As we age, the skin loses elasticity, firmness and vigor, not to mention that it takes more and more time to regenerate. This can cause wrinkles and sagging, especially in areas such as the cheeks, neck, arms, and abdomen. It is impossible to stop this process, but you can definitely try several tricks to slow it down or counter it. For example, consider home treatments to tone sagging skin or, if you want a more noticeable result, consult a dermatologist to learn more about medical procedures and cosmetic surgery.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Treating sagging skin at home
Step 1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Good hydration will not solve the problem of skin sagging, but it will mask its effects. Moisturizing the skin makes it visibly more compact and improves it in general, at least for some time.
- Hydrate your face and body often, at least once a day. Do it after a shower, when the skin is more predisposed to absorb the active ingredients of the products, because it will be deeply hydrated.
- Avoid creams that are too heavy: they tend to clog pores. Choose one that is formulated for your skin type, which can be oily or sensitive, for example. Also try to opt for non-comedogenic products, which do not cause the formation of impurities.
Step 2. Use topical retinoids:
on the market you will find different brands. These products are derivatives of vitamin A and, when applied to the skin, partially repair collagen. You can use over-the-counter creams to fight expression or other wrinkles and also help your skin regenerate faster. They are usually applied before going to sleep.
- They are available in pharmacies with a cost between 10 and 20 euros.
- Topical retinoids need to be paired with proper sun protection habits. In fact, you need to use SPF creams and clothes that protect your skin, as these products make it more prone to sunburn.
- Also remember that in high doses, retinoids can cause peeling, itching or excessive dryness of the skin.
Step 3. Exfoliate
Exfoliation aims to remove the superficial layer of the skin and dead cells, making the skin immediately brighter. If done correctly, it can stimulate collagen production and rejuvenate the skin in the long term. It also makes other topical treatments more effective.
- Try exfoliating your skin with a scrub or electric brush. These products are available in pharmacies, supermarkets, perfumeries or on the internet at a reasonable price. You can also give it a try with an over-the-counter cleaner that contains 2% salicylic acid.
- Proceed gently. Aggressive exfoliation can damage the skin and cause redness or pigmentation changes. For example, avoid it if you have rosacea or inflammatory acne.
- Talk to a dermatologist to find out which type of exfoliation is best for your skin and how often to do the treatment.
Step 4. Try over-the-counter anti-aging creams
There are many products of this type on the market and some may give slight improvements. However, their effectiveness depends a lot on the active ingredients: creams containing retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidants and peptides offer better results.
- Most over-the-counter creams contain fewer active ingredients than prescription creams. Consequently, the results tend to be only temporary. Review the ingredients carefully, also read reviews or ask your dermatologist to recommend an effective brand.
- Choose a product suitable for your skin type, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic.
- Try to have realistic expectations. Don't think that a cream will make you look 10 years younger overnight. No product can be as effective as a facelift.
Step 5. Prevent further damage
When it comes to skin care, you need to aim for prevention and take prompt action. Avoid further damage and sagging by protecting it from the sun and avoiding other bad habits that cause it to age. This will not fix the problem or make the skin firmer, but it will help keep the situation from getting worse.
- Stop sunbathing and making your own lamps. Never expose yourself excessively to sunlight: they can damage the skin, cause the appearance of wrinkles and sagging.
- 15-30 minutes before going out, apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Also use protective clothing and put on a hat, look for shade whenever you can.
- Drink less. Alcohol dehydrates the skin and over time can damage it, making it visibly aged.
- Also quit smoking. Smoking accelerates the aging process and can make the skin visibly dull and yellowish.
Method 2 of 3: Try Non-Surgical Remedies
Step 1. Consider the laser
There are several procedures aimed at smoothing and renewing the skin that eliminate wrinkles and firm. Laser or radiofrequency sources are used to destroy the epidermis, or the superficial layer of the skin, and to heat the dermis, that is the underlying layer, stimulating the production of collagen. Subsequently the skin will heal, so it will appear younger and firmer than before.
- The laser is often ablative, that is, it causes wounds. It will remove the skin precisely, layer by layer, or completely destroy the surface layers.
- With the ablative laser it can take several months to heal, plus you run the risk of scarring. However, it also reduces the chances of skin pigmentation changes.
Step 2. Try other sources of light radiation
There are also non-ablative treatments that involve the use of pulsed light, not the classic laser. They include intense pulsed light (IPL), infrared laser and phototherapy. With a non-ablative procedure, healing is done earlier and the risks are reduced. However, the results are less obvious.
- For example, IPL can localize skin pigments to eliminate blemishes or pigmentation changes.
- The infrared or non-ablative laser can also reshape the skin, helping it to regenerate.
- Remember that non-ablative procedures may require more frequent treatments than ablative ones.
