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Any Alternative to Surgery for Saggy Skin?

asked 2 years ago by helpseeker in N.J.
Latest answer by Nissan Pilest, MD
Question viewed 1,584 times
Tags: sagging, non surgical

Lower part of the face left and right to my chin, my skin is getting soggy with a couple of deep wrinkles, even thoug I look younger than my real age, I think that is changing now. I tried many "miracle" creams and serums. Don't work. I'm thinking of Botox, any suggestions?

19 answers to Any Alternative to Surgery for Saggy Skin?

Loose skin around the neck and face

Generally there are many solutions for a problem, but only one solution that is best. For loose skin around the face and neck a facelift and necklift is usually the best solution that fixes the most for the longest period of time. Many doctors also augment lost facial volume with grafts as well. All other solutions will be minimal in comparison. Most experienced board certified plastic surgeons offer minimally invasive and temporary treatments as well, so they can give you an approximate... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Solution for saggy skin of lower face is surgery

When the skin muscles and fat of the underneath portion of the chin begin to sag, a neck lift or face/neck lift is a comprehensive solution to this problem. It involves removal of fat underneath the neck, tightening the skin and tightening the muscles underneath the front and the posterior portion of the neck to give the new definition of the jawline. Miracle creams and serums do not work in this area, nor do Botox and dermal fillers.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fillers are an excellent option for early stages of sagging skin

Fillers are an excellent option for early stages of sagging skin. Fat transplantation can be used to redistribute facial skin as an option to face lifting. Light based light sources and radio frequency devices such as Titan and Thermage provide modest tightening. Once you are old enough to need a lift, see your dermatologist for a recommendation on who is the best person in your area for face lifting.

William Coleman III, MD
Metairie Dermatologic Surgeon

Pesky jowls

Sounds like you are describing jowls, and nasolabial fold prominence. If I am correct, Botox is not useful as a treatment modality. If your neck is in a youthful condition, you should consider a cheek (mini-face) lift. If your neck has signs of aging that bother you, you shoud consider a lower face lift (cheek and neck). I do not recommend thread or lifestye lifts due to longevity and efficacy. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Botox, Fillers, Thermage and Lasers might be an alternative vs. surgery

There are many aspects of your face that need to be analyzed. The texture of the skin, the laxity, the amount of fat in pockets, the relative amount of drooping that has occurred. Some patients are adamant against having surgery, and yet I might explain to them that after all the costly nonsurgical treatments I can offer, they will not be happy. Others may be able to avoid a surgical lift for several more years by maintaining volume correction of the face which helps support the sagging... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Non-surgical facelift options

For what you describe you might consider a combination of Fractional CO2 laser treatments (DOT laser) and fat injections. The laser helps tighten the skin and give a "mini-facelift" to the lower face. The fat injections will help camouflage the jowls and fill in the marionette lines. The best option would be a MACS lift, which is a mini-facelift with dramatic results. Botox will not help sagging skin

Robert M. Jensen, MD
Medford Plastic Surgeon

Treatment of sagging facial skin

There is no subsitute for a facelift as Dr. Placik has said. There are some temporizing measures you can pursue like fillers and Botox. The fillers are more useful around the lower face and the Botox in the upper face generally. Skip the expensive and painful treatments like Thermage as the results are usually quite unimpressive.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Sounds like a facelift

If your skin is saggy, something to tighten it is needed and that is a Facelift. Botox removes deep lines by paralyzing the muscles -- it does not tighten skin. Lasers may help a little with fine lines, but they too do little to get rid of excess saggy skin.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Non surgical correction of saggy skin

Botox will not tighten skin. IF your appearance is due to or aggravated by facial volume loss, injectable fillers may provide you with some improvement. However, there generally is no subsititute for a facelift which addresses issues of volume loss, skin laxity, inferior displacement of underlying musculofacial structures and permits differential treatment of each of these components. Of course there are claims of skin tightening lasers but these generally produce a result of 2-3 (on a scale... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Thermage plus fillers may be a good alternative to surgery

To treat your sagging skin surgery is probably the best way , however if you are not ready for surgery then Thermage plus fillers could be a great alternative. Thermage has no down time and has produced good tightening effects. The only thing is that the results are not immediate and you will need to wait 4-6 months to see the results.

Nissan Pilest, MD
Irvine Dermatologic Surgeon

Thermage as a nonsurgical option

An effective non-surgical option for reducing the appearance of fine lines is Thermage. Thermage is a non-invasive (no incision!) treatment that can tighten skin, renew facial contours, and stimulate your body to make healthier collagen—the building block that provides structure to your skin. The procedure uses radiofrequency technology called ThermaCool that has been clinically proven to tighten and gently lift skin to smooth out wrinkles and renew facial contours. Fast and easy,... more

Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Treatment for saggy skin depends on the kind of result you seek

The best thing for you is to get a personal consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. The amount of skin laxity, your facial features and the result that you seek, will help your surgeon to recommend the best treatment.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Sagging skin of lower face

With sagging skin of the loewr face, it sounds like you would benefit from either a neck lift or face lift. Botox really is only goos for mild platysma bands in the lower face.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Face creams, miracle-not so much

Dear Helpseeker This is one of those things were there is no substitute for seeing an actual cosmetic surgeon to personally assess you. If you want to avoid surgery, consider seeing a cosmetic dermatologist. There are more likely to propose non-surgical treatments. Thermage and fractional CO2 treatments are very modest in benefits with the exception of the very few people who end up in the before and after pictures. Some people respond to chemical peels but for many the answer is a face... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Short scar facelift corrects jowls.

Hi. Just from your description, I think you need a short scar facelift. This will correct the sagging skin on either side of your chin, which we call jowls. Non invasive procedures are probably a waste of money for you, I am afraid. (I know this is not what you wanted to hear.)

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Saggy Skin

Hi, Botox is definitely not a solution for sagging skin. As a matter of fact it can make it sag more. You are probably a candidate for fillers to reduce the overall saggy look. Or a minor lifting procedure done under local anesthesia. Best, Dr.S.

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Reality of saggy skin

The reality of saggy skin is that no topical cream or injection will be very effective. Surgery is the best alternative and success and options is totally dependent upon type of skin, extent of sagginess, age of patient, genetics, and locatioin of saggy skin. This sort of problem is best addressed by a plastic surgeon in consultation.

Steven Hacker, MD
West Palm Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

www.palmbeachdermasurgery.com

Sculptra for Sagging Skin

Sculptra would be the best option. It thickens your skin slowly and gradually and lifts up the sagging areas. It can be very rewarding if you get the injections at the right place. Regards

Tanveer Janjua, MD
Bedminster Facial Plastic Surgeon

NonSurgical Tightening of Facial Skin

The BEST way to re-establish the youthful lines of the mandible and neck is a Facelift. Botox is of no use in the condition you describe and wrinkle fillers may be of marginal benefit. You MAY get a mild improvement with several treatments by the Sciton - BBL SKIN TYTE device. Dr. P. Aldea