What is Skin Tightening with the Gentle YAG?

Skin tightening is a procedure by which you can have firmer, smoother skin on the face, chest, arms, stomach or other areas such as scars. By using the deep penetrating, yet safe wavelengths of light from the Candela GentleYAG laser, your skin can begin to see improvement after just one or two treatments.

How are Treatments Performed?

Generally, we will do three to five 45 minute sessions with the laser spaced 3-4 weeks apart. Each treatment covers the entire area with multiple invisible, yet powerful laser pulses. Generally, the treatment produces a warming sensation within the skin and sometimes it feels more like a rubber band snapped gently on the skin and is very comfortable and tolerable.

When Will I See Results?

Results with the GentleYAG are more predictable than with radiofrequency treatments such as Thermage. Optimal results are usually seen about 90 days to 6 months after the fourth treatment, but may be seen in as little as 1-2 weeks after the second treatment. The laser produces tightening of the skin, reduced wrinkles, improvement in elasticity, improvement in the skin texture, pore size and skin smoothness. While skin tightening with the GentleYAG is not a substitute for a face lift, it is an alternative to one. Patients who are not ready for face lift surgery or do not desire it may find this just what they are looking for. If you plan on having a face lift, Gentle YAG treatments can be used in conjunction to improve the quality of the skin, something face lift surgery cannot do.

Am I a Good Candidate for GentleYAG Skin Tightening?

The GentleYAG may be used as a stand-alone procedure or combined with our other advanced skin rejuvenation procedures such as fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic. The GentleYAG can treat all skin types. There is no specific age limit for skin tightening in adults. If you feel you have excess, loose or sagging skin, you will likely benefit from this procedure. Also effective for acne scars, surgical scars and loose skin on the stomach, legs or arms, this procedure can be easily customized to address your problem areas.

Is There Any Downtime From GentleYAG Skin Tightening?

Generally, except for some mild temporary swelling of the skin in the first 1-2 days after the procedure, there is no downtime.