Find out more or book a one to one video consultation

6 of the best skin tightening treatments

What do practitioners swear by for tightening and lifting skin? We reveal their favourite treatments

Want to know the best non-surgical treatments for tightening and lifting skin? We've asked some of our favourite practitioners for their recommendations.

If you have questions or concerns, you can speak to any of them for advice – with no obligation to book – on our remote consultation platform.
 

EmbraceRF

I see EmbraceRF as one of the key game-changers in 2021. We have seen a significant surge in interest among our clients for this procedure since its introduction at the end of last year, and we expect it to gain momentum post-lockdown.

For anyone seeking a non-surgical face and neck lift, EmbraceRF is a great solution, as it can dramatically tighten sagging skin, reduce fat, and redefine the facial contours. This combination treatment uses two talked-about procedures: Morpheus8 and FaceTite.

There has been a lot of publicity recently around Morpheus8, especially with the impressive results of big names like Judy Murray and Amanda Holden, Kim Kardashian and rapper Iggy Azalea, to name but a few.

EmbraceRF goes one step further in combining Morpheus8 with FaceTite, a procedure that allows precision access to certain areas, such as around the eyes and along the jawline.

With FaceTite, we can achieve results similar to a facelift without surgery. This can also be seen as an alternative to liposuction while also treating sagging skin in the face, such as around the chin and jawline (jowls), the nasolabial folds (smile lines), double chin, brows, around the eyes and in the neck.

These procedures move the client’s expectations away from the idea of a quick fix and towards the understanding that this a journey – it is vital to educate patients that the results will develop over several months but in turn, they will have a longer-lasting effect.
Dr Ioannis Liakas, Medical Director at Vie Aesthetics, London

Thread lifts

Clients are seeking a more youthful appearance after such a long period wearing face masks for many hours every day, thus leading to loss of skin elasticity.

Thread lifts have recently gained huge international popularity as patients are actively asking for non-surgical, minimally invasive procedures for facial rejuvenation. In my practices in Italy and the UK, it is currently one of the most requested procedures, thanks to its short downtime and potential for aesthetic improvement.

 No longer considered a new treatment, when performed correctly by skilled practitioners, it is one of the safest and most reliable procedures available.

 When inserted under the skin, reabsorbable PDO threads tighten and lift loose or saggy areas by stimulating collagen and boosting the production of subcutaneous fibrotic connective tissues, causing them to become denser and stronger, and adding definition particularly on facial contours.

 Short needles with plain or screw threads can be used for skin tightening and rejuvenation, while longer sutures, usually barbed (with tiny hook-like projections), can grasp tissues, elevating them and counteracting skin laxity.

 We can use them to provide a brow lift ('fox eye'), to elevate the periorbital area, and to lift the mid face and lower face areas, enhancing the definition of the jawline and providing a noticeable improvement in the facial contour.
Giuseppe Serpieri, Vascular Surgeon and Aesthetic Practitioner

HIFU

Delivered to the skin and subcutaneous fat, HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound treatment) is focused into a point which creates an epicentre for shrinking fat and stimulating neocollagenesis.

 This process combines the body sculpting and skin tightening elements needed for natural-looking results.

 I spent 18 months researching and testing HIFU on myself to find the best option for my patients. I chose the Doublo Gold from Hironic as it was the most effective and least painful treatment I received.

 We use superficial skin tightening HIFU in combination with facials in addition to standalone HIFU face lifting. It’s also known as the lunchtime facelift as HIFU does not incur any downtime.

 Patients leave a little red faced and can feel the initial effects of tightening which continue over the next few months. The end results are natural skin tightening and sculpting without surgery or injectable over-filling.

We love using HIFU as an initial step in anti-ageing transformations where it can be followed by botulinum toxin, laser, and skin revitalisation with Profhilo and ZO Skin Health products. It’s a fabulous treatment and the results are loved by our patients.
Anna Hemming, Thames Skin Clinic, Twickenham


HydraTite

As a practitioner I want to offer my clients a combination of treatments and skincare to give them the best possible results. This is why we combine the much loved HydraFacial with Radio Frequency (RF).

Radio frequency targets water molecules within the skin to heat them up, resulting in a tightening effect.
 
Most clients that are seeking skin tightening are over 40 and therefore have reduced skin hydration – by combining HydraFacial with RF, we remove the surface layers of dead skin so the RF has fewer layers to penetrate through.

We also saturate the skin with hydration for the RF to heat up, and peptides which are essential for healthy collagen stimulation.
 
This combined treatment leaves the skin instantly deep cleansed, glowing, hydrated and tightened. It’s recommended as a course of three with 4-6 week intervals, however many of our clients continue to have them monthly as it's a virtually pain-free treatment with no downtime.

The skin is immediately noticeably tighter, clear and glowing, making it a favourite in the clinic.
Zoe Myers, Authentic Aesthetics, Kenilworth 

Forma

I wanted to be able to give my clients noticeably smoother, plumper, firmer and tighter skin with no pain and downtime at all.

Along came Forma, a clever, cutting-edge device that has exceeded both mine and my clients’ expectations.

Forma is radio frequency skin tightening that delivers exceptional results. Suitable for all skin types, it can be used on the face and body. The small hand held device is moved over the face, with the treatment being likened to a hot stone massage.

Commonly treated areas are the forehead, crows feet, upper eyelids, lower eyelids, nose to mouth lines, jowls, smile lines and neck. On the body, popular areas include the arms (bingo wings), abdomen and buttocks.

I find that a combination approach to my treatments elevates the results – Forma works well with other treatments such as medical grade skincare, chemical peels, anti wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, injectables such as Profhilo, Morpheus8 radio frequency microneedling and medical microneedling.
Dr Kate Carr, Dr Kate Aesthetics, London

Ultherapy

Ultherapy is a great non surgical treatment because of the precise nature of the delivery of the energy (in this case Ultrasound) to the skin and deeper structures, compared to say radio frequency.

As a result of this precise delivery, only one treatment is necessary and therefore avoids the need for multiple sessions which is appealing to our patients.

The ideal candidate for Ultherapy is typically someone who has some mild to moderate degree of skin laxity that perhaps is not fully ready for a surgical skin tightening procedure such as a facelift.

We have treated multiple patients over the years, commonly 35 years and above, achieving the tightening and refreshed look they so desired.”
Mr Alexis Karidis,  Karidis Clinic, London

Find a local practitioner