Skin Tightening
Offered at our convenient location in Denver
Skin tightening is a minimally invasive treatment that gives patients tighter, smoother skin to complement their optimized body profile. Weight fluctuations, aging, and other factors can significantly change our skin’s elasticity. Skin that has become stretched is often unable to retract properly to fit new and more slender contours. And over time, the body produces less of the essential proteins that keep our skin firm, taut, and able to “snap back.” As a result, patients are left with sagging, excess skin. Today, advances in energy-based aesthetic treatments feature minimally invasive solutions such as VASER Hi-Def Liposuction to deliver more desirable contours while tightening skin at the same time. During treatment, surgeons remove fat by utilizing powerful ultrasound waves to make removing fat cells as effortless as possible. At the same time, the ultrasonic energy creates an effect in the dermis that helps skin retract, and can increase the production of collagen for improved firmness. The result is a comprehensive improvement and an appearance that lifts self-confidence to new levels.
Dr. John A. Millard, Dr. Todd Zuhlke, and their dedicated staff are here to help make exciting breakthroughs in your overall body aesthetic. Contact Millard Plastic Surgery at our Denver office consultation by calling (303) 792-5665.
Contents
Before & After Photos
Before and After Photos
About Skin Tightening
There’s no shortage of products, treatments, and even surgical procedures that claim to tighten loose skin. And while VASER Liposuction isn’t primarily a skin tightening procedure, surgeons agree that patients experience better skin retraction after VASER liposuction than after receiving liposuction with traditional methods. For those that are looking to eliminate stores of stubborn fat and enjoy streamlined results without sagging skin, VASER is the obvious choice.
How Does Ultrasound Energy Work?
When ultrasound waves are applied to a treatment area, the energy scatters and is absorbed. The absorbed energy is then transformed into molecular vibrations, which is how VASER loosens fat cells from the surrounding tissues and makes them easier to remove. However, these molecular vibrations also generate heat.(1) This thermal energy is the basis of today’s skin tightening technologies. Collagen and elastin are what give our skin its firmness and elasticity, and are produced deep in the dermis. When this area is exposed to heat during an energy-based skin tightening treatment, existing collagen fibers retract, pulling the skin tight. The heat also stimulates fibroblast cells, which produce additional collagen in a process called neocollagenesis. Over the next few months, the additional collagen improves the tightness and texture of the skin.
During VASER Liposuction, surgeons are able to apply energy just beneath the dermis, and the vibrations that cause the fat to loosen and emulsify in the tumescent fluid can be applied at this shallow depth, allowing for better skin retraction. (2)
Benefits
VASER Hi-Def Liposuction has proven to be an effective way to remove fat with smooth, exceptional results. Not only can they enjoy targeted, permanent reduction of fatty problem areas, but they can also enjoy optimal skin retraction that isn’t available from traditional liposuction.
Denver Metro Patients Will Also See These Benefits:
- Gives patients extra help after diet and exercise have not yielded desired results
- Achieves a more youthful appearance with firmer skin and more visible muscle tone
- A tailored treatment that can contours multiple areas of your choice
- Versatile liposuction technology that a skilled surgeon can use to sculpt results that can be tailored to the patient’s desires
- Long-lasting results that bring out your self-confidence and esteem
Candidates
Healthy men and women looking for optimal smooth, firm skin after a liposuction procedure may be good candidates for VASER liposuction. However, a consultation is needed to determine your eligibility. Although VASER features excellent skin retraction after treatment, it is not a solution for marked skin laxity. Patients that have a significant amount of excess, loose skin would be better suited to a skin tightening procedure, or even surgical removal. VASER liposuction is also not a weight loss solution. Instead, it is a body contouring procedure that can be used to target specific areas of unwanted fat in otherwise healthy patients.
