Loose skin can be a frustrating and unsightly problem, especially as we age or lose weight. While surgical options like facelifts and tummy tucks can address loose or sagging skin, they’re not always the best choice for everyone.
Fortunately, there are non-surgical treatments available that can tighten and tone loose skin without the need for incisions or downtime. In this article, I will explore the best non-surgical treatments for sagging skin.
Can Loose Skin Be Tightened?
Yes, loose skin can be tightened through various non-surgical and surgical methods.
Non-surgical options include FACEtite, non-surgical facelift, Morpheus8, PRP therapy, and laser therapy. These treatments work by stimulating collagen, which helps to firm and tighten the skin.
On the other hand, surgical options such as facelifts and body lifts remove excess skin and pull the remaining skin tight. A combination of non-surgical and surgical methods can also achieve the desired result.
What Causes Loose or Excess Skin?
Several factors can cause loose or excess skin, including the following:
Ageing
Skin ageing causes elasticity and collagen loss, which makes the skin sag and appear loose.
Weight loss
Rapid or massive weight loss can cause the skin to lose its elasticity and sag. This usually happens in areas with a lot of fat loss, such as the stomach, thighs, and upper arms.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy can cause the skin to stretch, leading to loose or excess skin, particularly on the abdomen, thighs, and breasts.
Genetics
Some people may be more prone to saggy skin due to their genetic makeup.
Sun exposure
Long-term sun exposure can damage the skin’s elastic fibres, leading to saggy skin.
Smoking
The toxins from smoking can also damage the skin’s elastic fibres and reduce collagen, leading to saggy skin.
Does Loose Skin Stay Forever?
Loose skin can be a frustrating and unsightly problem, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. In some cases, the skin can naturally tighten and recover over time, especially if the cause of the loose skin is due to weight loss or pregnancy.
For example, for a person who lost a significant amount of weight, the skin can shrink and adjust to the new body shape after some time.
However, in other cases, the skin may not recover. Ageing, genetics, and sun exposure can cause the skin to lose elasticity permanently, making it more difficult to tighten. In these cases, non-surgical or surgical treatments must be done to tighten and tone the skin.
How Can I Get Rid of Saggy Skin?
Non-Surgical Treatments
Non-surgical treatments for saggy skin aim to stimulate collagen production and firm sagging skin. These treatments can provide results that are less dramatic than a surgical facelift. However, they do not require any incisions or recovery time. They can also target specific areas of the face or body, such as the under-eye area, jowls, or the stomach.
Non-surgical treatments such as FACEtite, Morpheus8, non-surgical facelifts, PRP therapy, and laser therapy can help tighten and tone loose or sagging skin.
Surgical treatments for saggy skin, also known as skin tightening procedures, aim to remove excess skin and tighten the remaining skin to create a more youthful appearance. These procedures often target specific areas of the face or body, such as the face, neck, arms, stomach, or thighs.
Surgical Treatments
The most common surgical treatment for saggy skin is a facelift, a procedure that tightens the skin on the face. It is typically performed under anaesthesia and involves making incisions along the hairline and in the natural creases of the face.
The surgeon will lift and reposition the underlying tissue and muscle and remove excess skin. This procedure can correct major and minor sagging skin on the cheeks, jawline, and more. It can also be combined with other procedures, such as a brow lift or eyelid surgery.
Treatments for Sagging Skin
FACEtite is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to tighten the skin and improve the appearance of sagging skin on the face and neck. It’s performed under local anaesthesia, making it a less invasive alternative to a traditional facelift.
Morpheus8
Morpheus8 uses a combination of microneedling and radiofrequency energy to tighten the skin and improve the appearance of sagging skin, wrinkles and fine lines, and acne scars. It’s considered a non-surgical facelift alternative and is used for facial and body contouring.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy uses different types of laser technology to improve the appearance of the skin. Fractional, non-ablative, and ablative laser therapy are types of laser therapy used to treat saggy skin by stimulating collagen production and tightening the skin. It can also be used to smoothen skin after reconstructive surgery.
PRP Therapy
PRP therapy (platelet-rich plasma therapy) involves a patient’s plasma, which is rich in growth factors. The procedure stimulates the healing and rejuvenation of the skin. The treatment is performed by extracting a small amount of blood from the patient and then using a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the red blood cells.
Body Contouring Surgery (BCS)
Also known as body sculpting or body reshaping surgery, BCS refers to a group of procedures used to reshape and enhance the appearance of different body areas.
These procedures can include liposuction, tummy tucks, thigh lifts, and other surgeries. They remove excess skin and fat and tighten underlying muscles. These procedures are often performed to improve the shape and tone of the body after bariatric surgery, significant weight loss, pregnancy, or ageing.
Facelift
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to tighten loose skin on the face and neck. The procedure typically involves making incisions in the hairline and around the ears.
Then, the surgeon lifts and tightens the skin on the face. After this, the facelift surgeon will remove excess skin and reposition the remaining skin to create a more youthful appearance.
During a facelift, the skin is separated from the muscles and tissue beneath. The underlying muscles are then tightened. Next, the skin is pulled back and redraped over the tightened muscles.
Any excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is stitched back into place. The procedure may also involve the use of liposuction to remove any excess fat.
Why Does Loose Skin After Weight Loss Happen?
Loose skin after weight loss occurs because the skin has lost elasticity and is unable to contract and conform to the new shape of the body.
The skin is a living organ that stretches and expands when we experience weight gain. Hence, when we lose weight, it can take time for the skin to shrink and adjust to the new body shape. The skin’s ability to bounce back depends on several factors, such as age, genetics, amount of weight loss, and overall skin health prior to weight loss.
How Can You Get Rid of Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
Getting rid of loose skin after rapid or gradual weight loss can be challenging and may require a combination of approaches.
One way to address excess skin is through the non-surgical treatments mentioned above. Building muscle mass through resistance training and maintaining a healthy diet can also help firm and tone the skin. On top of that, a great skincare routine with hyaluronic acid, more collagen, and vitamin C can help maintain the results of the skin tightening treatment.
Visit Dr. Julian de Silva – Harley St, London
Are you looking for an experienced healthcare professional that will help you deal with saggy skin? I, Dr. Julian De Silva, am one of the best plastic surgeons in the UK. My clinic offers both surgical and non-surgical treatments for saggy skin. Book a consultation with me now! Alternatively, you may visit us at 23 Harley St, London W1G 9QN, UK.