While it may be a fact of life that we associate tight, firm skin with youth and beauty, it’s a related fact that as we get older our skin becomes looser and more wrinkled. No one can turn back the clock on the natural aging process, but knowing that doesn’t make you feel better about loose skin on problem areas from your arms to your tummy to your legs.
From enjoying a day at the beach to feeling good in your favorite outfit, being able to tighten loose skin on your legs and thighs can go a long way toward improving your quality of life and self-image.
Fortunately, there are more effective ways to tighten loose skin on problem areas like the legs and thighs than ever before. These options can range from healthy lifestyle choices to over-the-counter creams to cosmetic procedures like the ones performed here at Innovations Medical by leading cosmetic surgeon Dr. Bill Johnson and his expert team.
We’re happy to share this helpful and informative guide so you can take action against loose skin and achieve the best possible results for your healthy and active lifestyle.
What causes loose skin on your legs and thighs?
There is a wide range of factors that cause our skin to loosen and sag. Probably the primary contributor is the natural aging process. As we get older, collagen and elastin levels, key proteins responsible for keeping our skin tight and elastic, begin to decrease. This leads to the skin becoming loose and wrinkly over time.
There can be other causes for loose skin on your thighs and legs. For example, many people who lose weight report having some degree of loose or sagging skin, particularly after reaching a large weight loss goal.
5 Ways to Tighten Loose Skin on Thighs & Legs
The best ways to address loose skin are different for everyone. Here are five of the most common methods that many people try:
1. Skin-Healthy Foods
It’s all about a balanced, nutrient-rich diet that helps your body make more collagen. Protein, including the amino acids lysine and proline, are essential for collagen production and can be found in chicken and wild-caught salmon. Salmon also contains omega-3 fatty acids that promote skin health. Another key nutrient for skin health is vitamin C, which can be found in many fruits and vegetables, such as citrus and broccoli. Above all, stay hydrated! Water is key to helping skin stay tight and healthy.
2. Creams and Supplements
There are also many skin firming and tightening creams on the market. Look for creams that contain collagen and retinoids, as these compounds help to promote elasticity in the skin. It should be noted that the body typically does not absorb collagen on a permanent basis through the skin, which is why creams must be applied on a regular basis and are not seen as a long-term solution. Many people turn to collagen supplements in the form of a capsule or powder, to help the body create more collagen and firm up the skin.
3. Exercise
Exercise can be a critical part of any skin tightening plan. Not only does it help burn fat, build muscle, and improve overall health, but exercise may also help with tissue metabolism and the release of hormones that can help reduce age-related skin changes. While everyone has different preferences for exercise, even just 15-20 minutes a day of low-impact cardiovascular exercise, like taking a walk, can make a difference.
4. Massage Therapy
Getting a massage may promote tighter skin, thanks to its ability to stimulate blood flow and potentially produce fibroblasts, which are cells that help with collagen and elastin production. There is some evidence that massage in conjunction with anti-aging creams may help boost their effectiveness.
5. Cosmetic Tightening Procedures
For people who have exhausted other options or have quality of life issues surrounding loose skin in the legs and thighs, there are surgical and nonsurgical options available. Surgical options can include fat transfer and surgical skin tightening. Nonsurgical skin tightening procedures typically utilize a heat source, such as a laser or radiofrequency waves to both tighten existing collagen and stimulate new collagen production.
It may take some time and patience to find the right combination of treatments that works best for tightening the skin on your legs and thighs. Work with a medical provider you trust to help you formulate a skin tightening treatment plan.
How Innovations Medical Helps with Skin Tightening
If you’re looking to tighten loose skin on your legs and thighs, Innovations Medical has two primary modes of treatment we offer patients at our Dallas and Fort Worth locations:
Radiofrequency Tightening: Using our Legend Progressive Skin Tightening and Thermage Skin Tightening treatment. Radiofrequency helps tighten skin on the legs and thighs by heating water inside the tissue of the treatment area. Legend Progressive heats the tissue to 40-42º Celsius in a gradual and controlled manner while Thermage heats to a steady 40º Celsius. After these procedures, benefits can continue for months with results persisting for years depending on individual patients.
Laser Tightening: We use two resurfacing lasers that can help tighten skin in the legs and thighs: Fraxel Re:store and Dual Treatment and SmartXide DOT Laser Treatment. These are resurfacing lasers designed to help promote collagen growth below the surface of the skin. The laser penetrates the skin with microscopic laser beams, making tiny holes in the skin and removing the old, damaged skin cells. The body’s natural healing process then comes and replaces these areas with new skin. This process can be repeated as the body heals these microscopic areas.
You can consult with the caring and experienced team at Innovations Medical to learn more about your options and find the right treatments for your needs.
Contact Innovations Medical for Skin Tightening Treatment
If you’re looking to tighten loose skin on your legs and thighs, Innovations Medical is here for you. Our skilled professionals help you decide which treatment is best for you – keeping you informed and confident in the next steps. We’ve been helping our patients look and feel their best since 2005, and even our most advanced procedures are often minimally invasive.
To find out if skin tightening treatment is right for you, and to learn how Innovations Medical can improve your life, call us at (214) 643-8665 or schedule an appointment.