I’m concerned about loss of volume and sagging!

Dr. Irwin
November 10, 2013
Dear Dr Irwin I would like to ask you for a product recommendation. I am concerned about loss of volume and sagging--while I know that nothing can stop this process and that a semi-surgical process is best, I was wondering if any cream would help at all, and if so, which one you recommend. Prresently I use in the mornings Skinceutical Phloretin CF and Eminence Blueberry Soy, and at night Retin A under Olay Regenerist (most of these I use because of your website recommendations). I cleanse with either cold cream or a fruit enzyme scrub. Should I incorporate a glycol acid product? Is there any product I could add to my regimen that would improve the appearance of the loss of volume? thanks! Frances

Frances, thank you for writing.  Sometimes I think it’s easiest to think of a grape.  If you leave a grape out on the counter in the sun, it will lose volume and the surface will wrinkle.  If you soak it in water, it will plump back up to an extent.  Ideally the skin of a grape or our skin would shrink to fit the smaller volume without wrinkling.  But, as we accumulate sun damage and age, the skin can’t shrink to fit the smaller volume and gets saggy.

 

There is absolutely no cream in this world (or I’d love for anyone to write if they know of one), that can add back the bone, fat, muscle and deeper skin layer that all shrink as we age.  That is why fillers and lasers, done well, can be so helpful.  If we were to gain 30 pounds or 15 kilos, our skin would plump out quite a bit, but that isn’t a good option for other health reasons.

 

You can though help protect the quality and elasticity of the outer skin layer so it hugs the volume underneath better for a smoother outer layer and less sagging in the skin itself and fewer wrinkles.  So all the things you are doing with your regimen are great because they will help protect your skin from further damage and allow a little extra collagen production and better skin health.

 

But to truly repair existing sagging, you will need a bit more technology like fillers, radiofreqency, lasers or surgery.  The answer to this one, is very individual and depends on your age, the amount of sagging, causes of the problem, and a number of other factors.

 

Hope this helps, Dr. I

 

Read Dr. Irwin’s article Guide to Fillers: Juvederm, Restylane, and Others.

 

Check out the article Tips to Get a Great Laser Treatment.

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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