Facial Skin Tightening in Cincinnati
How to Lift, Restore, and Refine ContoursSagging skin along the face and neck is a common early sign of aging. Understanding why it occurs helps determine whether surgical or non-surgical options will provide meaningful improvement for patients in the Cincinnati area.
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Sagging Face Skin Concerns
Skin tightening is one of the top three (3) most common requests of patients who present for consultation at Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery in Cincinnati. Loose skin may be the first symptom of facial aging that people notice. In fact, Dr. Harmon's patients often point to their necks and jawlines, explaining that they have noticed sagging skin over a variable period ranging from "a couple of years" to "seemingly overnight." They believe, understandably, that because sagging skin is what they see in the mirror and in photos, a procedure to tighten their skin will be a comprehensive solution to age-related changes in their face. Unfortunately, it is not so simple.
Understanding the Limits of Energy-Based Facial Skin Tightening
The medical device industry has taken advantage of the demand for skin tightening with expensive devices that heat up the skin and subcutaneous fat, usually using radiofrequency or ultrasound energy. The results of these devices seem mostly unimpressive to Dr. Harmon, especially when the overall cost of multiple treatments is factored in. This is because the people who typically develop concerns about sagging skin have not only relatively severe skin laxity but also other changes to the deeper soft tissue volume in the face (e.g., fat, muscle) that energy-based skin tightening devices cannot address. This has become especially apparent in an era where massive, rapid weight loss is achievable through surgery or medications (e.g., GLP-1 agonists).
It is also important to understand that the use of energy-based devices can have an effect on the underlying tissue that would make a future facelift and neck lift potentially more challenging.
This does not mean there is no use for energy-based devices. However, it does mean that these devices may be more appropriate for younger individuals with less skin laxity who have been appropriately counseled on how this intervention could affect future surgery, in addition to other potential risks.
Candidates for Facelift/Neck Lift Surgery vs Energy-Based Devices
Skin sagging can become an issue as early as late 30s, but more frequently begins to develop in our 40s and significantly worsens in our 50s. Moreover, it usually occurs with shifts in the entire volume – skin, fat, and muscle – of our soft tissue, which is why deep plane facelift surgery and neck lift surgery, which can also significantly reduce the amount of excess skin present (i.e. skin tightening), is almost always the superior approach when compared with energy-based devices that purport to tighten the skin.
| Approximate Age Range | Approximate Skin Laxity | |
|---|---|---|
| Face & Neck Lift Surgery | 40s+ | moderate to severe |
| Energy-Based Devices | 30s – 40s | mild |
It is important, however, to emphasize that there may be other factors that preclude one or more of the above interventions. That is why it is essential to undergo evaluation and treatment by a qualified surgeon who listens to your aesthetic concerns and has a thorough understanding of your goals as well as your medical history.
Before & After
View Dr. Harmon's real Cincinnati patients' before and after results and explore the possibilities.
Skin Resurfacing Treatment to Improve Skin Appearance
A family of procedures that can improve the appearance of sagging facial skin without explicitly tightening the skin is through the treatment of the surface with chemical peels or lasers. The resurfacing treatment preferred by Dr. Harmon at Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery is a fractional ablative CO2 laser.
Treatment of the skin surface complements procedures that reduce redundant skin (e.g., deep plane facelift and neck lift surgery) because skin resurfacing can improve fine lines and wrinkles, large pores, skin roughness, and skin discoloration. This differs from the more three-dimensional contour changes to the face due to loose skin and drooping fat and muscle.
Fractional ablative CO2 laser resurfacing can be performed on the day of the facelift and neck lift procedure or later. In fact, it is not uncommon to perform laser resurfacing approximately six (6) weeks or more after surgery to treat the incisions, which can improve their appearance.
Why Choose Dr. Harmon for Skin Tightening
Dr. Jeffrey Harmon, a fellowship-trained and dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon, has specialized training and experience needed to evaluate patients for changes related to aging. According to Dr. Harmon, a more conservative, stepwise approach to treatment is often appropriate for individuals. This is especially the case when adding volume to the face using hyaluronic acid filler.
However, in the case of skin laxity, skin tightening (i.e., energy-based) devices are usually inadequate, and surgical intervention is often the more appropriate approach. And because there are many more changes to facial aging than skin laxity, performing an older facelift and neck lift technique focused on skin tightening can actually lead to an unnatural appearance. Instead, deep plane facelift and neck lift surgery can offer a superior surgical approach.
QUAD A ACCREDITED SURGERY SUITE
Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery is proud to have a Quad A-accredited operating room and facility in our office. Our single-physician, single-specialty facility meets or exceeds the strict guidelines and high standards set forth by Quad A, demonstrating our strong commitment to patient safety and excellence in surgical care. We utilize the services of board-certified anesthesiology physicians only, as well as our own personal clinical support staff, to ensure the most comfortable, safest experience for our clients.
Have More Questions?
Dr. Harmon is ready to shed light on facial aging concerns and skin tightening treatment concerns for patients throughout Cincinnati and the greater Ohio area.
Written by Dr. Harmon
Discover the expertise and compassionate care of Dr. Jeff Harmon, a fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon deeply rooted in the Cincinnati community. A former collegiate athlete and Cornell University graduate, Dr. Harmon brings discipline, precision, and a global perspective to his surgical practice—refined through elite fellowship training in New York City.
Located in Hyde Park, Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery proudly serves patients throughout the Cincinnati area offering personalized facial aesthetics with world-class skill and a hometown heart.