Skin loses some of its firmness as you get older, and the change often shows up first along your jawline and around your eyes. Many people want to do something about it without going anywhere near surgery.
It’s a topic that comes up during eye exams more than you’d think, since the skin around your eyes is part of what we look after. Radio frequency skin tightening is a non-surgical treatment that uses gentle heat to help firm your skin and soften fine lines, usually with little to no downtime. For some patients, it can also work alongside dry eye treatment.
Radio Frequency Skin Tightening Basics
Radio frequency devices use low-frequency electromagnetic waves to warm the deeper layers of your skin. That heat prompts your body to make more collagen and elastin, the proteins that give skin its strength and stretch.
Nothing gets cut, so there’s no wound to heal. As new collagen builds up over the following months, your skin can start to look firmer and smoother.
What a TempSure Envi Session Feels Like
We use TempSure Envi for these treatments. The handpiece feels warm as it moves over your skin, a bit like a hot stone massage. You might notice some tingling, and if anything ever starts to feel like burning, tell us right away so we can adjust.
A session usually runs about an hour, depending on the area. You’ll leave without bandages, and most people head back to work or errands the same day.
Common Treatment Areas
People usually ask about the areas where softening skin shows up first. These are some of the areas people often ask us to treat:
- Face
- Skin around the eyes
- Jawline
- Neck
Radio Frequency Treatment and Your Eyes
The skin around your eyelids and lashes is delicate, and it doesn’t respond the same way as the skin on your cheek. Optometrists know the anatomy of this area well, which is one reason it makes sense to have this conversation with your eye care team.
Many cases of dry eye involve meibomian gland dysfunction, where the tiny oil glands along the edges of your eyelids get clogged with thickened oil. Without enough oil in your tears, they evaporate too quickly and leave your eyes feeling dry or gritty. Radio frequency energy applied near the eyes can warm those glands and help melt the blockage so oil flows into your tears again.
Results, Timeline, and Upkeep
Your skin needs time to build new collagen, so changes tend to appear gradually over 2 to 6 months. Some people need 2 to 6 sessions, and we’ll work out a plan that fits your skin and your goals.
With good skin care, including daily sunscreen, results may last 1 to 3 years. Maintenance sessions can help you keep those changes as your skin continues to age.
Cost depends on the area you’re treating and how many sessions you need. We’ll go over both during your consultation, so you’ll know what to expect before you commit.
What to Expect Before and After Treatment
A little prep can help your session go smoothly. Here’s what we suggest before your appointment:
- Limit your time in the sun.
- Skip exfoliating scrubs and peeling masks.
- Arrive with clean skin, free of makeup and creams.
- Tell us about any other skin treatments you’re getting.
Possible Short-Term Side Effects
Any after-effects tend to be mild and short-lived. These are the ones to watch for:
- Mild redness in the treated area.
- Slight swelling.
- Tenderness, which often fades quickly.
Call us if redness or swelling lasts for several days, or if you notice a rash or any other unexpected skin changes.
Professional Care Versus At-Home Devices
Home devices exist, and they’re tempting for the price. What they can do is limited compared with a professional session.
A trained provider adjusts the settings for your skin and the area being treated, and takes extra care when working close to your eyes. That kind of attention is hard to replicate with a device you use in front of the bathroom mirror.
Ask About TempSure Envi at Your Next Visit
Radio frequency skin tightening can be a gentle way to improve firmness and reduce fine lines, and for some people, it may help with dry eye symptoms too. Since so much of the treatment centers on the delicate skin around your eyes, it makes sense to talk it over with an optometrist.
Our team at Precision Eye Care can talk through your goals and let you know whether this treatment suits your skin. Book an appointment and bring your questions along.
