Body skin laxity has several possible causes
- Natural ageing: progressive decrease in collagen and elastin in the skin.
- Significant or rapid weight changes: stretching followed by loss of skin elasticity.
- Pregnancy: cutaneous and muscular changes to the abdomen and breasts.
- Lifestyle factors: sun exposure, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, diet.
- Genetic predispositions and skin structure.
These phenomena are normal and evolve over time. The degree of laxity varies by area (abdomen, thighs, arms, breasts, buttocks) and individual characteristics.
Possible solutions
Depending on the cause and the patient's wishes, several options may be considered. Two broad categories of management exist: aesthetic medicine and aesthetic surgery.
Aesthetic medicine
- Radiofrequency and focused ultrasound (for the body): non-invasive techniques that stimulate collagen production and can improve skin firmness over multiple sessions.
- Biostimulant injections (poly-L-lactic acid, calcium hydroxyapatite or equivalent products): aimed at relaunching collagen production for a gradual improvement in texture and tone.
- Microneedling, mesotherapy, body peels or combined treatments: contribute to improving skin quality and surface appearance, sometimes combined with energy-based devices depending on the area. These solutions are often proposed in cycles and may require maintenance sessions.
Aesthetic surgery
- Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck): correction of the skin apron and sometimes the abdominal muscles, suited to moderate to significant abdominal laxity.
- Arm lift (brachioplasty) or thigh lift: removal of excess skin and repositioning to improve body contours.
- Body lift: comprehensive management of affected areas, often indicated after significant weight loss.
- Liposuction: allows reshaping of fat volumes; it is not always sufficient to correct skin excess alone. The surgical choice depends on the extent of the laxity, overall health and the patient's expectations.
Management pathway
- Initial consultation: clinical assessment of the area concerned, review of medical history, understanding of expectations and priorities.
- Personalised plan proposal: explanation of possible options, expected benefits and limitations of each approach, assessment of risks and timeline (series of sessions, surgical procedure).
- Safety and gradual progression: choice of the most suitable treatment, possibly combining techniques, with information on anaesthesia, recovery and follow-up. Dialogue between patient and practitioner is central to defining a safe and realistic strategy.
Expected results and follow-up
- Realistic goals: improved tone, harmonised volumes and a natural appearance. The objective is improvement, not a guaranteed transformation.
- Variability of results: the effect depends on age, skin quality, the extent of laxity and the type of procedure chosen.
- Follow-up and maintenance: some treatments require maintenance sessions (aesthetic medicine) or appropriate post-operative follow-up (surgery). Healthy lifestyle habits (physical activity, diet, sun protection, stopping smoking) contribute to maintaining results.