Skin tightening

Accent™ XL Radiofrequency & Gentle-YAG for Skin Tightening

At Court House Clinics we offer two types of treatments for skin tightening - Accent™ Radiofrequency Remodelling and Candela Gentle-Yag laser with Serenity Pro®.
All skin tightening devices work by gently heating tissue to a level at which natural collagen shrinks to produce a tightening effect. They also stimulate fibroblasts which repair cells in the skin to produce new collagen.

Skin can only shrink and tighten by a certain amount so the most suitable people for treatment are those with mild to moderate laxity / sagging of the cheeks, jaw line and neck or mild looseness of the skin of the abdomen. More significant sagging of the skin is better corrected by surgery such as face lifting or tummy tuck. Both treatments can be performed without any downtime.

Accent™ Radiofrequency Remodelling
Radiofrequency is a technology which has been used in surgery for the last 70 years. It can be used for tightening and lifting of flaccid areas of the face and for reducing fine lines and wrinkles as well as increasing luminosity of the skin.

Accent™ radiofrequency  has been designed exclusively for cosmetic use i.e. for cutaneous facial remodeling. More generally, it is used in the controlled heating of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, preserving the epidermis.

Prices from £190, offers available on treatment courses

Gentle-Yag Laser with Serenity Pro® for Skin Tightening
Like radiofrequency devices this laser works by deep heating the skin to produce shrinkage of collagen fibres and new collagen production which results in a lifting / tightening effect of the skin. It is suitable for patients with mild to moderate laxity who do not wish to undergo surgery.

Prices from £150

Frequently asked questions

Accent ™ Radiofrequency Remodelling
 

How does the treatment work?

Radiofrequency has been used for over three years in facial skin remodelling. The heat produced by the system causes instant tightening of collagen and increases collagen production in the dermis. The effect is to tighten and rejuvenate the skin in the treated area.

With regards to the body treatment, thermal tightening also takes place with increased local blood circulation, promotes fibrous tissue breakdown, drainage of fatty deposits into the lymphatic system and disintegration of fat cells.

The radiofrequency is applied through a hand-piece in a rapid, uninterrupted circular movement onto the surface of the skin.

Which areas of the skin can be treated?

It is used for tightening & lifting flaccid areas of the face, reducing wrinkles and increasing luminosity of skin

How long does the treatment take and how many sessions will I require?

Depending on the area being treated, your first treatment will take 45 - 60 minutes, allowing for ‘before’ photographs to be taken by the cosmetic doctor or cosmetic nurse. Ongoing treatments will typically be 30 - 45 minute appointments.

For facial remodelling, a course of 2 - 4 sessions is usually required at 4 week intervals. However body treatments usually require a course of 6 - 8 treatments at regular intervals to be discussed with your cosmetic doctor or nurse. In the case of stubborn cellulite however, treatment can be applied more frequently.

Is the treatment painful?

Tolerance to the treatment is very good and there is no need for the use of topical anaesthetic creams beforehand. Patients will generally experience a warm sensation on the surface of the skin as heat builds up, however, continuous contact cooling provides additional patient comfort and epidermal protection.

Are there any side effects?

The side effects observed have been slight discomfort which is nonetheless very well tolerated, oedema (swelling) and erythema (redness) which disappears in a few hours. These side effects apply to both facial and body treatments.

Post treatment care for the face involves the application of an aloe vera gel and it is also essential that the area is protected from direct UVA and sun exposure, in particular for 24 - 48 hours immediately following treatment.

Is the treatment effective?

The immediate effect is a contraction of collagen fibres, increasing and retracting the skin tissue. It also has a progressive effect with the heat generated unleashing and an increase in new collagen producing skin remodelling. The full effect will not usually be seen for 2 - 3 months

Generally after a facial treatment, patients describe feeling “more compact skin” and “harder skin” and an evident improvement is registered in 90% of all cases. With regards to treatment of the body, 70% of patients in trials have reported that there is an immediate variable reduction in contour measurements.

How long will the results last?

Following a course of treatment, results are expected to last 1 - 2 years.

Gentle-Yag Laser with Serenity Pro

How does skin tightening work?

All skin tightening devices work by gently heating tissue to a level at which natural collagen shrinks to produce a tightening effect. They also stimulate fibroblasts which repair cells in the skin to produce new collagen.

Which areas of the skin can be treated?

Traditionally it is the face that is treated, but loose skin on the abdomen (tummy) can also be treated.

Who is suitable for skin tightening treatments?

Skin can only shrink and tighten by a certain amount so the most suitable people for treatment are those with mild to moderate laxity / sagging of the cheeks, jaw line and neck or mild looseness of the skin of the abdomen. More significant sagging of the skin is better corrected by surgery such as face lifting or tummy tuck.

How many treatments will I require?

Usually 3 to 5 treatments at monthly intervals.

Is the treatment painful?

All skin tightening procedures have some discomfort in order to heat the tissues adequately to produce the tightening effect. The Gentle-YAG laser however can be coupled with pain reducing devise called Serenity Pro™ which sucks the skin up in a vacuum device whilst the laser beam fires and thereby reduces any discomfort dramatically.

When will I see results?

There is usually some improvement by the end of the course of treatment, but continued improvement for a further 3-months can be expected.

How long do the results last for?

Improvement is usually maintained for 1 – 2 years after treatment and an annual top up treatment is usually advised.

Is there any recovery time following the procedure?

Immediately following treatment the skin appears red like a mild sunburn reaction. This and any sensation of warmth have usually resolved within 30 minutes of the treatment, so it is possible to return to work immediately.

Does everyone get good results from skin tightening?

There are some people whose skin does not appear to respond to any type of skin tightening devise but overall 8 out of 10 people show some response. It is not possible to predict exactly who will respond the best.
 

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