We all want to look our best, but the passage of time often works against us. As we age, our skin tends to lose a lot of its elasticity. If you are experiencing that, it’s only natural to want to find a solution and get back a bit of that look you had when you were younger. Luckily, there are a lot of solutions out there, but they aren’t all meant for everybody. So, before you settle on the first answer you find, let’s look at the pros and cons of a few popular options.
Facelifts and Chemical Peels
First of all, you have the traditional options of facelifts and chemical peels. While both are accepted solutions for certain wrinkles and skin conditions, they come with a lot of down sides. For example, they can make certain skin conditions worse. They can also be expensive and uncomfortable. In fact, you might even have to take time off of work to recover from certain invasive procedures that fall into those categories. That’s why may people opt for less invasive options.
Skin Tightening Using Radio Frequencies
One of the least difficult procedures to undergo that falls in the cosmetic lasers treatment category is radio frequency treatment. The radio frequencies can be targeted to hit specific spots on your skin. The effect is a warm sensation. When the collagen in your skin, which is what gives it its elasticity, is heated up by the radio frequencies, it is stimulated into doing its job again, and even helps new collagen to be produced.
The nice thing about most radio frequency treatments is that they don’t come with a lot of side effects or recovery time. In fact, you can have such a procedure and often get right back to your daily activities immediately whereas with a facelift you have to worry about having an actual surgical procedure.
The only major downside to RF treatments is that you may need to have multiple RF treatments in order to get the results that you want. That means taking a little extra time out of your schedule here and there. It also may mean a little added expense.
Ultrasound Treatments
Another popular alternative to facelifts is ultrasound treatments. Ultrasound technology is often combined with infrared or similar light technology to achieve the desired result. Ultrasound treatments work a lot like radio frequency treatments in that they will heat your skin just enough to stimulate collagen production. The biggest difference between the two types of treatments is that RF treatment is meant more for surface issues, while ultrasound treatment can actually penetrate your skin right down to its foundation. Another difference is that ultrasound treatment usually doesn’t need to be performed as many times as RF treatment. Some patients can even have it done just once.
That being said, ultrasound treatments aren’t without their downsides. Since they can penetrate your skin quite deeply, you might have a flushed appearance for several hours, or even an entire day, after your treatment is completed. Also, they aren’t capable of giving you the radical results that you could get from a facelift.
The treatment that you choose is ultimately up to you, but either RF or ultrasound treatments may be best, if you just want to correct a few minor skin problems. It’s generally a good idea to avoid going under a surgeon’s knife unless you absolutely have to.
