Firm Up: What Works and Doesn’t Work for Sagging Skin

While sagging skin is a normal part of aging, this does not mean you cannot do anything about it. If it makes you feel self-conscious or affects your confidence, it is good to know that it is not something you have to live with. A range of aesthetic treatments can help you turn back the clock without going under the knife.   

If you, however, search the Internet on what treats sagging skin, you are sure to find several tips and tricks that can tighten skin without any type of treatment. But do they work? Can you really firm loose skin with beauty tools and home remedies? Continue reading as our aesthetic clinic in Singapore tackles what works and doesn’t work for sagging skin.

What doesn’t work for sagging skin?

Some things claim to firm or tighten sagging skin, but then fail to deliver results. Here are a few tips and tricks that do almost nothing to improve or firm loose skin. 

Face tape

It does work, but only for a short period of time. Face taping involves using two pieces of tape (placed near the temples or cheeks) with strings that you pull and tie at the back of your head. This is said to give your eyes and cheeks a lifted look. There are also face tapes that are meant to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

The sad part is the effect only lasts as long as the tape is on the skin. Once you remove it, the results are gone. There are also concerns about this method including irritation, blisters, or even tearing the skin’s outer layer. 

Chin straps

Although chin straps and similar devices claim to tighten your jawline or eliminate double chin and sagging skin, there is no evidence to back up these promises. They also have to be worn for several minutes daily, which can be uncomfortable for many users. Non-surgical procedures are ideal for visible results. 

Vitamins

While some vitamins may help support your skin and maintain a youthful appearance, you cannot solely rely on them to tighten loose skin. This is especially true if you have a few areas of the face where the skin noticeably sags. 

So, if you’re thinking of taking vitamins or any type of supplement to help improve your skin elasticity and firmness, it is best to see a doctor first.

Weight loss

Although weight loss (when you’re carrying excess weight) is always great, it doesn’t necessarily prevent or treat sagging skin. Moderate weight loss may help the skin retract, but drastic or significant weight loss will need medical or aesthetic procedures. The good news is several treatments can help firm or tighten loose skin. 

Take note: There are lots of home remedies such as cocoa butter, aloe vera, coconut oil, and olive oil that are said to help tighten loose skin. They may improve the look of sagging in very mild cases, but you cannot expect any of these remedies to deliver drastic improvements. This is particularly true for visibly loose or crepey skin. 

For further reading: False Claims: Debunking 5 Myths About Sagging or Loose Skin

What works for sagging skin

If you’re looking for a non-surgical solution to treat or improve sagging skin, our aesthetic clinic in Singapore has a range of options. A consultation with one of Cutis’s aesthetic doctors will help you learn which one or combination of treatments is suitable for you. 

Energy-based aesthetic treatments – At Cutis, we have several non-surgical procedures that can boost collagen and provide a natural lifting effect. These include:

• Micro-focused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V) – uses time-tested focused ultrasound energy to heat the deeper layers of the skin and stimulate collagen. It is US FDA-approved for naturally lifting and tightening the skin on the face, brow, neck, and under the chin. It can:
  • Improve general skin laxity
  • Tighten loose skin without downtime
  • Improve fine lines and wrinkles on the décolletage
  • Lift and tighten jawline
• Titan skin tightening – uses safe, infrared energy to heat the weakened collagen, causing it to contract and thicken. This then triggers the body’s self-healing properties to jumpstart collagen production. You can turn to it to:
  • Treat mild to moderate skin laxity on the face, jowls, and neck
  • Tighten the skin on other areas of the body
  • Enhance your skin tone

• NIR Cinderella – delivers pulsed infrared light (in the near-infrared spectrum) to effectively heat the deeper layers and help build new collagen. It can tighten loose skin on the face, neck, and other areas. NIR skin tightening can:
  • Treat/improve facial laxity
  • Reduce the look of lines and wrinkles
  • Tighten loose skin on the neck and other areas (arms, abdomen, and thighs)
  • Reduce the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks

Cosmetic injectables – In some cases, cosmetic injectables can also be used to lift and tighten loose skin to a certain degree. They may help fill hollow sunken areas or relax muscles, which can give the face a more youthful look.

• Anti-wrinkle injectables – or cosmetic neurotoxins temporarily weaken or paralyze the muscles responsible for lines and creases. They can smooth wrinkles, as well as relax the muscles around the jawline, addressing sagging skin. These injectables can also lift droopy eyelids and smooth the neck.
• Dermal fillers – are mainly used for restoring volume loss, which can make the skin look less saggy and more youthful. There are also fillers specifically made to contour the skin and jawline areas to sculpt, as well as firm and lift the lower face. Fillers can also smooth lines, fill in folds, lift the cheeks, and correct minor asymmetries in the face.

Schedule a consultation

So, what is the best treatment for sagging skin? The answer depends on your individual profile and concerns. MFU-V, for instance, is ideal if you need to contour your chin and jawline, as well as improve wrinkles on the upper chest.  Fillers, on the other hand, are worth considering if you’re dealing with volume loss and folds on your face.

If sagging or loose skin is affecting your confidence, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore today and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor.