Why does our skin become loose?
This problem usually develops because the volume under the skin gradually reduces. Without this support gravity has a greater impact.
Alternatively or in addition, it can be because of changes in the skin itself, as we age or suffer the effects of sun damage. Our skin’s quality declines reducing elasticity. Let’s look at these in turn.
Volume loss replaced using Dermal Fillers. Treatment performed by Mike Clague Aesthetic Nurse.
*All results shown on our website have been achieved by our team members. Please note that results are individual and may vary.
1. Volume loss occurs under the skin. “Volume” is basically the structures that hold the skin up, such as muscle, fat and hyaluronic acid. If these structures start to deplete the skin loses its support and sags.
Solution?
We often replace the lost volume using dermal fillers. Most dermal fillers are made up of hyaluronic acid, which is found naturally in the skin.
It is either injected deeply to support the structure that bone, muscles and connective tissue provide. Alternatively we use a device called an injector gun, which despite its scary sounding name is generally very comfortable for the patient. This device allows us to place these products up near the skin’s surface to improve the quality of the the skin, making it more robust.
Mike Clague, Aesthetic Nurse says that:
“ I like how the injector gun evenly disperses the dermal filler into the upper layer of the skin, it gives great control and allows us to treat areas that traditionally have been more difficult such as the chest or hands that have fine wrinkling from sun damage.”
Mike Clague Aesthetic Nurse
2. Loss of elasticity. Elasticity is the skins ability to snap back when stretched. If something loses it’s spring it starts to sag; think about a cotton T-shirt, when you first wear it, it holds its shape really well, however after many washes the cotton fibres start to break down and the T-shirt starts to stretch. In the skin this happens because our collagen production slows down, and elastin, the fibres that enable skin to snap back into place, stretch.
The solution?
Stimulating the body’s natural regenerative processes using different types of energy such as ultrasound or radiofrequency.
Neck tightening is performed using the Ultraformer III - The top row shows before Ultraformer III, the 2nd row shows 2 months after Ultraformer III - Ultraformer III benefits will peak between 6 and 9 months post treatment so we would expect continued improvement in this patient. Treatment performed by Katy Wallace RN.
*All results shown on our website have been achieved by our team members. Please note that results are individual and may vary.
Kristin Campbell procedural nurse at The Dermatology Institute of Victoria explains that:
"Although these machines use different types of energy they work on the same basis. They basically stimulate the bodies natural wound healing response to create more collagen and elastin, thus restoring the skin’s elasticity. At DIV we are lucky to have access to many different types of lasers and machines so we can match the best one to the patient in terms of what they want to achieve as well as budget and lifestyle considerations such as how quickly the patient needs to return to work. “
Kristin Campbell Procedural Nurse
3. Sometimes gently stimulating collagen and elastin in order to grow more under the skin isn’t enough. In more extreme cases it might be necessary to replace older damaged skin with a layer of new skin.
The solution?
Treatments that promote the growth of new healthy skin where old damaged skin is removed include the fractionated CO2 laser or plasma skin resurfacing.
Assoc Prof Greg Goodman
Assoc Prof Greg Goodman explains:
"Plasma resurfacing is a really unique treatment. Basically your own old damaged skin acts as a protective dressing until your new skin has fully regenerated underneath. Once this process is completed, the outer layers of skin are then shed.”
Deep lines on the cheek caused by sundamage and gravity are treated using PSR. Treatment performed by Assoc Prof Greg Goodman
*All results shown on our website have been achieved by our team members. Please note that results are individual and may vary.
At the Dermatology Institute of Victoria we believe strongly in treatment planning for the individual, this may mean that one or more of the above techniques needs to be combined to get the best results for you. For example: we find that by targeting both volume loss, using the injector gun, and skin elasticity, using the Ultraformer III, that we achieve great results and so we have combined these treatments into a package saving you 20%.