How to Understand the Best Treatments for Saggy Skin

Researching anti-aging treatments is the first step toward loving your skin again.

Several factors contribute to saggy skin. The lines, folds and wrinkles you experience may be caused by lower collagen production, years of sun exposure, gravity, rapid weight loss or smoking. If you have noticed that your skin looks a bit droopy, there is a range of treatments to help restore the skin's elasticity. Treatments for sagging skin can be as simple as topical creams or more advanced efforts, such as laser or surgical procedures. To understand what is best for treating your skin, you will need to closely examine its condition and determine the level of care it requires.

Instructions

1. Examine your skin in a mirror with natural lighting. Check for creases or drooping around the eyes and on either side of your mouth. Look for sagging along the jaw line and around the neck area. If sagging is barely noticeable, a quality moisturizing system from a respected cosmetics company may provide sufficient results. Invest in a system that includes a separate daytime and nighttime moisturizer, as well as a cream specifically formulated for the eye area. The day moisturizer and eye cream should contain a minimum of SPF 25. The face moisturizers should also contain alpha hydroxy acid or beta hydroxy acid, which provide some visible tightening of the skin. While using the system, be sure to wear a hat and sunglasses outdoors. Drink plenty of water and consume a healthy diet. Try the program for six to eight weeks to see if there is a noticeable difference in skin's elasticity.

2. Visit a licensed esthetician if your skin shows no improvement after eight weeks of intense moisturizing. Estheticians are not medical doctors and can only recommend cosmetic procedures that may improve the appearance of your skin. Estheticians can perform facials, skin peels and moisturizing spa treatments. Should you decide to research more advanced procedures, your esthetician may be able to recommend a dermatologist.

3. See a dermatologist if the esthetician's services are not sufficient or if you prefer a medical doctor. Discuss such noninvasive procedures as laser resurfacing, infrared and radio-frequency treatments and collagen injections. Laser resurfacing gently vaporizes the skin's tissue to improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It can be used on troubled spots or the entire face. Infrared and radio-frequency are used to heat up the skin to restructure the damaged collagen, thus tightening skin and reducing wrinkles. Collagen injections involve injecting such fillers as collagen, hyaluronic acid, or fat cells under the skin to tighten it. Depending on the type of fillers used, treatments can last from a few months to a few years.

4. Find a plastic surgeon to perform a face-lift, a surgical procedure that will tighten the areas around your eyes, mouth and jaw line. The plastic surgeon uses excess facial fat to smooth out wrinkles. Unnecessary fat will be removed and skin will be sculpted into new contours during this procedure.

Tips & Warnings

• Seek referrals for reputable estheticians, dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Ask friends and family members about their personal experiences.

• Seriously consider noninvasive procedures first. Thoroughly research a plastic surgeon before agreeing to work have work done. Do not agree to a procedure you do not understand or work with a doctor who does not answer your questions directly.

References

• American Society of Plastic Surgeons: What is Face Lift Surgery?
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Dermal Fillers
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