6 Saggy Skin Myths You Should Never Believe

As the body’s primary protection against the elements, the skin is vulnerable to disorders, diseases, and the effects of many damaging external conditions.

Your body undergoes several changes as you get older. One of the many perils of aging is the inevitable sagging of what was once a youthful and toned skin. In most cases, saggy skin occurs because of the depletion of elastin and collagen levels, which are vital components in keeping the skin taut, firm, and young-looking.

Skin sagging: what causes it?

While sagging skin is often a side effect of the aging process, there are plenty of other factors that contribute to its decline. An unhealthy lifestyle, poor diet, and prolonged exposure to the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays also play a part in diminishing the skin’s elasticity. Another common cause of saggy skin is weight loss and poor muscle tone. People who have shed a massive amount of weight, especially over a short period of time, find themselves struggling with excess skin that can’t be remedied through natural means.

Cosmetic surgery procedures are usually the only means of getting rid of severe wrinkles and extremely saggy skin. Light and moderate cases, on the other hand, may be addressed through a non-invasive, skin tightening medical spa treatment

Debunking myths about saggy skin

Although sagging skin is a common experience as people age, you don’t have to live with it. More importantly, it does not have to ruin your confidence or affect the way you see yourself. Knowing what exactly you’re dealing with can help you tremendously in coping with the problem and finding the best possible solution.

That said, let us start by distinguishing saggy skin facts from fiction.

Here are our 6 saggy skin myths

Running causes saggy skin

Many people point out running long distances as a cause of saggy skin. The truth is, regular exercise won’t make your skin sag or look older. In fact, it tones your muscles and keeps you feeling young and energetic. Excessive exposure to the harmful rays of the sun, on the other hand, can take its toll on the skin, leading to the development of lines and wrinkles – which is perhaps the cause of skin problems among long-distance runners.

Weight loss tightens and firms the skin

Unfortunately, this is another false claim. As stated earlier, extreme weight loss is one of the major reasons for sagging skin. When you lose weight, you take away the extra fat but not the skin that contained it. People who lost a lot of weight usually undergo a tummy tuck because although the fat is already gone, the skin is left hanging.

The fear of having saggy skin, however, should not deter you from dropping the unnecessary weight. Staying healthy and fit is far more critical than worrying over loose skin, especially nowadays when there are already many treatment options available.

Fillers can reduce skin sagging

It’s not at all hard to see why there are people who think that getting facial fillers can help reduce skin sagging. Fillers work by adding volume in some areas of the cheeks, but they can only plump up and lift the face. They cannot restore the skin’s lost elasticity, which is one of the main reasons why sagging occurs.

Sleeping on your side makes the skin sag

You may have heard that sleeping sideways or with your face on the pillow ages the face faster. This myth is both true and false to a certain extent. Yes, there is a possibility that you may develop wrinkles for sleeping with your face pressed on to your pillow all the time, but your skin will definitely not sag just because you prefer a specific sleeping position.

**There are quick fixes to saggy skin**

Some people might recommend a variety of creams, moisturizers, and vitamins as a possible solution to drooping skin. While these products may indeed help improve your skin’s condition, they are not viable fixes to the problem. Remember that the issue took years to develop and, therefore, would also take time to solve. Cosmetic procedures are still the best and most effective course of action for long-lasting results.

Plastic surgery is the best solution to the problem

There was a time when going under the knife was the only option to correct skin sagging problems. Thankfully, that is not the case these days. Mild to moderate drooping of the skin, particularly in the face, neck, and chin areas can be resolved by non-invasive methods such as a laser skin tightening and face contouring treatments.

Laser skin remodeling works by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin fibers to promote visibly firmer and younger-looking skin. Non-invasive treatments like this have several advantages over surgery. They are quick, easy, safe, and painless. Most important of all, they deliver almost immediate results and eliminate any chance of scarring. For more severe sagging, however, a surgical procedure may still be the best solution.

Say goodbye to saggy skin!

If the idea of a non-surgical treatment appeals to you, consult a board-certified dermatologist to find out what medical spa treatment or skin-tightening option is the most ideal for your condition.