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3 Ways to Fix Sagging Skin

Michelle Green
By: Senior Editor & Skincare Expert  |  Michelle Green

Droopy or sagging skin is easily the most obvious and unnerving sign of aging. As we age, skin loses its flexibility and elasticity. This opens the door for gravity to do its dirty work and start pulling skin downward. This process leads to the saggy skin that everyone identifies with getting older. It often leaves shadows on our faces, deepening the appearance of wrinkles as well. Unfortunately, this is something that we all have to deal with at some point in our lives. For the vast majority of people, this process begins when they are in their mid-twenties and their skin starts losing elasticity.

Where Does Sagging Start?

Where Does Sagging Start?
The double chin is an infamous sign of skin sag.

The first sign of aging that most people will notice is “tired” eyes. For many people, “tired eyes” do not mean that they haven’t slept enough; they are actually showing the first signs of sagging skin. Over time, this develops into issues such as bags under their eyes and crow’s feet. Many people also have issues with sagging around their cheeks and jowls. Sagging cheeks create major issues of their own, such as deep wrinkles around the mouth. There can also be saggy skin on the neck, which gives the dreaded double chin appearance, even to those who have an otherwise slim figure. The under eye, eyebrows, and forehead are another place where sagging can create major problems, especially since eyebrows move so much and play a part in creating so many of our expressions.

How Can We Stop Sagging Skin?

How Can We Stop Sagging Skin?
Don’t let a little droop get you down!

As a way to help stop the signs of aging that sagging skin brings along, skin needs to be tightened up and elastin needs to be restored to help prevent further drooping. There are several different ways to correct one or both of these problems, many of which can be applied on just about any area where the sag is. Is it focused around the eyes? Around the mouth? The neck? Has a recent weight loss (Good job!) left you with some saggy tummy skin? How about your arms? Our skin is our largest organ, and all of it is vulnerable to sagging over time. The first drooping we tend to notice is on our faces, largely because most of us look at the mirror in the morning before getting on with our day. We use our faces to express to the world how we’re feeling, often whether we intend to or not. 

#1 Creams, Serums, Lotions, and Masks

#1 Creams, Serums, Lotions, and Masks
We don’t have to wage all-out war on sagging when a peaceful mask might do the trick.

Anti-wrinkle products should be the first method you consider when you are looking to get rid of droopy or sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles. There are a ton of terms for them, like cream versus creme, or serum versus oil, clay masks and charcoal masks and on and on. It might seem overwhelming at first, but once you know the basics on what you need and a few key things to look for, finding the right anti-aging product can be super simple. Best of all, they’re easily accessible and can be found nearly everywhere: from grocery stores to the internet. There are formulations for sensitive skin, oily skin, combination skin. Even more for those of us who are acne prone or have delicate skin conditions. 

When looking for a skincare product to fight sag, a cream is likely going to deliver the best bang for your buck, because they are usually stronger than lotions, but not as highly concentrated as serums. Look for modern anti-aging ingredients, and more than one of them. Retinol, Argireline, and Hyaluronic Acid are all excellent choices. They are far from the only good ones out there, but they are a great place to start.

#2 Fire the Lasers!

#2 Fire the Lasers!
Always double and triple check the credentials of your esthetician before undergoing a laser treatment.

If you find that creams aren’t doing the job or aren’t working quickly enough, you may be tempted to try a faster, more powerful method. A semi-surgical option which is gaining in popularity are a variety of laser treatments. The exact type of treatment can vary widely depending on your state, your esthetician, where the skin you want to treat is located, and cost variables. They are certainly more expensive than other products such as creams, and do run the risk of scarring or disfigurement if something goes wrong or your skin reacts poorly. Always be certain to read up on state laws to see if your state requires estheticians to be licensed, or you could have someone unpracticed firing powerful lasers at your face, with no course for repercussions. 

#3 Go Under the Knife

#3 Go Under the Knife
Most insurances don’t cover “unnecessary” cosmetic surgeries, so start saving for this one.

This is the most extreme option by far, and the one we suggest the least. Yes, surgeries can have drastic results and extreme improvements, when they turn out well. There are so many countless incidents of even small surgeries like Botox injections leaving sagging skin behind in just a few months, that we have to question whether it is worth the risk. Every solution to anti-aging is temporary in the long run; that’s just being human. But this particular “solution” comes with the potential for not just scars and an empty wallet, but in worst-case scenarios, even death. Surgery doesn’t work on the foundation of making the skin itself better, either, so by the time you heal from the procedure, your skin is in even worse shape than before you started.

So What Should You Do?

So What Should You Do?
Looking in the mirror doesn’t have to cause concern, and it shouldn’t.

We recommend dedicating yourself to finding the right product for your skin, whether that is a cream, creme, serum, oil, mask, moisturizer, ointment, solution, or any other product name. It is the most effective, least expensive, and safest option to handle your sagging skin. 

We know that the task of finding the right product can be daunting, so we’ve done the job for you. We have reviewed and graded all of the market’s most popular anti-wrinkle products here. Take a look at what we’ve found out to get a leg up in your battle against aging.

Our pick is Aquallure, which focuses on keeping skin supple and soft with excellent hydration to discourage and prevent sagging, as well as firm skin with peptide power. It has the best ingredients for the job, with none of the iffy additives. Learn more.

Michelle Green
Senior Editor & Skincare Expert
Michelle Green is a well-established aesthetician with over 20 years experience in skincare. She has researched over 5,000 products over the past decade, striving to help her readers fine-tune their skincare routine so they can get the results they want.

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