Which skin tightening or body contouring treatment should I have?
The right treatment depends on whether your main concern is loose skin, stubborn fat, cellulite or a mix, and on how much downtime you can accept. Non-surgical options work gradually over a course of sessions; surgery remains the answer for significant excess skin.
| Concern | Approach | What happens | Typical downtime | Alma option |
| Mild to moderate skin laxity (face, neck, arms, abdomen, thighs) | Radiofrequency with ultrasound | Warms the deeper skin layers so collagen remodels and firms over the following weeks | None; a course of sessions | Alma Accent Prime or Alma PrimeX |
| Stubborn fat pockets and circumference | Ultrasound with unipolar radiofrequency | Ultrasound disrupts fat cells, RF tightens the overlying skin in the same session | None | Alma PrimeX (UltraWave) or Accent Prime |
| Cellulite | Radiofrequency with ultrasound and massage | Improves skin texture and dimpling gradually | None; maintenance sessions | Alma Accent Prime |
| Eyelid and facial skin tightening with surface renewal | Fractional plasma | Tightens and resurfaces at the same time | A few days of redness and flaking | Alma Opus |
| Significant excess skin | Surgery | Removes skin rather than tightening it | Weeks | Not an Alma treatment |
How to choose. If skin looseness is the main issue and you cannot take downtime, the radiofrequency and ultrasound approach fits. If fat is the main issue, ask for the ultrasound-led plan. If the eyelids or lower face need both tightening and texture, plasma is the option to discuss. Results build over weeks and vary from person to person; a practitioner sets the number of sessions after assessing you.
Skin tightening treatment with Alma PrimeX and Accent Prime uses ultrasound and radiofrequency energy to warm the deeper layers of the skin, encouraging collagen to remodel and firm over the weeks that follow. It is non-surgical, there is no downtime, and it is used on the abdomen, arms, thighs, buttocks and face. Most people have a short course of sessions; the number is set by your clinic after a consultation.
Body contouring and skin tightening: questions patients ask
How does Alma body contouring work?
Alma PrimeX and Accent Prime combine ultrasound and radiofrequency energy. Ultrasound targets stubborn fat pockets while radiofrequency heats the deeper layers of the skin to encourage firming. Treatment is non-invasive, with no incisions or anaesthetic.
What does the treatment feel like?
Most people describe a deep warmth, similar to a hot-stone massage, as the applicator moves over the area. The practitioner controls the temperature throughout.
How many sessions are needed?
A course of several sessions spaced one to two weeks apart is typical, with results developing over the following weeks as the body clears treated fat cells and collagen remodels. The clinic will set the plan for your goals.
Is there downtime?
Usually none. Some redness or warmth in the area for a few hours is common. Most people return to normal activity straight away.
Which areas can be treated?
Abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms, buttocks, back and under the chin are commonly treated. Ask the clinic which applicators it has, since PrimeX and Accent Prime carry different sets.
How much does it cost?
Prices are set by each clinic per area and per session, often as a course. Alma Lasers Australia supplies the equipment and does not set treatment prices.
Where can I find a clinic near me?
Over 450 clinics across Australia and New Zealand use Alma technology. Tell us your suburb and treatment and we will point you to a clinic in your area.
This information is general in nature. Suitability, results and pricing are assessed and set by the treating clinic. Results vary between individuals.
How can I tighten neck skin or loose skin on my face?
Mild to moderate looseness on the neck, jawline and lower face responds to radiofrequency with ultrasound (Alma Accent Prime or PrimeX), which warms the deeper skin so collagen firms over the following weeks, with no downtime and a course of sessions. Where texture is also a concern, fractional plasma (Alma Opus) tightens and resurfaces together, with a few days of downtime. Neither replaces a neck lift when there is a lot of excess skin; a practitioner will tell you honestly which group you are in.
Can loose skin after weight loss be tightened without surgery?
Sometimes. After moderate weight loss, radiofrequency and ultrasound treatment can firm mildly loose skin on the abdomen, arms and thighs over a course of sessions. After large weight loss, where skin hangs in folds, non-surgical treatments cannot remove that excess and surgery is the appropriate option. A consultation is the way to find out which applies to you; results vary.
Does radiofrequency skin tightening actually work?
Published studies of the radiofrequency and ultrasound platforms used by Alma clinics report measurable improvement in skin laxity, circumference and cellulite over a course of treatments, and they are listed with links on our clinical evidence page. The effect is gradual and moderate rather than surgical, depends on the skin’s ability to produce collagen, and varies from person to person, so the honest expectation is firmer skin, not a lift.
Prepared by Alma Lasers Australia, the Australian subsidiary of the manufacturer, from the device documentation, the ARTG entries and the published studies listed on our clinical evidence page. It is general information, not medical advice; a consultation with a qualified practitioner comes first. Last reviewed September 2026.
