I Tried Sofwave Skin Tightening and Lifting Treatment

My double chin disappeared for a while, no knives needed

Hello, Gorgeous!

While I love spas and pampering treatments, I’m not generally a fan of anything ouchy or invasive. And no matter the claims or exhortations, you won’t see me lined up for Botox, fillers, or anything that makes me look less like myself. So, you can imagine I was a bit on the fence last year when I was invited to try out Sofwave at Dr. Jennifer Walden’s Skin Spirit in Tribeca. I’m so thrilled that I did.

What Is Sofwave?

Sofwave is an FDA-approved, non-invasive skin treatment to lift and tighten skin. While initially meant to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, Sofwave has been approved for use under the chin and on the neck. This is not new news, but it’s big news since there are limited non-invasive treatments with such visible results for the neck area and jawline.

TLDR: I honestly cannot believe the results on my double chin. Notably, it didn’t last, but while it did, the results were shockingly good and kept getting better. In less thrilling news, after a few months, the tightening effect seemed to disappear overnight.

How does Sofwave work?

Sofwave uses ultrasound technology to lift and rejuvenate the skin while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Like many of the at-home devices you’re probably already using, it targets the mid-dermal layers of the skin and stimulates collagen and elastin production. Unlike the at-home devices though, Sofwave is a serious treatment in-office only treatment. Collagen is heated up, tissue is repaired, sagging skin is tightened.

Sofwave is great for all skin types, but works best if you’re under 60

Unlike some laser treatments, Sofwave can be used on all skin tones. While some of the young ‘uns are trying it, in an informal poll, I discovered that women in their 40s and 50s and up had the most noticeable results. Sofwave has also become incredibly popular with men, especially male celebrities.

My experience with Sofwave

First off, I went for a treatment a while back when I was on assignment for a magazine, and the story was killed. I so loved my Sofwave treatment that I still wanted to write about it and kept meaning to. It’s about a year later I can tell you that I was so thrilled with the results I’d go again in a heartbeat. I can also tell you that it’s rare to so clearly remember the positive results of a treatment, since I try pretty much everything, but it was that great.

Here’s what happened:

First up: Numbing

After discussing my hoped for results, my face was cleared of any makeup and then numbed. I sat with that for about a half hour. After the numbing cream was removed, an ultrasound gel was applied to my face, chin and neck to better allow the Sofwave handpiece movement across my skin.

Some areas were more sensitive than others

Each pass takes a few seconds. I felt some heat, heard a beep and it was on to the next section. While some areas of my face were completely painless, I did feel sharp pain at certain points. I guess my super sensitive skin is just ultra sensitive in some areas.

The timeline

While I didn’t see immediate results, I did feel them. My ultra sensitive skin felt odd for about a day. It was also redder than usual. The weird thing is that I also looked extremely glowy. About a week later I did a double take when looking in the mirror. Two weeks in and my double chin had receded slightly. I figured that would be the extent of the results, but I was mistaken. About two months after my Sofwave treatment I realized that I was receiving a slew of compliments. It actually took me a bit of time to connect the dots and realize that the effects of my Sofwave treatment were visible to others.

What I did next

Last winter I ended up having the cold/flu/Covid/cough from hell. It lasted for several months so I was never able to follow up with another Sofwave treatment. I did not go for a follow up treatment. I really wish I would have. Of all the facials/laser treatments or strange treatments I’ve reviewed, I’ve had the best results with Sofwave.

Sofwave works

If you’re considering trying Sofwave, I’d say go for it. Whether you have acne scars or cellulite or saggy skin after rapid weight loss, this is a great way of tightening your skin without making you look freeze-dried.

Does it hurt? Sort of. It depends on your pain threshold and where you have the treatment. I’d say it was a five out of ten at its worst.

Is it expensive? Well, it’s not cheap. I researched some local medispas and treatments start at about $800 a pop and can go up to a few thousand if you want to target multiple areas on your face or body.

Have you tried Sofwave? Did you love/hate the results? I’d love to discuss in the comment section!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