Aesthetic Treatments for Skin Laxity and Cellulite

Skin laxity (loose skin) and cellulite can happen to anyone, regardless of body size. Living in South Florida can make it difficult to inconspicuously hide what you consider to be an unflattering sight under layers of Spanx and clothing. Luckily, there are several treatments available for battling dimpling and sagging skin. Surgical procedures like thigh lift and Smartlipo, and medspa treatments like Skintyte, Cellulaze are all options to consider. The right treatment for you will depend on the severity of your condition as well as your own personal goals.

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is a type of fat that develops just under the surface of the skin and pushes against connective tissue, causing a dimpled and sagging appearance. It is often associated with weight gain, but anyone of any size can have cellulite. More than 90% of women over the age of 30 have cellulite to some degree, and men also develop cellulite as they age. The hormone estrogen stimulates the production and storage of body fat, which is why cellulite appears more frequently in women. However, genetics play a large role in the development of cellulite. If your parents have cellulite, you will most likely have it too.

Why Does Skin Laxity Happen?

Like cellulite, skin laxity also occurs in both men and women of all body types, ages, and ethnic backgrounds. Skin laxity, or sagging and loose skin, is usually pinpointed as a sign of aging or excessive weight loss, though some people start to experience it as early as their 30s, even without fluctuations in weight.

Contributing factor to skin laxity:

• Weight loss
• Genetic tendency
• Joints or ligaments experience trauma or injury and have not healed properly
• Environmental stresses such as pollution and sun exposure

A combination of these factors causes collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep our connective tissues together, to loosen and begin to droop.

How to Treat Cellulite and Skin Laxity on Your Thighs

The thighs are often cited as a main area of concern for many people because cellulite and skin laxity occur most often in this area. There are several options for improving the appearance of both cellulite and skin laxity around the thighs and buttocks. One thing to consider is diet and exercise. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle including exercising and eating a healthy diet will reduce the chance of cellulite. Unfortunately, a healthy lifestyle alone cannot always remedy the existence of stubborn cellulite or a genetic predisposition for sagging loose skin. Speak to an experienced board certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate the severity of your skin condition and help you to understand which treatment or procedure will produce the best results for you based on your goals.

Surgical Procedures

Liposuction

Liposuction patients can spot-reduce and remove localized fat deposits to achieve slimmer, more balanced physiques. Liposuction of the thighs and buttocks can reduce the appearance of excess fat and reshape the body beautifully while helping to keep that stubborn fat from returning. This procedure may also help to lift loose skin weighed down by fat deposits as long as the skin elasticity is sufficient. Otherwise you may consider a thigh lift to repair loose hanging skin.

Thigh lift

A thigh lift is also known as thighplasty, and is a surgical procedure that removes and reshapes excess skin and fat. Thigh lifts are commonly used to treat skin laxity and cellulite. This procedure may be chosen over liposuction if you have an excess amount of skin which causes drooping and dimpling. A thigh lift creates both a smoother surface of the skin and a more proportionate and toned look for the thighs. Both Liposuction and Thighplasty are surgical procedures, so you will need to set aside at least two weeks of recovery time before returning to light daily activities.

Non-Surgical Procedures

Cellulaze

Cellulaze™ is an anti-cellulite treatment for those who are interested in removing cellulite and unwanted fat from their bodies. Cellulaze™ is a minimally invasive laser procedure that targets cellulite and removes it by threading a laser fiber underneath the skin. The fiber then uses heated energy to make very small cuts in the connective tissue that surrounds fat cells, which loosens the tissue and smooths out cellulite “dimples.” This treatment also boosts skin elasticity and it tightens your skin, and it only takes about 1-1.5 hours to complete.

CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting, also known as Cryolipolosis, is a non-surgical, noninvasive treatment that uses controlled cooling technology to eliminate the patient’s fat cells through a crystallization process. The fat cells are killed off permanently, then the body removes the unwanted fat cells through natural processes. There is no downtime associated with this treatment, which makes it appealing when compared with other fat-removing procedures on the market.

Just A Call Away

Dr. Paul Gardner of Gardner Plastic Surgery, located in Naples, Florida, meets with each patient to discuss their goals and to create a unique plan of action that will produce the best results for each individual. Call Dr. Gardner today at 239.566.2611 for your cellulite and skin laxity consultation!