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What Causes Saggy Skin?

Skin laxity inevitably becomes a problem for all of us once we reach a certain age. Sun exposure, heredity, smoking, and many other factors can cause the skin to wrinkle, crease, and droop, resulting in you looking older.

In this post, we’ve outlined some of the most prevalent reasons for sagging skin, along with some great solutions to reduce it.

Some of the most common reasons for sagging skin include:

Aging

Of course, the most common reason for sagging skin is, quite simply, aging. As we age, our skin begins to lose its natural elastin and collagen. Since healthy collagen development is one of the primary contributors to plump, youthful skin, as this production slows down with age, our connective tissue becomes weaker, and our skin looks more tired.

Sun Exposure

Another significant contributor to sagging skin is sun exposure. When we spend a lot of time in the sun, whether it’s sunbathing, working outdoors, or enjoying recreational activities at the pool, we expose our skin cells to powerful UV rays. Over time, this exposure will break down elastin and collagen and, in the process, cause wrinkles, brown spots, and skin cancer.

Weight Loss

When you lose large amounts of weight in a short amount of time, through bariatric surgery or pregnancy, for example, the skin will not always tighten back up. As a result, you may be left with substantial amounts of sagging skin.

Smoking

Smoking can lead to premature aging due to the nicotine in the cigarettes narrowing the blood vessels in the skin’s outermost layers. Because of this, the blood flow in your skin is disrupted, leading to less oxygen and nutrients reaching the skin cells, reducing collagen and elastin production in your body.

Pregnancy

Developing some degree of saggy, loose skin after pregnancy is common. Women who carry twins or triplets may see even more sagging skin around the abdomen than those with one baby. Maternal age may also play a role in how the skin and underlying tissues respond to being stretched.

Illness

There are medical conditions that cause saggy skin. One of these is known as granulomatous slack skin, which doesn’t typically respond well to treatment.

How to Treat Saggy Skin

In most cases, whether it’s aging, pregnancy, substantial weight loss, or due to other factors, we all have saggy skin we might want to tighten up. Plastic surgery can improve the elasticity and tone of saggy skin, especially if combined with healthy lifestyle choices.

These body contouring procedures are performed by an experienced plastic surgeon and include:

Considering Treating Saggy Skin?

If you’re ready to enjoy tighter skin and a more youthful appearance, contact our team of experts to learn more about your skin tightening options.

Schedule your consultation at The Maryland Institute of Plastic Surgery by calling us at (410) 744-0900 or by contacting us on our website.