal fillers share one other useful characteristic – their effect can be reversed, fully or partially, if needed.
Your Laser Skin Care
Your primary concern should be to find a practitioner who can not only suggest ways to solve your cosmetic concerns effectively, but also ensure that changes to your appearance remain natural-looking. The best way to achieve this is to consult with a medically-trained and certified practitioner with extensive experience. Your Laser Skin Care has many years of experience in assisting our clients in achieving their cosmetic goals in the most effective way – call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.
