How to reduce loose skin

Sagging skin develops when the skin and its supporting fibres do not recoil fully after ageing, sun exposure, pregnancy, or a change in body size. It can affect the face, neck, arms, abdomen, or other areas. Mild laxity and a substantial fold are different concerns: creams may improve hydration and texture, while excess skin may need a procedural or surgical discussion. Sun-damaged skin can add roughness and uneven tone.

Protect exposed skin from ultraviolet light, avoid smoking, and use a moisturiser suited to your skin. Stable weight and regular resistance exercise support overall body composition, although exercise cannot remove excess skin itself. A clinician may discuss radiofrequency skin tightening or HIFU for selected laxity, and a thread lift for specific facial areas. These treatments vary in candidacy, recovery, and response. Read about [Sagging Skin](/symptoms/sagging-skin/) and [Radiofrequency Skin Tightening](/treatments/laser-and-energy/radiofrequency-skin-tightening/).

Seek medical review if the change is sudden, limited to one side, painful, inflamed, associated with a lump, or accompanied by weakness or other new symptoms. Book an assessment when folds cause rubbing, sores, hygiene difficulty, restricted movement, or visual obstruction around the eyelids. Before an aesthetic procedure, confirm who will perform it and how complications are managed.

What is causing my laxity, and how much improvement is realistic? Which area and tissue depth would the treatment target? What are the alternatives, recovery needs, and risks for my skin type? Would excess skin make a surgical opinion more suitable?