Sagging skin, loose skin, lax skin – however you describe it, by the time many of us hit our mid-30s this issue can cause our faces and certain other areas of our bodies to lose their youthful plumpness, definition and resilience. Read on to discover what combination of factors causes sagging skin – and how an expert skin specialist can help alleviate the problem.
While gravity does, indeed, take its toll, several other forces are at work when it comes to sagging skin:
When skin laxity due to loss of elasticity and collagen is subtle, you may start to notice such textural changes as skin creping and deepening skin folds – when this occurs in a woman’s décolletage, for example, it can be an easy age giveaway. As laxity becomes more pronounced, gravity may really begin to take its toll, causing drooping skin to pool in places like the upper and lower eyelids, jawline and neck.
Generally speaking, as far as volume loss goes, this issue can result in an anti-youthful change in the overall shape of the lower part of the face. Gone is the inverted triangle formed by our cheeks and chin and, in its place, a more square appearance forms, as the facial structures begin to pool around the mouth and jawline.
When it comes to sagging skin, prevention really is key. As such, it’s important to protect your skin from sun damage that can impact the elasticity – and compromise the smooth, youthful look – of the skin. Cover up with protective clothing, wear a hat, always use a physical sun block – such as that contained in Colorescience Mineral Makeup – and, as much as you can, stay out of the sun for prolonged periods of time. We have in stock Bluestone Sunshields which offer UV protection.
If you have mild skin laxity then the Fraxel laser can help with wrinkles and fine lines. This can provide a slight lift; however, devices like Thermage, EndyMed 3DEEP or BBL Skin Tyte yield more predictable results. Laser treatments are designed to treat conditions that lie on the skin surface, while our other devices are designed to stimulate collagen which lies below your skin.
In the case of sagging, lax and loose skin, treatment should always begin with a proper diagnosis by a professional skin specialist, who can then develop the most effective course of action for you. Generally speaking, however, the best results are often obtained when a combination of treatments are administered, due to the fact that various factors are usually at play. These treatments can include:
