As we age, our skin is constantly changing. Our collagen levels decrease, and wrinkles start to form. While some of these changes are inevitable, others can be prevented with the right treatment plan. Forma laser treatment can help you fight the signs of aging by reducing fine lines and wrinkles on your face without any downtime. At Southeastern Institute of Restorative Medicine in Dothan, AL, we offer this effective treatment to help you achieve a more youthful-looking appearance.
What Is the Forma Laser Used for?
Forma is a treatment that uses fractional radiofrequency (RF) energy. This RF energy stimulates collagen production to increase skin firmness and reduce fine lines and wrinkles on your face and arms.
Forma works by heating tissue to a temperature that is just hot enough for skin tightening and collagen production without damaging the surrounding tissues. The heat also helps increase blood flow within the treated area, which can help improve overall skin health.
Areas Treated
There are many areas on the face and body that Forma can treat, including:
- Face
- Neck
- Chest
- Back
- Arms
- Hands
- Sometimes buttocks
Undergoing Forma Treatment
Forma treatments take about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how many areas are being treated. The laser is applied in short bursts to the area where you experience fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in small dots on your skin that resemble goosebumps. These dots or “fractional treatment zones” remain raised for about 24 hours after the treatment. However, the dots are almost invisible and should raise no concern.
Benefits of Forma Treatment
There are many benefits associated with getting a fractional radiofrequency treatment like Forma. These benefits include:
Stimulate Collagen Production Naturally
The heat from the laser helps increase blood flow to your skin, which, in turn, stimulates collagen production naturally. As you age, collagen levels decrease and can cause fine lines and wrinkles on your face. Because collagen plays a key role in maintaining healthy-looking skin, stimulating its production can help improve overall texture and tone for an even complexion.
Effective in Reducing Wrinkles and Fine Lines
Forma treatment is commonly used to effectively reduce fine lines and wrinkles on your skin by stimulating collagen production.
No Downtime Required
Unlike other anti-aging treatments, there is no downtime required after a Forma treatment. You can immediately return to your daily activities following the treatment without worrying about any recovery time or side effects.
Non-Invasive Procedure with Immediate Results
This laser treatment is a non-invasive process that delivers immediate results. After just one session, patients report visible improvements in their skin texture and tone.
In-Office Treatment
Forma treatments are performed in our office with topical numbing cream to reduce any discomfort. This treatment is perfect for those living busy lifestyles but still want to maintain a youthful skin appearance.
Preparing for Treatment
Before your treatment, you will need to follow a few pre-treatment instructions. These include:
- Avoid taking aspirin or blood thinners for one week before the procedure.
- Stop all retinol products three days before treatment so that your pores don’t get clogged up by dead cells.
- If you are using a skin lightening cream or any acne medications, stop using them one week before treatment.
- Avoid tanning and self-tanners for one week before treatment, especially if you have sensitive skin or darker skin pigmentation.
Post Treatment Care After
In the days following your treatment session, you will need to take care of your skin for it to heal properly. Here are a few post-treatment instructions:
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Do not expose yourself directly to the sun since this can increase hyperpigmentation and cause irritation after getting a laser treatment. You should apply sunscreen liberally over any area that has been treated with Forma before heading outdoors.
Avoid Tanning Beds and Indoor Tanning
Do not use a tanning bed or indoor tanning for at least one week after the treatment. This is to help prevent hyperpigmentation, which can darken areas of your skin where laser treatments have been performed.
Avoid Picking Scabs
When scabs begin to form, avoid picking at them since this can cause scarring and increase the risk of hyperpigmentation. Also, please avoid scratching or irritating your skin so that it doesn’t get inflamed during the healing process.
Keep Your Skin Moisturized
After healing from the Forma laser treatment, it is important to keep your skin moisturized. It would be best to use a gentle moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher on areas treated with Forma to help prevent hyperpigmentation.
Only Use Lukewarm Water with Gentle Cleansers
When cleansing your skin after a Forma treatment, only use lukewarm water and gentle skincare products free of any harsh chemicals. Avoid using alcohol-based toners since these can irritate the treated area and cause dryness or itchiness.
A Good Candidate
If you’re interested in improving the look and feel of your skin but are worried about downtime or side effects related to surgery or other invasive procedures, then a Forma treatment may be right for you. This treatment has no downtime associated with it, allowing you to live normally throughout treatment sessions without worrying about how red your face will get afterward.
Forma Laser Treatment FAQs
Does Forma Skin Tightening Really Work?
Yes, it does work. The Forma laser treatment is FDA-approved, safe, and effective. It’s used to tighten the skin on your face by stimulating collagen production. The treatment reduces fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and hyperpigmentation to give you an overall younger-looking complexion.
How Long Does a Forma Treatment Take?
A typical Forma treatment takes only 15-30 minutes to complete, depending on the size of the area being treated. You can choose to have specific areas of your face treated, or you may opt for a more comprehensive treatment. This will depend on the goals you want to achieve through laser treatments and how much time you are willing to dedicate towards treatment.
How Long Do Forma Results Last?
The results from one Forma treatment can last anywhere between four to six weeks. However, if you would like to continue receiving these benefits, we recommend scheduling maintenance appointments every year so we can re-stimulate collagen production in your skin.
How Many Forma Sessions Do I Need to See Results?
We recommend a series of three treatments, each session after six weeks, to receive the best results from Forma. This will ensure that your skin heals properly in between each treatment.
What is Forma Plus?
Forma Plus is an FDA-approved skin strengthening treatment that targets larger areas of the body. It is most commonly used on the back, legs, and buttocks to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles in these areas of skin.
Can RF Damage Your Skin?
No, the Forma laser treatment is completely safe and non-invasive. It poses little to no risk of skin damage or tissue damage to the body. That’s because the amount of energy used in the treatment is preset and can be adjusted as needed.
At-Home Skin Care Tips to Slow the Aging Process
You can help prolong the results of Forma treatments by practicing good skincare at home. Some ways to do this include:
Exfoliating Your Skin
Using a gentle exfoliant will help remove dead cells from the surface of your skin so that they don’t accumulate to form lines or wrinkles. Exfoliation also helps unclog pores, which can prevent acne breakouts. We recommend exfoliating one to three times per week to get optimal results from Forma treatments.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep each night can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When you’re tired, your skin doesn’t get a chance to repair itself from sun damage or environmental stressors like pollution and cigarette smoke. Allowing yourself at least eight hours of sleep every night will give it time to recover and regenerate for better overall health.
Have a Healthy Diet
It’s important to eat a balanced diet in order to keep skin healthy and vibrant. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables while avoiding excess sugar intake will help promote healthier-looking skin from within.
Rejuvenate Your Skin Today!
Forma laser treatment is a great way to rejuvenate your skin. This treatment effectively removes fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots while promoting collagen production to keep skin looking youthful. Forma is safe for all skin types and can be combined with other skincare products or treatments. Contact us at Southeastern Institute of Restorative Medicine in Dothan, AL, to schedule a consultation today.