Near-infrared (NIR) skin tightening is a non-surgical, non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment. It uses infrared light energy to penetrate the tissue under the skin’s surface, leaving the top layer of skin unaffected.

The NIR procedure uses a safe level of infrared light that can penetrate the deeper layers of skin. The light energy heats the water in the skin tissue and causes collagen fibres to contract and tighten.

It also stimulates fibroblasts to repair skin cells and produce new collagen. This helps to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles and gives long-lasting firmness to sagging skin.

Because the NIR light energy only heats the deeper layer of skin that contains collagen, it leaves the top, surface layer unaffected.

Before we start the treatment, we apply a cooling gel to your skin.

We then pass the NIR handpiece over the targeted areas of your skin.

This heats your skin until it reaches a working temperature of between 39 and 42 degrees Centigrade. We maintain this temperature for a further 10 to 15 minutes.

Depending on the size of the area we are treating, the whole procedure should be completed in about 30 to 40 minutes.

You should not feel any pain during NIR skin tightening.

You will feel a warm sensation, similar to being on a sunbed, which at most might be slightly uncomfortable.

The handpiece has a built-in cooling system to prevent the surface layer of your skin becoming too warm.

We can apply more cooling gel, though, if you do start to feel uncomfortable.

Because the treatment involves heating your skin to a relatively high temperature, you should expect some redness afterwards.

You may also have some mild swelling, but this and the redness should settle down within a few hours (24 hours at most).

Other than this, there is no downtime and you can continue with your day immediately after treatment.

You should notice your skin looking firmer immediately after the treatment. This is partly due to the slight swelling that is a normal side effect of NIR skin tightening.

When this swelling has gone down (within 24 hours), the treated skin will feel smoother and you will see some improvement.

However, the most significant results happen gradually over the following 2 or 3 months. In this period, the tightening becomes more visible as the skin forms new collagen.

Some patients have achieved their expected results after only one treatment.

Most people, though, benefit from a course of 3 to 6 treatments, at intervals of up to 3 weeks.

A few patients may need up to 8 treatments, depending on their skin condition and expectations.

During your consultation for the procedure, we will discuss the number and frequency of treatments that you need to achieve optimal results.

NIR skin tightening treatment can help to reduce some of the visible signs of ageing skin.

We normally expect the results from the treatment to last for a year at the least, and more often up to 2 years.

NIR can’t, however, completely halt the ageing process, and you may continue to need top-up treatments to maintain results.