They say that with age comes wisdom. Well, unfortunately, that’s not the only thing that comes with age. With age, comes changes to the skin. As we get older, our bodies begin to produce less collagen and elastin, the proteins that are responsible for enabling our skin to stretch and contract, kind of like a coil. Once we enter our 30s, our natural collagen and elastin production begins to drop. This then causes the skin to sag and become crepey.
Sagging and crepiness can occur just about anywhere on the face and body, including around the eyes, around the mouth, the neck, and your décolletage. It can also occur on the arms (particularly around the elbows) and around the knees. Just because sagging and crepey skin occur, it doesn’t mean that you have to live with it. But what can you do?
There are plenty of creams out there. Fancy creams only do so much though. There’s also surgery, but surgery is invasive and has a lot of downtime and numerous other drawbacks. At Clarity, we offer more effective, less invasive solutions with Fractora and Morpheus8. So, which treatment is the right treatment for you?
Fractora
Fractora by InMode is a fractional radio frequency treatment that is used to rejuvenate and resurface skin. It’s one of the most versatile bipolar radio frequency treatments available today. Treatment involves the use of a handheld device that has a multi-needle head. The needles perforate the skin and at the same time deliver radio frequency energy into skin to heat it. The skin perforation, or ablation, causes skin damage on purpose, which accelerates the cellular turnover rate while the radio frequency triggers collagen production.
Fractora goes to work easing skin textural issues, including fine lines and crepiness. It can be used on many areas of the face and body. It can treat trouble spots such as the skin under the eyes, around the mouth, jowls, acne scars, the neck and chest, crepey skin under the arms, and around the knees.
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Fractora is FDA-cleared and perfectly safe for treating fine lines and crepey skin. A high potency topical anesthetic is applied to the treatment area before we begin. This is done to maximize your comfort while your treatment is being performed. You may feel some pressure of the device against your skin. Immediately following your treatment, a soothing balm is applied. Redness and swelling are common, but typically subside within just a few hours, and disappear within a few days. It’s normal for the skin to produce tiny pinpoint scabs and flake.
You typically receive a treatment plan with Fractora. This plan includes 3 to 6 treatments spaced out about four weeks apart. Once your plan is complete, one maintenance treatment per year may be recommended. You’ll also be given post treatment instructions to ensure optimal results. Some patients start to see results as soon as two weeks after the first treatment. The most noticeable results appear after your final treatment is complete, and these results continue to improve for approximately three months after the treatment cycle is complete.
A photo of one of our patients here at Clarity—before and after Fractora.
Morpheus8
Morpheus8 by InMode is another fractional radio frequency treatment that directs the radio frequency energy to the deepest layers of the skin. A handheld device has a head with gold-plated steel micro-pins. These pins disperse radio frequency energy in preselected depths of 2 millimeters, 3 millimeters, or 4 millimeters. The radio frequency energy stimulates collagen and elastin remodeling while the pins perforate the skin to accelerate cell turnover. Morpheus8 is one of the most advanced ablative radio frequency treatments available.
READ MORE: The 5 Best Radio Frequency Treatments for Skin Tightening
Morpheus8 penetrates deeper, reaching into the fat layer of the skin where it goes to work tightening skin – for smoothing and contouring. It can be used to treat all kinds of issues such as acne scars, laugh lines, sagging jowls, crepiness, and wrinkles. It is commonly used for treating the face and neck, but it can also be used on other areas of the body, including the chest, the arms, and around the knees.
Morpheus8 is both safe and effective. It’s safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin. A topical anesthetic is applied to the treatment area before we begin. This helps to ensure that you are comfortable during your procedure. You may notice some mild redness and swelling, but these issues will disappear in just a few days. You may also notice some scabbing and flaking, but this is completely normal. You will be recommended a follow-up skin care routine to help optimize results.
Like Fractora, a treatment plan is created just for you which will include a recommended number of treatments spaced out at about 4 weeks apart. Some patients see results almost immediately after their initial treatment, while many see results two weeks following the first treatment. The most noticeable results are seen soon after the completion of your final treatment, and they continue to improve for an additional three months. After your final treatment, you may then be only need one or two treatments once or twice a year to help maintain your results.
Before and after Morpheus8 treatment performed by Dr. F. Roth.
Fractora vs. Morpheus8: What’s the Difference?
At first glance, both Fractora and Morpheus8 might seem almost the same. After all, both treatments use radio frequency energy combined with microneedling. While they might seem similar, however, they are actually quite different. Fractora works to improve skin texture, while Morpheus8 works to tighten skin. Morpheus8 also penetrates deeper into the skin.
How Do You Choose?
Okay, so now that you know that they’re different, how do you choose which treatment is the right one? It’s simple, really. Come in for a complimentary skin consultation. We’ll assess your skin and determine which is right for you.
Here’s something else to know. Some patients may actually benefit better from both treatments! Now with Clarity’s newest treatment addition of Morpheus8, we can tighten skin (on both the face and the body) and Fractora goes to work correcting crepey/textural skin.
At Clarity, we understand that most patient skin concerns are a consequence of multiple issues. To get the best results, a combination of treatments may prove to be the perfect solution. All of our clinicians are up to date with the latest treatment protocols. Give us a call today for more information and to schedule your complimentary consultation!
Please note, results may vary. Your treatment options will be clearly reviewed with our medical professionals during your complimentary consultation.
