One of the most common concerns for people growing older is skin laxity. If you notice your skin beginning to droop in some spots, creasing into wrinkles, and even losing its natural volume, consider skin laxity treatments at Timeless Laser & Skin Care.
Certain treatments can boost your skin’s volume and smooth age-related changes. What causes skin laxity, and what treatment options really are the most effective? Find out more.
Identifying the Problem: What Causes Skin Laxity?
Your skin is your largest organ. Like other organs, internal and external factors can affect it, making it more or less healthy and causing it to look less than its best. Two important proteins called elastin and collagen play a vital internal role in how your skin looks and feels. These proteins help your skin stay hydrated, firm but flexible, and plump.
Your body naturally produces elastin and collagen, but when you leave your 20s, that production slows down. With fewer of these proteins available, your skin becomes thinner and more fragile. It can no longer bounce back into place when your muscles move it to smile or frown. All of this leads to skin that is no longer taut but instead displays the first signs of skin laxity.
As you age, you also lose some of the fat beneath your skin, leading to changes in your facial structure and sagging skin. If you have lost a significant amount of weight, skin laxity can also be a concern. Collagen levels in people who have gone through severe weight fluctuations can decrease dramatically, not allowing your skin to bounce back into place.
External factors can also affect your skin’s health and vitality. Prolonged exposure to harmful UV rays and the toxins and pollutants you come into contact with throughout your everyday life can all impact your skin.
Where Is Skin Laxity Most Common?
Skin laxity can occur anywhere in your body, but some spots are common problem areas. These are:
- Cheeks
- Jawline
- Arms
- Neck
If you have lost a lot of weight, you might see a high level of skin laxity in your abdomen, thighs, and buttocks as well.
Prevention of Skin Laxity
Some degree of skin laxity is bound to occur as you age. There is just no stopping time. There are, however, tips that can help with the prevention of skin laxity issues.
If you need to lose weight, do so at a steady pace and not drastically. Slowly losing weight can help your collagen levels remain more consistent so that you can avoid extreme skin laxity. You also want to increase the antioxidants in your diet. Vitamin C and beta-carotene are just two of the antioxidants that can help fight back against UV light damage and other toxins that can affect your collagen production and skin.
Decrease your exposure to chlorinated or very hot water. They can dry out your skin, which can make the development of wrinkles more likely. Another factor in skin elasticity improvement is avoiding smoking. This includes exposure to second-hand smoke.
Skin Laxity Treatments: Turn to Lasers
We offer two of the top skin laxity treatments at our clinic: SmartSkin CO2 laser and Precision Tx Laser Lift.
SmartSkin CO2 Laser Treatment
The SmartSkin CO2 laser is a type of laser that uses carbon dioxide to resurface, rejuvenate, and tighten your skin. During this treatment, the laser energy vaporizes the top layer of your skin, jumpstarting your body’s healing process so that new, healthier, and tauter skin can grow.
In the past, CO2 laser treatments were abrasive, but the SmartSkin option is the new generation, offering more precise targeting to avoid affecting other tissues, thus reducing downtime.
It also allows us more customizable treatment options, letting us select the right intensity for your unique skin. The procedure begins with the application of numbing cream to keep you comfortable. We then apply the laser device over the treatment area.
The best candidates for the SmartSkin CO2 laser are people with good overall health, skin issues that affect the surface layers, and mild to moderate skin laxity. We will assess you carefully, answer all of your questions, and determine whether the SmartSkin CO2 laser is a good fit for your needs.
Precision Tx Laser Lift Treatment
If you have skin laxity issues in your neck or face, the Precision Tx laser lift treatment can be the right solution. This laser uses thermal energy to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin to help tighten skin. It can also thicken skin, further helping with wrinkles and fine lines. In areas where you have unwanted fat, like neck folds, you can also benefit from the laser’s fat-melting capabilities.
It is an option best suited for people who are in overall good health, who do not want to go through a surgical face or neck lift procedure, who have realistic expectations, and who have mild to moderate skin laxity issues in the neck or lower face.
Turn to Experts for Skin Elasticity Improvement
You don’t have to accept droopy folds of skin in areas like your cheeks or jowls. By taking preventive steps and turning to skin tightening procedures like SmartSkin CO2 laser treatments and Precision Tx laser lift treatments, you can help yourself look and feel younger.
At Timeless Laser & Skin Care in Westlake, OH, we offer many laser options to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. Whether you have skin laxity, hyperpigmentation issues, or any other concerns, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about our various options.