laxity & loose skin
WHAT IS LAXITY & LOOSE SKIN?
Skin laxity refers to loose skin. Most people develop loose skin in various spots on their bodies with age. However, it is more noticeable on the face. As we age, loose and lax skin becomes a major problem for most women and men.
Within the skin are fibers called collagen and elastin. Collagen gives your skin strength, while elastin allows the skin to stretch and bounce back. They are found within the deepest part of the skin, just above the layers of fat. During aging as collagen production slows down, the skin slowly loses elasticity and begins to thin, allowing gravity to pull the skin down and wrinkles becoming deeper. All these contribute to an older and more tired appearance.
WHAT CAUSES SKIN LAXITY & LOOSE SKIN?
Skin laxity is the result of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Natural aging, diet, genetics, stress, sun exposure, lifestyle, weight fluctuations, exposure to environmental toxins, and smoking may all contribute, resulting in loss of collagen and elastin in our skin. When our body produces less collagen and elastin, the breakdown of these skin-binding fibers causes laxity and it increases over years. Overtime, genetics, gravity and natural aging process all contribute to skin laxity, which is the biggest sign of aging.
LOOSE SKIN WITH AGE
Age changes everything. As we get older, our skin goes through various changes. The tissues under the skin also change with time, which shows on the surface through the skin, further adding to its already-aging appearance. Young skin tissue has plentiful amounts of both collagen and elastin. However, with age and exposure to sunshine, levels of both tend to drop off significantly.
Some of the ways the skin can change with age besides losing its elasticity and firmness are losing some of the fat volume in their faces. This can cause the eyes to sink into their sockets and the face to look gaunt, skeletal, and aged.
Chronic exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun damages elastin and collagen fibers and often causes irreversible damage to the skin. Repetitive facial movements, chronic unmanaged stress, the effects of gravity, and even the position that a person sleeps in can also contribute to facial skin laxity.
LOOSE SKIN AFTER WEIGHT LOSS
Losing excess body weight is a smart choice for all of us, however, it’s the part of weight loss they never tell you about. You work hard to drop a substantial amount of weight, only to find there’s loose skin left over when you’re done.
For many overweight people, the skin has been stretched for many years. This chronic expansion causes damage to elastin fibers that give the skin its ability to “snap back” after being stretched. It also damages the collagen fibers that are needed to keep the skin firm and taut. Generally, the more weight a person loses, the greater the chance that they will have loose skin afterward. Being overweight longer causes more damage to the collagen and elastin fibers, making it more likely to have drooping skin as well.
Rapid, major weight loss does not allow the skin time to keep up with the changes occurring on the face and body. However, slower weight loss of just a few pounds weekly allows the skin to shrink along with the reduction of fat tissue volume.
BEAUTY DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO COME WITH PAINFUL TREATMENTS
Finding the optimal treatment depends on the severity of your skin laxity and your underlying skin tone. There are several highly effective treatments that can tighten lax skin or add volume, and the sooner you act the more you will prevent further laxity from occurring.
MAINTENANCE
Patients can help keep their skin laxity condition under control with regular Celevenus maintenance programs. Monthly Venus Legacy or Radio Frequency Treatments to keep the skin firm are recommended. Quarterly Fractional treatments are recommended to continue to stimulate new collagen formation. Half yearly or yearly treatments with HIFU and / or Thermage will definitely keep the skin taut for many years to come, helping us to avoid surgical facelifts in the future.
TREATMENTS AVAILABLE
