If you make a list of your skin concerns, some are easier to treat than others (though it may feel like they are all equally annoying and impossible to address). So many products and ingredients have been introduced to tackle acne, for example. If you have redness in your skin, there are certain lasers that can help, as well as ingredients like arnica that can soothe and calm irritated skin. When all else fails, there are green makeup correctors that neutralize redness.
In other words: there are a number of different solutions to help get rid of or at least minimize several skincare issues.
But saggy skin has always been a challenge. It’s normal for skin to start to sag as we age and lose collagen and elastin. But that fact doesn’t make it a pleasure to deal with. If you’re lost on what to do about saggy skin, and none of the products you’ve been using seem to help, here’s one board-certified dermatologist’s take on how you can tighten saggy skin.
Radiesse
Radiesse is a calcium derivative and a filler that can be used to “fake” bone structure where you may lack support in your face. And it’s this absence of support and volume that can make sagging more apparent. However, because Radiesse is a much firmer filler, and is not hyaluronic acid like most other fillers you may know about, you can’t break it up the same way. You also don’t metabolize it the same way. When you inject it in your face, you can see it on an X-ray. Also, it won’t last forever, like an implant.
Fillers for Volume Loss
As just mentioned, volume loss can make sagging appear worse. Bio-stimulant fillers like Sculptra can help build up collagen in the face and make sagging less apparent. But Sculptra is neither cheap nor is it something you do just once. A vial of Sculptra can cost $900 or more and the results last about two years.
Hyaluronic Fillers
If the cost of Sculptra is prohibitive, hyaluronic acid fillers (which aren’t exactly cheap, let’s be real) can be a better alternative. According to Dr. Shereene Idris, fillers like Juvederm do NOT have to leave you with an over-injected look you may have seen on certain celebrities. Finding a dermatologist you trust and getting moderate work that looks balanced (in other words — not inflating the lips or cheekbones and ignoring volume loss around the face) is key to obtaining natural-looking results.
Fat Transfer
Another injectable option for boosting volume in your face is fat transfer. This procedure relies on a doctor literally removing fat from one part of your body and injecting it into areas of your face where it can provide structure and help reduce the appearance of sagging skin. This procedure can be costly, but what’s more: it’s unpredictable. When you take fat from elsewhere, that fat needs to grasp — 30 percent of fat usually sticks, and 70 percent doesn’t stick. To get the best results, fat transfer should be done slowly and conservatively.
Procedures To Help Elasticity
Lastly, elasticity. Over time our skin loses elasticity as we smile, eat, cry, drink alcohol, sit in the sun, and on and on. There are a few ways to help boost elasticity that include ultrasound energy heat, micro needling, and radio frequency (combining microneedling with radio frequency is best) to deliver heat that can tighten your skin. Be aware: too much of any of these procedures can lead to fat loss, which completely defeats the purpose. Everything should be done lightly and in moderation, according to Dr. Idriss.
Don’t feel defeated by normal skin changes — they happen to us all. Depending on your budget and what you want to try, there are some procedures that can help tighten skin.
