Skin Laxity Treatment
Understand why skin loses its firmness and how non-surgical treatments can help loose or crepey skin look smoother and more supported.
RQIA Registered | Doctor- and Nurse-Led | Complimentary Consultation
WHO IT AFFECTS
Adults, often from their 40s
COMMON CAUSES
Collagen loss, sun, weight change
TREATMENT OPTIONS
6 in-clinic options
FIRST STEP
Complimentary consultation
What is skin laxity?
Skin laxity means a loss of tightness and firmness in the skin. Healthy skin is supported by a network of collagen and elastin fibres that help it stay smooth and spring back after it is stretched. As this network weakens, the skin becomes thinner and looser, and may start to look crepey, soft or slightly sagging.
Laxity can appear almost anywhere. On the face it is often noticed around the eyes, on the cheeks and on the neck, where the skin is naturally thinner. It can also affect the upper arms, knees, abdomen and décolletage, especially after weight loss or pregnancy. When looseness is mainly along the lower face, our guide to jowls and jawline definition explains the specific options, and when the main change is hollowing, see volume loss.
Some laxity is a natural part of getting older and is not a medical problem. At our Coleraine and Derry/Londonderry clinics, skin laxity treatment starts with a careful assessment of how loose the skin is, where, and why, so we can recommend options that are realistic. Non-surgical treatments can improve firmness, but significant sagging may be better suited to a surgical opinion, and we will always tell you if that is the case.
What causes skin laxity?
Skin laxity develops when the skin’s supporting fibres weaken faster than they are renewed. Natural ageing plays the biggest part, but several other factors can speed it up.
Collagen and elastin decline
With age, the skin makes less collagen and elastin, and the fibres it has become weaker, so the skin loses its ability to stay taut and recoil.
Sun damage
Years of ultraviolet exposure break down collagen and elastin, which is why laxity is often more noticeable on sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck and chest.
Weight loss and pregnancy
When skin has been stretched for a long time and then the volume beneath it reduces, it may not fully tighten again, particularly after significant or rapid weight loss.
Hormones and lifestyle
Falling oestrogen around the menopause is linked with a drop in skin collagen, and smoking and gravity add to the gradual loosening of the skin over time.
Treatments for skin laxity at A Aesthetics
Every plan starts with a medical assessment, because the right treatment depends on how loose the skin is, where it is loose and your skin type. These are the options our team most often recommends for mild to moderate laxity.
Secret RF
Radiofrequency microneedling delivers gentle heat into the deeper skin to stimulate collagen and elastin, helping loose or crepey skin look firmer over time. It suits the face, neck and some body areas, with short downtime.
EMFACE
A needle-free BTL treatment that combines radiofrequency with muscle stimulation to support firmer-looking skin and better facial tone. It suits people with early laxity who want no needles and no downtime.
PDO thread lift
Dissolvable threads placed under the skin can give a subtle lift and encourage collagen as they are absorbed. They suit mild to moderate sagging of the mid and lower face for people who want a lift without surgery.
Secret PRO
Pairs radiofrequency microneedling with CO2 laser resurfacing to tighten and renew the skin at more than one depth. It suits laxity combined with textural change, when a few days of recovery is possible.
Skin boosters
Injectable hyaluronic acid spreads through the skin to hydrate it and may improve firmness and elasticity. It suits crepey skin on the face, neck and décolletage.
Polynucleotides
PhilArt polynucleotides support the skin’s natural repair and can improve its quality and elasticity. They suit thin, delicate skin such as under the eyes and on the neck.
Everyday tips for managing skin laxity
Protect your skin from the sun
Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on the face, neck and chest helps slow the collagen breakdown that leads to laxity. Shade and a wide-brimmed hat add extra protection.
Aim for steady weight changes
If you are losing weight, a gradual approach gives the skin more time to adapt. Regular strength exercise also helps maintain the muscle that supports the skin.
Support collagen with skincare
Retinoids, vitamin C and a good moisturiser can help the skin look firmer and smoother. Start actives slowly and ask us which skincare products suit you.
Avoid smoking and eat well
Smoking damages collagen and elastin, while a balanced diet with enough protein gives the skin what it needs to repair. Good sleep supports this too.
Skin laxity FAQs
Why is my skin getting looser?
Most laxity comes from the natural decline of collagen and elastin with age, made worse by sun exposure, smoking and hormonal changes around the menopause. Significant weight loss or pregnancy can also leave skin looser than before, because stretched skin may not fully recoil.
Can skin laxity be prevented?
You cannot stop it completely, but you can slow it. Daily sun protection, not smoking, a skincare routine with proven ingredients such as retinoids, and avoiding repeated rapid weight changes all help to protect the skin’s supporting fibres.
Which treatment is best for my loose skin?
That depends on how much laxity you have and where. Early crepiness often responds to Secret RF, EMFACE or skin boosters, while mild sagging of the mid and lower face may suit a PDO thread lift. We will assess you in person and explain which options are realistic.
What results can I realistically expect?
Non-surgical treatments can help skin look firmer, smoother and better supported, but they do not give the same result as a surgical facelift. Improvements from collagen-stimulating treatments build gradually over around three months, and results vary between people. If surgery would suit you better, we will tell you.
How many sessions will I need?
Many skin-tightening treatments work best as a course, often three or four sessions a few weeks apart, followed by maintenance. A thread lift is usually a single procedure with a review appointment. You will receive a personalised plan at your consultation.
Are treatments safe for my skin type?
Many of our skin-tightening options can be adapted for a wide range of skin types and tones, but every treatment carries some risks and not everyone is suitable. Pregnancy, certain medical conditions, blood-thinning medication and active skin infections may affect what we can offer. We check all of this carefully first.
Can treatments be combined?
Yes. Laxity often sits alongside other changes, so combining treatments can give a more natural, balanced result, for example Secret RF for firmness with polynucleotides for skin quality, or dermal filler where support has been lost. Our guide to ageing skin explains the wider picture.
How do I book?
Start with a complimentary consultation at our Coleraine or Derry/Londonderry clinic, or call us on 028 7051 2101.
YOUR FIRST STEP
Begin with a complimentary consultation
Sit down with one of our medical team, talk through what you would like to change, and leave with an honest, personalised plan. No cost, no pressure, and no obligation to book.
Treatments are for adults aged 18 and over and are only offered after a face-to-face consultation.
DERRY/LONDONDERRY
50 Victoria Gate
Derry, BT47 2TP
07702 529535
COLERAINE
6–8 Dunmore Street
Coleraine, BT52 1EL
028 7051 2101
RQIA Registered | contact@aaesthetics.net
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