Step 3. Consider radiofrequency, a treatment that makes the skin more compact
This procedure heats the skin by means of radio waves, stimulating the renewal of both tissue and collagen and smoothing out wrinkles. Its goal is to firm the skin.
Some treatments, such as Syneron, involve a combination of radio frequency and light sources. It is a non-invasive therapy that can smooth out expression lines, but also fight pimples, redness and veins
Step 4. Consider Botox
Botox is derived from a botulinum toxin and is injectable. This procedure can be done to smooth out wrinkles in general. It can also treat crow's feet, forehead furrows, chest wrinkles, and localized sagging in the neck area, smoothing and rejuvenating the skin.
- Check with a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon to find out if you can have Botox injections. It is usually safe for men and women between the ages of 18 and 70.
- Botox has a fast action. After the injection, you should see results within five to seven days and they will last for several months. Furthermore, it is minimally invasive.
- Don't forget, however, that it has side effects. Some patients report headaches, temporary numbness in the injection area and nausea. Also, it can decrease expressiveness, as Botox prevents muscles from contracting.
Step 5. Try dermabrasion or microdermabrasion
Both of these treatments allow you to smooth the skin and remove the surface layer by means of a rotating brush, making sure that it is replaced by the underlying layer. The result? A smoother and more compact skin. As with ablative and non-ablative treatments, the abrasion can be more or less aggressive depending on the procedure.
- Talk to your dermatologist to learn more about dermabrasion. This procedure is more aggressive and guarantees better results. However, you risk seeing redness and scabs appear for several weeks. The skin may take on a pinkish hue or remain red for a few months.
- Microdermabrasion only localizes the superficial layer of the skin. It will not cause excessive irritation, but you have to repeat the procedure several times (about 16) to see results. The benefits are less obvious and temporary.
Step 6. Do a chemical peel
During this procedure, the dermatologist will apply a mild acid to the skin to remove the surface layer. The treatment should remove scars, impurities and wrinkles, rejuvenating the skin. The peeling stimulates cell regeneration, making the skin fresher and more compact.
- You can perform chemical peels on certain areas of the face, including the forehead, hands, and chest. This may need to be done several times.
- It takes about five to seven days to heal. The skin can become red and irritated, as if it had been burned.
Method 3 of 3: Consider Aesthetic Surgery
Step 1. Consider abdominoplasty
Some people feel complexed by abdominal sagging, which can be pronounced following pregnancy or weight loss. Abdominoplasty is a surgical operation that can firm up sagging skin. The surgeon will remove excess fat and skin, smoothing and firming the abdomen.
- Check with a surgeon to find out if this is right for you. Usually the patient should be in good health, not smoke, and have realistic expectations. Also, delve into the procedure itself and the possible complications.
- Remember that abdominoplasty is a complex surgical operation. It lasts about three to five hours, under general anesthesia.
- Also consider that healing will be long and potentially painful. It is normal for the area to swell and become inflamed, plus you have to wait several weeks or even months to see any noteworthy results.
- Other risks include bleeding, infection, scarring or loss of skin tone, asymmetry or nerve damage.
Step 2. Consider a face lift
Just like abdominoplasty, lifting firms the skin on the face and neck, reducing sagging and other typical signs of skin aging. However, this surgical procedure is also complex. It has benefits, but also risks. Talk to your surgeon and take them seriously.
- Candidates for facelift usually have sagging in the central area of the face, drooping eyelids, deep creases between the nose and mouth, drooping fatty deposits on the cheeks, under the chin or jaw.
- Again, talk to your doctor to find out if you can have the surgery and if your health condition allows you to do this procedure.
- Also remember that a face lift is a surgical operation. The surgeon will make an incision at the hairline, near the ear, will firm the skin, remove the skin and excess fat. The surgery takes several hours.
- You should also expect a long recovery. The results can be long-lasting, but it takes weeks or even months for the swelling to go away and the scars from the incision to clear.
Step 3. Do a lower body lift
This treatment is usually recommended for people who have lost quite a lot of weight in a fairly short period of time, often following bariatric surgery or a combination of exercise and nutrition. Its goal is to combat sagging of skin and tissues in the abdomen, thighs, waist and buttocks area. The surgeon can perform this lower body facelift in one procedure.
- Make sure you can undergo the operation. The surgeon will tell you the requirements. For example, the weight must remain stable for at least a year. Women who are considering having children should postpone surgery.
- In addition, patients should be non-smokers, in good health, and have realistic expectations.
- The surgery will remove excess tissue and firm the skin on the lower body. The surgeon may also recommend liposuction to suck out excess fat.
- This is a complex operation, so it requires general anesthesia for several hours and hospitalization lasts for several days.
- Recovery times are quite variable. The pain and swelling subside after months, while the activities that take place usually will need to be limited for at least four to six weeks.