Good Candidates for VASER Liposuction are:
- In optimal physical health and within 30 lbs of their target body weight
- Unable to achieve results with diet and exercise
- Have realistic expectations and understand the results that can be achieved with VASER liposuction
Personal Consultation with Dr. Millard
Your meeting at our office on Inverness Drive West is your time to meet with our surgeons, who are renowned experts in body contouring and aesthetic surgical procedures. The entire team at Millard Plastic Surgery is committed to seeing that you receive world-class care and enjoy excellent results.
A personal consultation is the opportunity to discuss your goals, the areas you’d like to improve, and the best treatment options to make your desires a reality. After reviewing your medical history, your surgeon will examine the areas you’d like to treat in order to begin developing a personalized treatment plan. To see if you qualify as a candidate, call our Denver office at (303) 792-5665 or reserve your online.
Preparation
Our staff will provide you with detailed instructions to prepare for your treatment. Patients who are planning to have VASER Hi-Def Liposuction should:
- Stop smoking several weeks before the treatment to avoid complications
- Discuss any medications that you are taking with your surgeon
- Discontinue NSAIDs, certain supplements, and other blood thinning medication as instructed
- Arrange a ride home from the treatment center for after your procedure, as you will be unable to drive yourself
Procedure
Before your surgery begins, you’ll meet with your surgeon to review your treatment plan and answer any last-minute questions that you may have. They will then make the necessary markings in the areas that will be treated to guide the cannulas during the procedure. Once you’re ready, you’ll be given the appropriate anesthesia to ensure your comfort during the procedure. Liposuction begins with tumescent fluid being infiltrated into the treatment area. This solution contains saline, epinephrine, and lidocaine. This constricts blood vessels, causes fat cells to swell and become firm, and further numbs the area. It’s also essential for dispersing the ultrasonic energy and creating the vibrations that help to dislodge and emulsify fat cells.
The VASER cannula is then inserted into the stores of unwanted fat via small, strategically placed incisions. It emits highly controlled ultrasound waves and suctions away the treated fat. Each treatment area will receive the same attention until the desired aesthetic is perfected. When complete, your incisions will be closed and the treated areas will be dressed in a protective compression garment. After a brief monitoring period, you’ll be released from our care and can return home to focus on your recovery.
Recovery
After treatment, patients can anticipate mild discomfort, swelling, and discoloration for the first week. During this time, take short walks to encourage blood flow. You will need to continue to wear your compression garment as instructed to curb swelling and help your new contours take shape. You’ll have follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and to give you further advice during your recovery. The majority of parents only need to take a day or two off of work and will see improvement in their symptoms after a week. You can resume more physically involved activities within four weeks.
Results
Your slimmer contours and firmer skin will gradually emerge once your post-op symptoms have fully subsided. Being proactive about your health and skincare will help your results last for many years. While the fat removed doesn’t return, remaining fat cells can increase in size if the patient gains weight. That is why it is imperative to remain committed to leading a healthy lifestyle.
Cost of Tighter Skin with VASER in Denver
The final cost of your VASER Hi-Def Liposuction is based on the changes you wish to make. An initial quote and resources for financial help will be provided to you at your consultation. You call our patient coordinators beforehand to get a preliminary quote.
FAQ
Will a skin tightening treatment such as VASER Hi-Def help me lose weight?
No, this treatment is not a weight loss solution. It is intended to reduce the number of fat cells and deliver a better-toned body. Patients on a weight loss program are encouraged to wait until they reach their target weight.
References
- Sklar, L. R., El Tal, A. K., & Kerwin, L. Y. (2014). Use of Transcutaneous Ultrasound for Lipolysis and Skin Tightening: A Review. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 38(2), 429–441. doi:10.1007/s00266-014-0286-6
- HOYOS A, MILLARD J. VASER-assisted high-definition liposculpture. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2007;27(6):594-604. doi:10.1016/j.asj.2007.08.007
Hoyos AE, Guarin DE. High-Definition Body Contouring Using VASER-Assisted Liposuction. Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction. Published online August 8, 2022:203-211. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-26875-6_13