Skin Lifting Versus Skin Tightening: What’s the Difference?

While more invasive treatments like facelifts and bodylifts used to be the only options for providing next-level skin rejuvenation, lifting and tightening, the aesthetics world of today has vastly expanded, and the treatment options make radiant, youthful-looking skin easier than ever. From celebrities endorsing skin-tightening treatments to the rise in all things gravity-defying across skin care and in-office procedures, skin-tightening and skin-lifting treatments are all the rage right now. Have you ever wondered, though, the difference between skin lifting and skin tightening, or if there’s a difference at all? If you have or if you’re trying to pick which youth-enhancing treatment is best for you, we tapped experts for an in-depth guide to all things skin lifting and tightening.

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What is the difference between skin-tightening treatments and skin-lifting treatments?

For many beauty lovers, even the aesthetically fluent, skin tightening and skin lifting can often get confused, and according to Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD, it’s more common for the lines between the two to become blurry. “Depending on who is talking about it, skin lifting and skin tightening may mean the same thing or may mean completely different things,” Dr. Daniel Schlessinger begins. “In the world of noninvasive cosmetic surgery, skin lifting and tightening [are] relatively similar, as both focus on delivering energy, often in the form of heat, to the skin to contract the tissue underneath, tightening and therefore lifting sagging skin.”

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“Skin lifting may also imply invasive surgical procedures, though, such as a facelift or a necklift, in which the skin is dissected off the underlying tissue and pieces of excess skin are removed,” Dr. Daniel Schlessinger explains, adding that dermatologists “generally frown on these terms as they can be misleading to patients and often are misused by non-dermatologists to ‘zhuzh’ up a procedure description.” It’s important to exercise caution when considering any skin tightening or lifting treatments.

Scottsdale, AZ, facial plastic surgeon Kelly Bomer, MD, agrees that the terms skin lifting and skin tightening can be difficult to differentiate, as one often lends a hand to the other. “Most skin procedures do not actually ‘lift’ the skin, but they may tighten by increasing skin thickness with the growth of new collagen and elastin and enhancing water content,” she explains. “When the skin is tightened with the rejuvenation effect described, a lifting effect can occur.” The opposite effect can also occur, though, Dr. Bomer says. “For example, Halo is a treatment that can be tightening and lifting when not performed too aggressively and stimulates a rejuvenation response in the skin, creating more collagen and elastin while maintaining natural skin structure. After healing, if more rejuvenation is needed, another treatment about two to three months after the first treatment would be indicated, but if Halo is performed very aggressively and islands of pure scar tissue occur with the obliteration of natural skin structure, the results will ultimately not be lifting.”

What are the most popular devices and treatments for skin lifting and skin tightening?

Since skin-tightening and skin-lifting treatments can mean so many different things, the options for achieving a patient’s desired “lift” or skin rejuvenating effect are a fully tailored experience. “I love using fillers in the temples, for example, to lift the brows, or in the mid-cheeks and jawline to lift the jowls,” begins Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD. “We like the results that Ultherapy can achieve as well. It uses ultrasound to heat the connective tissue and lift areas like the brows. For skin tightening, our patients have loved the BBL HEROic SkinTyte laser, which uses light to heat the skin and tighten crepey skin. It is perfect for wrinkly skin on places like the arms, neck and abdomen. ” A word of caution, though: Dr. Joel Schlessinger reminds patients that “these procedures all have modest results and aren’t the equivalent of a facelift or other surgical ‘lifts’.“

Who is the best candidate for skin lifting? Who is the best candidate for skin tightening?

Understanding what skin tightening and skin lifting mean is one thing, but understanding which type of treatment is best for your specific aesthetic goals is a whole different issue. When it comes to skin lifting and skin tightening, Dr. Daniel Schlessinger says, “Truthfully, most people in their middle age who have enjoyed the sun over the years are usually a candidate for both. If you have deep volume loss causing sagging of tissues, you are a candidate for skin lifting, whereas if you have more superficial fine wrinkles or crepey skin, you are a better candidate for skin tightening,” he explains. “We are seeing more patients of any age for these procedures as the concept of ‘prejuvenation’ or the prevention of aging, is becoming increasingly popular.”