At our boutique practice in Richmond, VA, laser skin tightening is one of our most popular non-surgical procedures. Age and the elements (mostly from sun exposure) can work against having a nice and healthy appearance to your skin. This produces wrinkles and loose skin—nobody wants that!
While a good skincare regimen is very important to the long-term well-being of your skin, sometimes we need to be more aggressive to get a deeper and more noticeable result. Fractional CO2 laser treatment for the skin of your face and neck may be just what you need to look your best! Laser treatments focus on a certain layer of the skin, causing a controlled injury. Your skin then heals, resulting in collagen production and tightening of the skin. This can be performed as a stand-alone procedure or in combination with other surgery or non-invasive treatments, like the Virtue radiofrequency microneedling machine.
Our Richmond laser skin tightening patients have been excited about the progress they’ve seen in their skin with our Fractional CO2 laser. The treatment will be performed by Dr. Hubert, in one of our top-of-the-line RVA locations.
Dr. Hubert uses a state-of-the-art laser, called the CO2RE (pronounced “core”). This technology is better than the first fractional CO2 lasers that first came on the market because it allows him to adjust the depth of the penetration and the amount of energy delivered. Dr. Hubert can treat thinner skin with smaller amounts of energy, and thicker, more wrinkled skin with deeper and more energy. For the patient, this means you get an individual plan which works best for what your skin needs. The CO2RE laser encourages new collagen growth, enhances your skin tone, and reduces the effects of sun damage.
We’ve had the joys of seeing patients of all different ages, ethnicities, and genders. Typically, if you meet the following criteria, you’re a great candidate for laser skin tightening in RVA!
Patients should have realistic expectations of what the procedure can and cannot do
Good candidates typically experience wrinkles or loose skin
Patients should be in good overall physical health
Our Richmond laser skin tightening patients have seen major benefits from this procedure. Below, we’ve included some of the advantages we’ve seen first-hand:
The procedure can be performed very quickly—oftentimes between 30 and 60 minutes
Long-lasting results!
This procedure is safe for most skin types seeing little signs of reactions or negative side effects
Following treatment, there is little to no downtime
Most importantly, increase self-confidence in the way you look and photograph
The first step to getting laser skin tightening in Richmond, VA with Dr. Hubert will be to schedule your consultation. During your appointment, you’ll be able to show Dr. Hubert the desired area for treatment, as questions, and learn more about the procedure. We truly believe that education is key, so the more we can inform you about the treatment, the better informed you’ll be on making your decision if it’s the right solution for you.
If you and Dr. Hubert both feel that this is the best treatment for you, Dr. Hubert may be able to provide the treatment then and there. If you’d prefer to schedule an appointment to come back, that can also be set up. Dr. Hubert will provide you with post-treatment instructions to help speed up the recovery process.
The fractional part means that the laser lays down its beams in a polka dot pattern, only affecting a fraction of the skin. The tiny amount of skin between the pattern of beams does not get the direct laser energy. So your skin still gets the effect, but the intact skin cells allow much quicker healing and LESS DOWNTIME! These laser treatments are usually performed with topical anesthesia (numbing cream). Sometimes, though, we need to be more aggressive with the laser treatment for deeper wrinkles and greater sun damage. In this case, Dr. Hubert may give you nerve block injections, especially in the area around the mouth.
Dr. Hubert also has another great no-surgical option to tighten facial skin. This involves a machine called the Virtue RF, which uses a robotic system to place tiny needles partway under your skin. This precise placement of the tiny needles into your skin means that the treatments are nearly pain-free! The tips of the needles then use radiofrequency energy (RF) to heat the tips and stimulate the deeper layer of the skin. The result is tightened and more youthful skin by producing more collagen, more elastic fibers (called elastin), and more hyaluronic acid (the same stuff used in injectable filler treatments). For women who want to improve their faces without “going under the knife” for a facelift, this may be a great option. Dr. Hubert often combines the Virtue RF treatment with fractional CO2 laser treatment with the CO2RE laser at the same time. The Virtue RF usually takes about an hour and requires only topical numbing cream for anesthesia, so you can drive yourself home (no general anesthesia or IV sedation here!)
The recovery period depends on how aggressive the laser resurfacing treatment is. For light energy (a “laser facial”) most patients are moderately red for 2-4 days and almost normal by 1 week. For the deeper laser treatments, you can expect to be red for about 7-10 days. There are many women who choose fractional CO2 laser resurfacing, for one reason or another, over facelift surgery. Many of these women see significant results with much less downtime and side effects than they would with a facelift. In any event, it is important to keep your skin hydrated for several days following your laser treatment. Dr. Hubert will send you home with the moisturizer to apply to your skin.
The cost of laser skin tightening in Richmond will vary on a number of factors. Such as the desired treatment area and the number of sessions needed. Financing options are available to help manage the payment process for our patients.
Dr. Hubert will establish an individualized plan, based on your needs and wishes, to help you achieve your best results. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
before
after
View before-and-after pictures of real patients of Darrin Hubert, MD, FACS
Your Laser Skin Tightening questions answered
Why Choose Dr. Hubert?
Dr. Darrin Hubert is a Richmond board-certified plastic surgeon, meaning that he’s an expert in aesthetics. By going to Dr. Hubert you’ll have the confidence that your provider is an expert in the field. Not only does Dr. Hubert have unparalleled knowledge in aesthetics, but he’s been rewarded with Richmond Top Doc status by his peers year after year.
Is Laser Skin Tightening Permanent?
The procedure is long-lasting, but as the skin naturally ages, your face will change, resulting in new wrinkles. This is perfectly normal with all cosmetic procedures. For younger patients who benefit from a lighter treatment (the so-called “laser facial”), you might consider a repeat CO2RE laser treatment every year or so. For older patients with deeper wrinkles who need a deeper treatment with more energy, you may want to consider your next maintenance laser skin tightening about every five years.
What’s the Best Laser for Laser Skin Tightening?
The best laser for skin tightening is the Fractional CO2 Laser, using CO2RE technology which can be individualized for each patient. With this laser we can adjust the penetration and depth of the laser, allowing us to provide optimal results. Everyone’s skin is different, this laser allows us to customize the treatment to each patient’s unique needs and anatomy.
Which areas can be treated with the CO2RE laser?
Most patients choose to treat the entire face, from the forehead down to the chin. One of the great aspects of the CO2RE fractional laser is that Dr. Hubert can treat the various areas of the face with different amounts of energy and to different depths, based on the thickness and texture of the skin. Other areas of sun damage that are commonly treated include the neck and the decolletage.
& testimonials
Dr. Hubert is a fabulous doctor. Very professional and delivers great results!
Out of town
Dr. Darrin M. Hubert extends a warm welcome to patients from other cities, states, and countries. We understand that finding your perfect match in a surgeon may require you to travel far away from your home and we are thrilled to help you plan your exciting journey to beauty and confidence.
