With a multitude of skin-tightening technologies available, fillers may seem like an odd choice. When we think of skin laxity, we tend to think of treatments like microneedling that stimulate collagen and improve the skin’s overall quality. However, this and other energy devices can only tighten skin – they can’t replace lost volume. Dermal fillers are an important volumizing tool that can be used by the right provider. Our cosmetic physicians are artists when it comes to dermal fillers and we’re one of the top injectors along the East Coast. Here’s what to know about fillers and how our award-winning team can help you look your best.
What Causes Skin Laxity?
There are numerous causes of skin laxity, but the biggest culprit is aging. As we age, collagen tends to break down – this is the connective protein that keeps our skin thick, resilient, and elastic. The natural production of collagen tends to decline around your 30s, but other factors can quicken this effect. These are typically things like sun damage, stress, smoking, and more. The more collagen you lose, the more you might notice your skin thinning and sagging – this can be drastic, in the case of things like smile lines or jowls, or it can be less noticeable. After all, concerns like crow’s feet or brow lines can also be the result of collagen breakdown and thus thinning skin.
One other cause of skin laxity is gravity. Over a lifetime, your skin experiences a constant battle between gravity and the uplifting effects of collagen. As collagen wears down, the skin and its underlying tissues succumb to gravity. One important aspect of these tissues is the fat pads of the face – and this is where fillers can be extremely beneficial.
The Relationship Between Volume and Skin Laxity
There are a few important pads of fat in the face. When you’re young, these give the appearance of fullness and definition. Naturally, these pads have skin “stretched” over them. However, as with skin, these pads begin to sag and fall downward on the face over time, and the overlying skin no longer has the natural shape of the fat pad underneath it. The result is the skin “bunches up” and causes folds and wrinkles.
In areas like the cheekbones, this can allow the skin further down to sag, creating a cumulative effect – in some cases, sagging cheek fat can be a cause of jowls. It’s important to know that restoring this volume is one of the best approaches toward anti-aging. By replacing the natural fat pads that have fallen downward, the skin’s natural shape and position are restored.
An important caveat is that not all patients experience a loss of volume due to aging. Fat pads can easily be lost due to chronic health conditions like thyroid disease or cancer. However, the effect remains the same – sagging skin that can make you appear older than you really feel.
How Fillers Can Lift Sagging Skin
Using fillers to lift and tighten skin requires an extremely in-depth knowledge of aging and facial structure. Our approach to this concern is to look at it as a cascading effect – by adding volume higher up on the face, it lifts the tissues further down. So, by restoring volume to the cheeks, we can reduce laugh lines, smooth the appearance of jowls, and maybe even lift sagging neck skin.
Fillers for Skin Laxity at Reflections Center for Cosmetic Medicine
At Reflections Center, our award-winning team of medical doctors performs only cosmetic treatments, proving our dedication to exceptional results. Our injectors can help you understand your unique options for thinning skin and anti-aging during a free consultation where we’ll explore more of how you can invest in yourself and your confidence. To get started, contact our Bridgewater and Livingston locations by calling or filling out our online form.
