Skin elasticity, that much-desired trait of skin to bounce back from being stretched and resume its tautness and smoothness, tends to deteriorate for a number of reasons. The usual factor is time, as aging gradually causes the natural substances and nutrients in skin to diminish, leaving behind weathered, sagging skin. Other culprits are extreme weight gain and loss, such as for those who used to be grossly obese, and pregnancy. In both of these instances, skin is stretched and retracted beyond its elastic limits, and thus grows excess folds in order to compensate for the needs of the body. Regardless of the reason, the effects are undesirable, and often constitute a source of embarrassment and loss of self-confidence, particularly if the person goes to the beach or somewhere else where the affected skin will be exposed.

Traditionally, treatment would require an invasive procedure, such as face lift, to stretch loose skin in the affected area. Medical advances in technology, however, particularly in the use of lasers, have made an alternative skin tightening treatment readily available for the average consumer. Laser skin tightening has since emerged as a viable method of restoring the firm, supple appearance of young skin. The lasers of today utilize infrared wavelengths and penetrate deeper into the skin, producing better results in a shorter period of time.

The procedure begins with the laser light being focused over the area of skin to be treated, at a frequency designed to enter the middle layer of skin. The heat produced by the laser affects the collagen and elastin fibers found within this layer, triggering two distinct effects. Old and twisted collagen fibers are forced to shrink away, while the skin fibroblasts are stimulated to produce new collagen. Consequently, the new collagen ends up replacing the old, resulting in a tightening and smoothing of the affected skin. To keep the skin from burning, a cooling system is used to keep the surface layer from overheating as the laser passes through it. The procedure itself lasts up to one hour for each session, and for optimal results, patients are advised to undergo two to three sessions, each spaced a month apart. No anesthesia is applied during a laser skin tightening treatment, as the procedure is virtually painless.

Laser skin tightening results are seen immediately after the procedure, with further improvement becoming visible months after the treatment as the collagen beneath the skin is rejuvenated. There is no recovery time associated with this method, and the patient may return to work immediately after each session. Patients may experience a few side effects in the aftermath, such as reddening of the skin or brief lightening or darkening of the skin in the treated area, but these are temporary and expected from any treatment involving laser technology. There is also a very minor risk of light scarring from the procedure if the skin is especially sensitive.

Patients are generally satisfied with the results of a laser skin tightening treatment, which effectively restores the youthful appearance of skin without the need for invasive surgery or long recovery times. Wrinkles become lighter and fade away, lines smooth out and complexion is enhanced substantially. One must be aware, however, of the reasonable limitations of the procedure. Large folds of excess skin cannot be removed, for example, and a regular surgical technique must be utilized to cut these away. Overall, laser skin tightening is a safe and efficient solution to loose skin and various skin aging indicators, with effects that do not simply vanish after a few months. It is also far less expensive than traditional surgical methods for regenerating skin.