People typically associate skin tightening with its most dramatic form – the facelift. For some, the first image that comes to mind is that of Joan Rivers, whose numerous cosmetic procedures have left her skin looking warped and unnatural. While I certainly don’t oppose the use of cosmetic surgical procedures in moderation – my own medical advisor, Elliot Lach, MD, is a fantastic plastic surgeon – I readily support and encourage the use of cosmetic laser treatments as non-invasive, affordable, and low-risk alternatives.
In addition to removing hair and leg and facial veins, the GentleYAG laser is also capable and proven effective in tightening skin and thus removing or reducing wrinkles. The laser “tightens” by heating the underlying layers in the skin which in turn promotes new collagen formation. The result is smoother, younger looking skin. The GentleYAG has a feature that many laser workstations do not – this is the Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD) which emits a shot of a coolant for each laser pulse, quickly cooling the skin and easing discomfort. (As a cost-saving measure, some practitioners will turn off the DCD, but I believe that client comfort is a priority.)
While no laser can provide drastic results, for mild-to-moderate or more natural-looking results, the YAG is the way to go. In comparison to several other non-surgical skin tightening technologies and treatments, the GentleYAG laser is associated with less discomfort, has fewer risks, is less costly, and takes less time out of your busy schedule.
In many cases, surgical procedures such as facelifts are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Laser is the wave of the future. Younger, smoother skin is now only a laser treatment away.
Yee, Suzanne W., Candela Clinical Bulletin No. 15, “Tissue-Tightening Satisfaction with the GentleYAG.”
Taylor, Mark, Candela Clinical Bulletin No. 8, “Skin Tightening Using the GentleYAG Laser: Wrinkle Reduction.”
Laser Nurse 