Skin becomes loose and saggy primarily due to the natural ageing process, which is when we begin to lose two key proteins our skin needs to stay firm: collagen and elastin. Elastin gives your skin the ability to bounce back when it’s stretched, and collagen gives it structure and firmness. As we age, our bodies make less of both, and the ones we already have start to break down from factors such as sun exposure, smoking, poor nutrition and hormonal changes. This degradation is why our skin loses its elasticity and why it starts to sag or look loose.

It’s not just ageing, though. If you lose a lot of weight, especially quickly, the skin may have stretched out for so long that it doesn’t retract easily once the volume underneath it shrinks, so it ends up looking loose. Pregnancy does a similar thing on the belly because the skin stretches to make room and sometimes doesn’t bounce back fully afterwards.

Yes, loose skin is a completely natural part of ageing. Your face isn’t just skin, it’s a whole structure working together. You’ve got bone underneath, muscles, fat and collagen and then the skin on top. As we age, all of these layers change.

We lose volume because fat pads shrink and collagen production slows down. Then on top of that, the skin itself loses elasticity from factors such as sun exposure, facial movement, stress, lifestyle and just living life.

At Thames Skin Clinic in Twickenham, we offer a range of treatments to address loose or sagging skin for the face, neck and body. To hydrate and restore lost volume, we offer injectable treatment options such as, Profhilo Structura and dermal fillers. We also offer our very own non-surgical facelift otherwise known as the Thames Face Lift. This is a completely bespoke treatment created by Dr Hemming, combining injectables and advanced skincare to lift and return volume to loose or sagging areas. 

We also offer a selection of skin-tightening treatments, from lasers and ultrasound energy to Secret Pro, which combines fractional CO2 and radio frequency microneedling. These skin-tightening treatments all stimulate collagen, tighten skin, lift skin and smooth unwanted wrinkles. They can be used to address sagging skin on the face, neck, décolleté, stomach, knees and other parts of the body.

Results from sagging skin treatments vary depending on the type of treatment. Profhilo Structura typically lasts 6-12 months, with optimal results appearing 4 weeks after the first treatment and improving further after the second treatment at 4 weeks apart. Most patients benefit from maintenance treatments every 6 months to sustain results. Dermal fillers usually last 6-18 months depending on the filler type and area treated. Skin-tightening treatments like laser and radiofrequency stimulate collagen production, so results continue to improve over 3-6 months after treatment and can last 12+ months. For long-lasting improvement, a series of treatments is often recommended. The Thames Face Lift is a completely customized approach, so longevity depends on your individual treatment plan—Dr Hemming will discuss expected results and maintenance schedules during your consultation.