Contact Dr. Jessica Krant

This is for new patient inquiries ONLY. Existing patients please call the office.

This Is A Custom Widget

This Sliding Bar can be switched on or off in theme options, and can take any widget you throw at it or even fill it with your custom HTML Code. Its perfect for grabbing the attention of your viewers. Choose between 1, 2, 3 or 4 columns, set the background color, widget divider color, activate transparency, a top border or fully disable it on desktop and mobile.

What are the Treatment Options for Sagging Skin?

/, Thermage, Ultherapy, Skin Tightening/What are the Treatment Options for Sagging Skin?

What are the Treatment Options for Sagging Skin?

Sagging skin, especially on the face and neck, can be one of the most dramatic signs of aging. Even though sagging skin is part of the normal aging process, it can be a cosmetic concern for both men and women. If you wish to tighten certain areas of loose skin, keep reading to learn exactly what causes sagging skin and what treatment options are available to give you the firm, youthful look that you desire.

What causes sagging skin?

Skin laxity is the medical term for the acquired loose, relaxed state of the skin that develops with age. Skin laxity is the result of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to loss of collagen and elastin in the skin. Other than natural aging, examples of these factors include genetics, diet, stress, lifestyle, sun exposure, weight fluctuations, exposure to environmental toxins, and smoking. Once these factors break down the collagen and elastin fibers that give skin its firmness and elasticity, gravity pulls the loose skin downwards even further.

Non-invasive treatments for sagging skin

Non-invasive treatments for sagging skin involve devices that utilize either mechanical or biochemical pathways to first cause collagen contraction and destruction, which then leads to collagen remodeling. (J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2010) The results of collagen remodeling is tissue tightening and improvement of the sagging skin. Below are two examples of non-invasive treatment options for sagging skin.

Thermagethermage

Thermage® is an FDA-approved and clinically-proven treatment that utilizes monopolar radiofrequency energy to penetrate deep into the skin’s dermis and subcutaneous tissue, delivering an electrical current that creates heat through the inherent electrical resistance of the skin cells. The heat denatures collagen molecules by breaking hydrogen bonds in its chains, resulting in collagen thickening and remodeling. Thermage results in tighter looking skin immediately, with little to no downtime afterwards. The result is a smoother, sleeker, and younger-looking version of yourself.

Ultherapy

Ultherapy® is the only non-invasive procedure FDA-cleared to lift skin on the neck, under the chin, on the décolletage, and on the eyebrow. This treatment uses ultrasound technology to stimulate your body’s own production of collagen below the skin’s surface. As collagen continues to increase over time, you will notice dramatic, long-lasting results that create a smoother, refreshed appearance.

ultherapy

Minimally invasive treatments for sagging skin

Minimally invasive treatments for sagging skin involve various types of injectable dermal fillers. Often referred to as the Liquid Facelift, dermal fillers can produce dramatic results without the side effects and costs that come with a traditional facelift. Although results from dermal fillers are temporary, the newest fillers on the market have been formulated to last as long as 18 months. Below is a brief overview of the most common types of dermal fillers that can be used to treat sagging skin.

Hyaluronic acid

The most popular category of dermal fillers is hyaluronic acid. It is a natural agent distributed widely throughout many body tissues, such as skin and cartilage. It is an anionic, non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan – in simple terms this means it is a sugar that serves to attract and bind water molecules, thus keeping the skin hydrated as well as giving it volume. Dermal fillers that contain hyaluronic acid include Restylane®, Juvederm®, and Perlane®. Hyaluronic acid fillers can restore a more youthful appearance by filling out wrinkles and skin folds, replacing lost facial volume, with results lasting anywhere from several months to over a year.

Collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is the main structural protein of the extracellular space in various connective tissues, including the dermis, the middle layer of skin that lies below the epidermis. The connective tissue of the dermis provides strength and elasticity to the skin through an extracellular matrix composed of collagen and elastin fibers, which are embedded in hyaluronan and proteoglycans. The effects of collagen fillers only last for about 3 to 4 months, making them the shortest lasting of injectable filler materials.

Calcium hydroxylapatite

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, calcium hydroxylapatite is found naturally in human bones and is a mineral-like compound, making it the heaviest of all dermal fillers. One calcium hydroxylapatite dermal filler is Radiesse, which can immediately replenish lost volume and stimulate the production of your own natural collagen with results that can last a year or more in many patients.

hyaluronic-acid

Invasive treatments for sagging skin

The most invasive treatment option for sagging skin is surgery. Surgical procedures relating to skin laxity range from face lifts to body contouring after weight loss to blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) for drooping eyelids.

While surgery provides patients with a long-lasting solution to their sagging skin concerns, there are a few drawbacks to this treatment option. There are the general side effects that come with any surgery, such as bruising, bleeding, and swelling, which means that recovery from surgical procedures is longer than the aforementioned treatment options. Also, surgery comes with the risk of complications such as infections and the possibility of developing scars.

In summary

Sagging skin is a natural part of the aging process. External factors can contribute to sagging skin, such as too much sun exposure, a sedentary lifestyle, and smoking. Fortunately, many treatment options exist for sagging skin, ranging from non-invasive procedures like Thermage and Ultherapy, to minimally invasive dermal fillers, and as far as surgical intervention.

To determine which treatment option for sagging skin is most appropriate for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Jessica Krant to discuss your unique needs and goals.

About the Author: Dr. Krant

Leave A Comment