Skin tightening
The aging process and the cumulative effects of sun, gravity, genetics, and other factors cause a loss of skin elasticity, which leads to sagging, lipoatrophy, and other imperfections. Physicians on Real Self have offered a great deal of information about skin tightening, so read on to learn more.
How to tighten loose skin
Non-surgical skin tightening
One way to tighten sagging skin without surgery is by using injectable fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, etc. This is a little like inflating a beach ball to address the pockets and bulges. For example, by using a filler to restore volume to the cheeks, you can lessen the appearance of the jowls to some extent.
Other options have recently become available for skin tightening such as Refirme, TITAN, or Thermage. Titan uses infrared light (IR) to tighten the skin, Thermage uses unipolar rafiofrequency energy (RF), and Refirme uses IR and bipolar RF.
Surgical skin tightening
After weight loss or a pregnancy, a person can be left with excess, loose skin. In most cases, excess skin will not go away with just diet and exercise. In such cases, a surgeon may recommend a procedure called a panniculectomy, which essentially remove excess skin. Going one step further, a formal tummy tuck would then not only remove this skin but also tighten loose muscle underneath.
Facelift surgery is another procedure designed to correct signs of skin laxity that accompany aging. The goals of a face-lift are to lift the jowls and clean up the neck. The neck is sculpted by removing both the fat on top and underneath the muscle fibers that extend from the collarbone to the jaw (platysma). This muscle is tightened in the front of the neck and underneath the jaw-line to improve the jowl line. To lift the jowls, the facial superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) is also tightened.
Skin tightening products
Green Cream claims to be able to tighten skin, reduce wrinkles and create a smoother, more luminescent glow.
Arcona Tightening Serum uses glycine proteins which are said to tighten, brighten and firm skin.
More skin tightening information
- How can I tighten sagging skin?
- Is there a non-surgical way to tighten arm skin?
- What's the best way to tighten sagging facial skin?
