Non Surgical Skin Tightening for the Tummy?

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Noninvasive Skin Tightening Work! ..or Does It? Claims, Fact and Fiction

The problem with noninvasive skin tightening is that everyone wants it and everyone wants to believe it works.  The result is practitioners of all sorts capitalizing on this demand.  The truth about skin tightening interventions is that almost all of them work AND NONE OF THEM WORK.  What I mean by this is that there are many ways to convert energy into heat inside or below the skin causing contraction.  The problem is that to deliver clinically effective results the tissue needs to reach at a minimum 43 C which is uncomfortable and can be scary for the patient and the practitioner.  This often results in ineffective treatment and wasted time and money.  I have developed extensive experience with noninvasive technologies mot because I'm a fan but because my patients demand it.  After using several "best in class" technologies to deliver definitive results, my patients were relatively pleased but I was underwhelmed.  THis is why I started using  a treatment that we call Maerckks Multimodal Therapy(MMT) in my practice.  All this is is an intelligently designed multitechnology treatment customized for the individual patient.  I use multiple diffferent frequencies and administration systems for radiofrequency delivery, three different ultrasound frequencies, infrared pulsed light, two different laser systems in concert to deliver immediate significant results that are hard to argue with and continue improving for weeks.  I think the only way to get real results is to combine technologies under the direction of a plastic surgeon that understands the capabilities and limitations of noninvasive skin tightening.  No one technology really delivers anything significant.  Also realiize that even my MMT results that I am very proud of do not remotely compare to what I can achieve with surgery and the cost can approach or exceed that of surgery depending on location and individual patient findings

In truth, nonsurgical options give only mild improvement compared to surgical lifting. Skin tightening can be done with a combination of Vanquish, truSculpt iD, Venus Legacy, Exilis, Cellutone/Zwave. However, for best results, a Tummy Tuck procedure can be combined with a high definition procedure at the same time. For best results, I recommend VASER HI-DEF Liposuction with ThermiRF, Renuvion, InMode BodyTite and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi-definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

We have a lot of ways to tighten the skin. The number one issues is typically sun damage and/or superficial fat loss. We have developed a new series of treatments using abrasion techniques along with different wavelengths of light to target discoloration, fine wrinkles and shadowing problems.  Even fat transfer, fillers and other radiofrequency devices are showing good promise in this field.
The key is to be critical, be specific about what bothers you and we can use the many tools available to us to target that part of your anatomy. This can range from volumizers to superficial tightening techniques as I mentioned above.
Hope this helps.
Best of luck,
DrC

I am a big proponent in this area. It is important to have a consultation from a surgeon experienced in this procedure as many women are not good candidates for it. This is best for individuals with mild to early-moderate skin excess/laxity. It will not treat excess fat (need liposuction). However, for those who are good candidates for this, it is a nice way to go. You will not have the same degree of tightening as with an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) but if you are against surgery, this may be for you.
The best technology at the current time (in my opinion) is BodyTite. I believe this to be an improvement over the previous ThermiTight. I have used both of these technologies. It is essentially radiofrequency energy "injected" under the skin using a subcutaneous probe. I believe that this has surpassed laser technology which does not reach the target tissues with the same degree of energy and efficiency.One note of caution - this will probably not do much for stretch marks, but then again, I have not been impressed with anything else I have seen for this problem, either.

Yes, tightening lasers (ultrasound or radio frequency) work by heating up the dermis and stimulation

collagen formation and giving you a bit firmer skin. You may also consider an ablative resurfacing lasers



to improve texture of the stretch marks. Most patients often need multiple treatments for optimal



outcome.

Nonsurgical options do not usually achieve the dramatic and effective results that a tummy tuck can achieve. However, you can consider nonsurgical medical aesthetic treatments like laser skin tightening or micro needling. These treatments are designed to tighten the skin by stimulating collagen and elastin production. Results may take several sessions and are not as predictable as a tummy tuck, however you may want to consider them. Microneedling may also help with your stretch marks, but again, the results may be long in coming. Best of luck!

Lasers can work to reduce stretch marks.  In my LA office, we employ two different lasers for stretch mark treatment. 

I have been extremely disappointed with the claims made by laser manufacturers, etc. when it comes to non-surgical skin tightening. While these may provide some benefit, the improvements typically result in only minimal or subtle changes.

If a significant amount of skin is part of an aesthetic problem, the only way to solve that problem is to remove it surgically. Modest shrinkage of skin may occur with some non-operative techniques (laser for instance), but the amount is very limited-maybe 5% or so (nothing scientific has been published). Don't be ripped off by techniques that don't work I see about one patient a week who has wasted money on Thermage or something else that can never be expected to supplant surgery for large amounts of excess skin.

Hi there-
I agree wholeheartedly with my colleagues- to achieve any significant benefit you will need to consider some form of a tummy tuck at some point.
Skin that is in excess and and has also lost quality will not be possible to improve through any means and will need to be contoured in order to achieve your desired results.
There are many devices (and unfortunately, many doctors) claiming to make loose, excess skin go away through laser-assisted liposuction, but these claims simply cannot be justified. Buyer beware...
Find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and get their advice.