What is Skin Laxity?
Skin laxity, or sagging skin, occurs when skin loses its firmness and ability to bounce back. Often a symptom of aging, skin laxity occurs when the skin stops producing elastin and collagen. Because of this, skin becomes loose and slack and can droop in places, including the face. It can result in a less youthful, more tired appearance.
Sagging Skin (Body)
While skin laxity is most evident on the face, it also affects the body. As we stop producing collagen and elastin, our skin sags, including on the upper arms, abdomen, and thighs.
The Anatomy of Facial Skin
As we age, our bodies stop producing two important things that help keep our skin firm and elastic: collagen and elastin. Collagen is a protein found in the skin and other connective tissues throughout the body and is one of the main drivers of skin elasticity. The other driver, elastin, is also a protein that provides stretchiness and strength for many of your body’s tissues, including the skin. When our body readily produces both collagen and elastin, our skin remains firm and can “bounce back”; however, as we age and stop producing these compounds, our skin becomes saggy and develops laxity.
What Causes Skin Laxity?
While aging is the primary cause of skin laxity, other factors can also influence its development.
Aging
Because our bodies slow and eventually halt the production of collagen and elastin, the two proteins that influence the skin’s ability to stretch and bounce back, skin laxity is a natural and common byproduct of aging. Most, if not all, individuals will develop skin laxity in their forties and fifties and beyond.
Genetics
The severity of your skin laxity can depend on your genetic makeup. If members of your family have very saggy, droopy skin, it is likely that your skin will develop substantial skin laxity, as well. Genetics can also influence where your skin droops – for instance, if family members tend to develop saggy skin on their upper arms, the likelihood of you developing skin laxity there is higher.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body will change, and it is likely that you will gain weight, stretching out the skin of your abdomen, as well as potentially your face, arms, and thighs, if weight gain occurs there as well. After you give birth, you will likely lose some of this weight, but your skin may not bounce back to its pre-pregnancy state.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of genetic disorders that affect your connective tissues, mainly your skin and joints. Those with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome usually have very stretchy, fragile skin.
Weight Loss
If you have lost a substantial amount of weight in a short time, either from lifestyle changes or a surgical procedure such as bariatric surgery, the loose, sagging skin that was once stretched by excess fat may not be able to bounce back into shape.
Stress
If you experience high levels of stress, the excess cortisol produced by your body in response can speed the loss of collagen and elastin, which can accelerate skin laxity.
Surgical Solution to Get Rid of Skin Laxity
While there are some options to prevent or reduce the development of skin laxity, once the skin begins to sag, the most effective solutions are surgical.
Facelift
For facial skin laxity, a facelift is an effective and commonly chosen solution. To perform a facelift at Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre, a facelift is performed under local anesthesia with IV sedation or under general anesthesia. During the procedure, incisions will be made within the ear and behind the ears, as well as in the temple area of the scalp. The skin will then be lifted from the face and neck, and liposuction under the chin will be performed if required. Finally, excess skin will be carefully removed and sutured.
Neck lift
If you experience skin laxity on the neck, it is possible to have a procedure performed, called a neck lift, that specifically targets loose skin in this area. A neck lift procedure is performed under general anesthesia. During the procedure, incisions will be made under the chin and inside and behind the ear. The procedure may involve tightening and suturing the two neck muscles under the chin, known as the platysma bands. Your low-lying submandibular glands and obtuse hyoid bone angles can also be adjusted.
FaceTite
FaceTite is a non-surgical procedure that can help reduce or eliminate sagging skin. During this procedure, which is performed under light sedation, your surgeon will make small access ports on the skin’s outer layers, typically under the earlobes and chin. A small electrode is then placed on the inner and outer layers of the skin, and radiofrequency waves are used to heat the area beneath the skin’s surface. This procedure remodels the tissue and changes the contours, leaving people with a younger-looking appearance.
BodyTite
BodyTite lipo is a medical procedure used to reduce and eliminate localized collections of unwanted fat and loose skin. Like FaceTite, BodyTite uses a small internal electrode to deliver radiofrequency energy that heats, coagulates, and gently liquefies fat. This procedure can be used anywhere on the body where skin laxity occurs, such as the upper arms, thighs, or abdomen.
Skin Laxity Treatment Before and After Images
Check out our before and after section here!
How Much Does It Cost to Treat Skin Laxity (Sagging Skin)?
The cost to treat skin laxity will depend on the treatment you choose. Non-surgical procedures, such as laser treatments and ultrasound therapy, tend to be less costly than invasive surgical procedures. However, surgical procedures offer more dramatic, lasting results and generally only require one treatment.
How to Choose a Sagging Skin Surgery Doctor at Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre
At Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre, Dr. Asif Pirani has more than 25 years of experience performing all types of cosmetic procedures, including facial procedures such as facelifts and neck lifts. He will work with you before your surgery to determine your key areas of concern and to help you develop a plan to achieve your desired results. In addition, our team of professional clinicians is highly trained and eminently qualified to not only perform non-surgical procedures such as laser treatments and ultrasound therapy, but to consult with you before your surgery to help identify the right procedure for you.
Skin Laxity Solutions at Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre
Whether your primary concerns are sagging skin on the face, neck, or body, Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre offers a comprehensive range of solutions tailored to your needs. Many patients choose to pair facial or neck tightening with body sculpting treatments like liposuction or skin removal procedures for the lower torso for more dramatic results. Women experiencing post-pregnancy changes often consider full-body rejuvenation options, which can address both excess skin and volume loss.
Others may benefit from complementary improvements to the labia or mons pubis area, such as soft tissue restoration in intimate regions, especially if skin laxity extends beyond visible areas. And while most people associate sagging skin with aging, some younger individuals may pursue ear reshaping surgery to correct drooping or prominent earlobes affected by laxity.
Contact us today to book your personalized consultation and explore the most effective path forward for firmer, more youthful-looking skin.