How to Get Rid of Loose & Sagging Skin

How to Firm Up Your Skin

If you want to achieve tighter skin, dermatologists suggest using smaller methods as opposed to more drastic ones. This could involve serums, lasers and other tweaks which would ultimately be much more effective than a large-scale approach – not to mention it would create a more natural look.

A person’s perceived age is based on numerous factors, such as skin texture and tone, wrinkles, loss of volume, and sagging. The last one occurs when collagen—which gives skin its strength—breaks down with time. A lack of collagen also hastens the formation of wrinkles and a loss of volume; therefore, the best way to stay looking young is to prevent collagen deterioration in the first place,” says Robert Anolik. “Prevention is key,” he advises. “There’s no replacement for wearing sunscreen daily and having a good lifestyle–quit smoking, consume alcohol and sugar in moderation, get regular exercise, keep inflammation at bay. Do all of this and you won’t have visible signs of aging to begin with. The cosmetic procedures will work better and last longer.”

Dr. Anolik explains, “What makes this new firming and lifting technology special is its ability to stimulate collagen growth in multiple layers of skin, not just the surface layer.” The surface layer alone betrays many signs of aging such as fine lines, uneven pigmentation, blood vessels, sun spots and acne scars. However it is the remodeling of deep-set collagen that provides the lifting and tightening effect.”

With so many options for treatments now available, it’s no surprise that dermatologists aren’t in complete agreement about which one is the best. “Every dermatologist has treated different patients with different techniques,” says New York dermatologist Doris Day, who is also a clinical associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center. According to Day, “Doctors tend to feel more comfortable with the devices they are familiar with and have in their office.” Technology is always rapidly changing and improving, so finding what works best can be difficult. (Day has several different types of devices in her office and says she puts together each treatment plan depending on the patient.)

There have been two ways to tighten skin in the past: mild treatments (such as peels, retinoids, and certain lasers) that stimulate collagen production in the uppermost layers of skin, or severe (CO2 peels or pulling the skin tight with a surgical face-lift). Both of these latter options come with risks and downtime.

For people who might have gotten face-lifts in the past, plastic surgeon Julius Few reports that they are now opting for dermatological treatments instead—or at least first. By forestalling the need for a face-lift, he says, “Our treatments are so effective that we’re piling them on top of each other —the thread lift, fillers, Botox, lasers, Ulthera— to get even better results.” As a result of this new trend, “We are seeing fewer patients who require full face-lifts.” 

Santa Monica dermatologist Karyn Grossman emphasizes the importance of a detailed consultation, saying: “Many factors should be considered before getting a treatment, such as downtime, risk, cost, durability , severity , and potential scars.”

“Dermal fillers are a great way to achieve a more youthful appearance with less downtime,” says Anolik. “Injectable fillers help to temporarily replace lost collagen, adding volume and fullness to the skin.” This sort of treatment can be very effective in helping patients achieve a more youthful appearance; however, it is important to note that there are limits to what dermal fillers can do and that it is easy to overdo this type of treatment.

The most substantial noninvasive technological advances are in radiofrequency and ultrasound devices, which construct collagen by beaming energy to various layers of the skin: radiofrequency dispatched in a more significant, dispersed method and ultrasound concentrated on a single area. “Perceive the collagen fibers as an un-stretched sweater, and these treatments would tighten that garment,” says Anolik. These processes usually require numbing agents for the skin but have no recommencing time because they work below the top layer of skin; however, visible results take place over several months while the body produces new collagen. “Ulthera is the foundation of most of the tightening treatments I perform,” says Day. “I find that EndyMed radiofrequency treatments make the effects of Ulthera last longer.” Grossman believes that Thermage is the best method for tightening but she also believes Ulthera is just as good; Anolik prefers Ulthera but uses Thermage under specific circumstances.

Grossman says she sees excellent results in the upper eye area with Thermage treatments and prefers another radiofrequency device called Forma to achieve fullness in the lower eye area. According to Grossman, Forma requires multiple sessions but loves thermage for its neck benefits. Dr. Anolik prefers to use Ulthera in conjunction with Botox, performed either a week before or after the Ulthera treatment. “When I attempt to lift the brow or neck and see that the muscles are actually dragging it down instead of up, combining Botox is often very helpful,” he explains. “It provides the best environment for easy lifting.” Day recommends Thermage for tightening the stomach and hips, while she herself prefers EndyMed for lifting the eye.

“The new microneedling technology is amazing” says Day, because it can be used to improve collagen production and skin texture with very little down time for the patient. With this device, I can control how deep the needles penetrate depending on the needs of each patient. It’s a great tool to have in my arsenal for treating things like acne scars, smoker’s lines around the lips, and sagging skin around the eyes.

The Infini device is a combination of radiofrequency and microneedles that are able to target specific points in the skin, similar to Ulthera. “The idea with microneedling is to trigger an immune response that will stimulate collagen production.”

Grossman is thrilled about microneedling’s potential, saying “Not only does it have beautiful results around the neck area, recent studies suggest that it may also help with cellulite located on the back of legs.”

Day has a unique perspective: “I believe you achieve the best results by doing several different things–skin care, neuromodulators, dieting, exercising, fillers, and devices. It’s not about focusing on one particular area. We age in many ways concurrently, so it makes more sense to do a little of this and that. Nowadays it’s less about erasing wrinkles and more about understanding them.”

Skin care routine to reduce wrinkles and keep your skin looking young!

– Don’t forget to exfoliate regularly! This will help slough off dead skin cells and reveal brighter, healthier-looking skin.

• Our Pick: 100% Pure Acai Pulp Facial Scrub

– Wear sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy, and reapply every two hours to ensure you’re protected from harmful UV rays.

• Our Pick: Dermstore Collection Daily Mineral Sunscreen Sheer Tint SPF 40

– Apply a Vitamin C serum every day. 

• Our Pick: 100% Pure Vitamin C Serum

– Drinking collagen can improve your skin, hair and nails.

• Our Pick: HUM Nutrition Collagen Pop Vitamin C Dissolvable Tablets

– Remove wrinkles and sagging skin—temporarily.

• Our Pick: Skin Gym Beauty Lifter – Vibrating T Bar 

– Nurture your skin with Botanical Serum

• Our Pick: 100% Pure Bakuchiol Oil Serum