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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 by individual characteristics.
Possible solutions
Depending on the cause and the patient's wishes, several options may be considered. Two broad categories of treatment 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 several sessions.
- Biostimulant injections (poly-L-lactic acid, calcium hydroxyapatite or similar products): designed to reactivate collagen production for a gradual improvement in texture and tone.
- Microneedling, mesotherapy, body peels or combined treatments: help improve skin quality and its 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 excess skin and sometimes the abdominal muscles, suited to moderate to significant laxity of the abdomen.
- Arm lift (brachioplasty) or thigh lift: removal of excess skin and repositioning to improve the contours.
- Body lift: comprehensive treatment of the areas concerned, often indicated after major weight loss.
- Liposuction: reshapes fat volumes; it is not always sufficient on its own to correct excess skin.
The surgical choice depends on the extent of the laxity, general 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.
- Proposal of a personalised plan: explanation of the possible options, the expected benefits and the limitations of each approach, assessment of the risks and the 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 of the body. The objective is improvement, not a guaranteed transformation.
- Variability of results: the effect depends on age, skin quality, the extent of the 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). A healthy lifestyle (physical activity, diet, sun protection, stopping smoking) helps maintain the results.