HCD Blog

At the foundation of our practice is a focus on each individual patient journey. We don’t believe in quick fixes; we believe in developing personalized programs that achieve natural results over time. When you visit us—no matter the stage of life you’re in—we’ll work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan to help you age positively and confidently. Whether we’re focusing on prevention or correction, your 360° plan might include non-invasive skin tightening treatments like Thermage® or Ultherapy®.

To give you some insight into these treatments and how they may support your individualized plan, Nurse Cat is answering some common questions about the skin tightening treatments we offer.

1. What signs or signals first pique someone’s interest in skin tightening treatments?

Skin tightening treatments are a great option for patients looking for non-invasive, no downtime treatments for maintaining collagen. As we age, the collagen that keeps our skin firm breaks down, resulting in skin laxity. Typically, treatments like Thermage or Ultherapy are a great introduction to cosmetic treatments for those who are not quite ready for injectable treatments like BOTOX® and dermal fillers, but would like to start an anti-aging plan.

For existing patients who do have experience with injectables and energy-based treatment such as IPL and Clear + Brilliant®, we often discuss skin tightening as the next step in their 360° treatment plan, to promote collagen and elastin production for maintenance moving forward.

2. Can these treatments be used preventatively?

Yes! A strategic time to contemplate skin tightening is at the very first signs of aging. Using these treatments preventatively also ensures future efforts can remain more conservative over time, even preventing or prolonging the consideration of more invasive options. Who wouldn’t want smoother, tighter skin?

3. How do you decide to recommend Thermage vs. Ultherapy?

Thermage and Ultherapy can both offer benefits for skin tightening, and often which treatment we recommend is patient-specific. As a general guide, for early signs of skin laxity, or if the upper eyelid is a concern I often recommend Thermage. If a patient presents with more moderate to advanced signs of aging, Ultherapy is a perfect option. It uses ultrasound technology to work deep below the skin’s surface, stimulating new collagen and gradually lifting and tightening treated areas.

There may also be some anatomically-specific reasons to choose one over the other. Our team will work with you to determine which treatment best suits your needs.

4. Are these treatments ever used in combination with one another?

The only time we would recommend Thermage and Ultherapy in combination with one another is if the patient is concerned with upper and lower eyelid skin laxity. We could treat this region with Thermage, and the face and neck with Ultherapy.

5. Are there patients who should not choose a treatment like this?

Thermage and Ultherapy are both great options for maintaining collagen with little to no downtime. Both treatments are safe for all skin types and colours, and yield natural-looking results. For someone with extensive skin laxity and sun damage, surgery would likely be the best option.

6. What's the best way for patients to maintain and support the results achieved with these treatments?

For optimal results, it’s important to remember that aging continues. While the results of these treatments don’t “wear off”, time passes and these treatments can be integrated into a maintenance plan for positive aging. We can also work collaboratively with you to develop a personalized, evidence-based skincare routine to support your skin’s health and the results of your skin tightening treatments.

If you’re curious about how skin tightening may fit into your 360° plan, don’t hesitate to reach out, or speak to us at your next appointment!