Non-Surgical Skin Tightening
Somewhere along the way, non-surgical came to mean no downtime. The two got welded together in how these treatments are advertised, and it has left a lot of people with an expectation that does not match reality.
They are separate things. Non-surgical describes what happens in the room: no scalpel, no stitches, no general anaesthetic. Downtime describes what happens for the fortnight afterwards. A treatment can be genuinely non-surgical and still put you out of circulation for two weeks.
Plexr® Plus is exactly that treatment, and it is worth being straight about both halves.
How it works
Plexr stands for Plasma Exeresis. It uses plasma technology to sublimate the surface of the skin without damaging the surrounding or deeper structures. In practice that means it works with real precision on the very top layer and leaves what is underneath untouched.
Two things happen as a result. There is an immediate tightening and reorganisation of the collagen fibres your skin already has, which is why some of the effect is visible quickly. Then there is the formation of new collagen and renewal of epidermal tissue, which builds over the weeks that follow. Part of the result arrives; part of it is earned.
What it is used for
The most popular use by a distance is non-surgical blepharoplasty, which is an eyelid lift without surgery. Beyond that it is used for:
- Skin laxity
- Wrinkles and rhytides
- Superficial skin lesions
- Scars, including keloid scars
- Acne
- Moles and skin tags
The pattern in that list is worth noticing. These are defined things in defined places. Plexr Plus is a precision tool, not a general skin quality treatment, and it is at its best when you can point at what you want changed.
How long the results hold
Results are long-lasting, typically maintained for around five years before a touch-up may be needed.
That figure changes the arithmetic when you are comparing options. A treatment that needs repeating every few months carries a different lifetime cost than one measured in years, and the sticker price of a single session tells you very little on its own. Results vary from person to person, and how carefully you protect your skin afterwards affects how long they last.
The two weeks nobody puts in the brochure
There is a significant period of social downtime after Plexr Plus. Your healing skin will be quite unsightly, scabby and swollen for up to two weeks.
That is not a caveat buried in the small print. It is published on the treatment page, and it is stated in exactly those terms, because the alternative is people booking two weeks before a wedding and being distressed by an entirely normal healing process.
So plan around it properly. Look at what is in your calendar for the fortnight afterwards before you book, not after.
During healing you will have carbon crusts on the treated area. Do not rub, scratch, pick, peel or pull at them under any circumstances. They have to flake away naturally. Interfering with the crusts is the most reliable way to compromise a result that would otherwise have been good, and it is entirely within your control.
You can return to normal activities immediately, but skip exercise for three days. Heat, steam and sweat all add to inflammation the skin is already dealing with. Acetaminophen is fine if you need it. Ibuprofen is not, because it can increase swelling.
Spacing it around your other treatments
Plasma needs room around other skin work, and the intervals are longer than most people assume. The published guidance is 21 days either side of other microneedling or energy-based skin treatments, 30 days either side of laser treatments or peels depending on intensity, and a minimum of nine months after surgical procedures such as a face lift.
Worth mentioning everything you have had done recently, including things you had done elsewhere. Timing conflicts are common and easy to work around when they are known in advance.
If two weeks is not workable
It is not workable for plenty of people, and that is a legitimate reason to choose something else rather than a reason to talk yourself into it.
The Plexr® Shower Facial is a non-ablative version working on the upper layers of the skin. Around 40 to 45 minutes, often described as a warm tingling sensation, no downtime. Expect a sunburn-like feeling for 24 to 36 hours and some small scale-like scabs that heal and fall away within three to five days, with makeup back on after 24 hours.
Plexr® Lumen plasma microneedling combines plasma with microneedling and is aimed at overall skin quality rather than a specific lesion.
These are not lesser versions of the same treatment. They do different jobs. The lighter options will not lift an eyelid, and Plexr Plus is not the efficient way to improve general texture across a whole face.
The question worth asking
Not whether a treatment is non-surgical. Almost everything in this category is. Ask what the recovery actually looks like, and ask it before price comes up.
A clinic that answers that question plainly, including the unflattering parts, is telling you something useful about how they will handle the rest of your care. Consultations at MD Laser Clinic are complimentary, and downtime is part of that conversation rather than a surprise afterwards.
Book a Consultation
Are You Ready To be Treated?
Step into a world where science meets beauty. Our certified professionals use cutting-edge
technology to help you achieve natural, lasting results.
Trusted By Clients Across Burlington And Beyond
MD Laser Clinic is trusted by the clients as one of the best laser treatment clinics offering services in Burlington, Waterdown, Halton, Hamilton, Oakville, and the Greater Toronto Area. We have built a reputation among all for being reliable solutions in acne care, laser skin treatments, age-management facials, and skin-tightening treatments. Many of these cherished clients have been with us for years, and their continued referrals to our laser and skin clinic are a testament to the quality, care, and results we consistently deliver.