As skin starts to lose elasticity, it tends to take on more of a slack appearance, particularly affecting the lower part of the face. “Other areas where laxity becomes problematic are the eyelids and the brow,” says La Jolla, CA, plastic surgeon Robert Singer, MD. Unlike in the past, today’s facelifts and eyelid surgeries look more natural when performed by an experienced plastic surgeon and should avoid a pulled, overdone appearance.
Correct minimally loose skin with noninvasive technologies
In the right patient—someone who’s experiencing very little looseness in their skin and has fairly good skin quality that’s still elastic—a noninvasive treatment that employs radio-frequency or ultrasound energy may help. “I like to think of these types of treatments as being more preventive for those who are experiencing the very early signs of laxity in the skin, simply because the outcome of these types of treatments is not totally predictable,” says Dr. Singer.
Permanently fix sagging skin with a facelift
Hands down, surgery is the best option for treating slack skin. “I have patients that come in and are OK with the lines and wrinkles on their face, but want their skin to be firm and tight again. And, they really dislike the jowls, which can’t be camouflaged, but instead need to be surgically addressed and tightened up,” says New York plastic surgeon Robert M. Tornambe, MD. “That’s where a facelift comes in, to lift the skin back up to where it belongs and redefine the contours of the face.” According to Dr. Singer, there are variations of lifts that need to be individualized depending on each person’s anatomy and desired outcome.
Get rid of puffy eyes with a blepharoplasty
For some, genetics can cause their eyes to age faster than others. The result: puffiness under the eyes, which often comes along with loose skin that can occur on both the upper and lower eyelids. A surgical blepharoplasty to correct eyes that suffer from loose skin is the best mode of treatment.
