Facelift Tape - could it make skin sag more over time?

Question

I’m worried that facelift tape will make my skin sag more. I’ve read where surgeons have no concerns about that happening but also read about dermatologist warning against it. It does seem like the skin would stretch out. Could you explain how that won’t happen. I will use the tapes until I have a large enough fund to get a facelift. Thank you.

Safa Manav, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Occasional use of facelift tape for a few hours, for an event or photos, is unlikely to cause lasting sagging. The tape pulls the skin temporarily, and healthy skin returns to its normal position once it's removed.
The concern comes with daily, long-term use. Repeated pulling on the same areas, together with the adhesive being peeled off again and again, can irritate the skin. It can cause redness, small tears and pigmentation, especially in thin or mature skin. Constant traction can also stretch the skin slightly over time, similar to how repeated rubbing or pulling contributes to laxity. So both views you have read are partly right: it's the frequency and how you use it that matter.
If you do use tape, a few tips: place it in the hairline rather than on delicate facial skin, don't pull too tightly, remove it gently with an oil-based remover, give your skin regular breaks, and keep it well moisturized.
While you save for surgery, good skincare (daily sunscreen, retinoids), not smoking, and a stable weight will protect your skin quality. That will also help you get a better, longer-lasting result from your future facelift.
Best wishes,Dr. Safa Manav

Serdar Bora Bayraktaroglu, MD · Answer

I must confirm that your worry is valid: regularly using facelift tape can stretch the skin and worsen laxity over time. Constant mechanical pulling fatigues delicate elastin and collagen fibers, while daily adhesive removal causes micro-trauma, weakening the skin's structural integrity. To minimize damage while saving for your surgery, reserve the tape strictly for special occasions rather than daily use, and always dissolve the adhesive gently with oil rather than pulling. For daily support, consider non-adhesive cosmetic alternatives or makeup techniques that mimic contouring without physical traction.

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Facelift tape is unlikely to permanently stretch the skin when it is used gently and removed carefully. Skin has elasticity, and brief, low-tension support is different from a surgery or from constant heavy traction. The bigger concerns with frequent tape use are irritation, adhesive allergy, redness, broken capillaries, skin peeling, or making the skin look creased while it is being pulled.

If you use it, keep the tension modest, avoid sleeping in tight tape, do not apply it over irritated skin, and remove it with oil or adhesive remover rather than pulling hard. If you notice redness, itching, peeling, or bruising, give the skin a break. Tape can be a temporary camouflage tool, but it will not slow facial aging or replace a facelift when laxity becomes the main issue.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

If you are using a facial tape to pull on your face, you're likely putting traction on your skin... you're stretching your skin.  The end result would be skin that's more stretched than if you hadn't done that.

Facelift Tape - could it make skin sag more over time?

Answers (4)

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