Facial skin laxity usually isn’t something you notice overnight. It shows up slowly, often as a softness where the skin used to feel firmer or a lack of definition where there once was more structure.
This is a normal part of aging. For many patients, addressing skin laxity isn’t about tightening everything back to where it used to be. It’s about supporting the skin so the face looks more refreshed, balanced, and like itself again.
Loss of skin firmness and elasticity
Cheeks, jawline, lower face, neck
Firmer, more supported skin with natural definition
What Is Facial Skin Laxity?
Facial skin laxity refers to loose, sagging skin that has lost its firmness and elasticity. As collagen and elastin — two important proteins that help the skin tighten and stretch — break down over time, the skin becomes less able to resist gravity and movement.
This can affect multiple areas of the face, including:
Besides losing elasticity and firmness, other skin changes can include:
Skin laxity often develops alongside changes in facial structure and may appear together with concerns like jowls, softening of the jawline, or nasolabial folds.
Why Facial Skin Laxity Develops
Skin laxity develops due to a combination of internal and external factors. Aging is the most common and biggest contributor.
Natural aging and collagen loss — The level of collagen and elastin is reduced as we age. These proteins are essential for skin firmness and resilience. Fine lines and wrinkles typically begin appearing between ages 30 and 40.
Gravity — Over time, gravity pulls on skin that no longer has the structural support to resist it.
Repetitive facial movement — Years of facial expressions can contribute to skin laxity in areas of frequent movement.
Sun exposure — UV damage accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin, speeding up the development of laxity.
Genetics — Some people are naturally more prone to skin laxity than others.
Extreme weight loss — Significant weight loss can leave excess skin that has lost its ability to contract.
Smoking — Smoking accelerates collagen breakdown and impairs the skin’s ability to repair itself.
As volume loss occurs in the deeper layers of the face, the skin above has less support, which can make laxity more noticeable.
How Facial Skin Laxity Can Affect Appearance
Skin laxity can change how the face looks, even at rest.
Patients often say lax skin makes their face appear:
These concerns are very common. Addressing facial skin laxity is usually about restoring support and balance — not creating a tight or unnatural look.
What to Expect During a Consultation
A consultation at Lazaderm is designed to be thoughtful and educational.
During your visit, your provider will:
You’ll have time to ask questions and decide what feels right for you. The best treatment for you may vary depending on your specific situation.
Setting Realistic Expectations
Non-surgical treatments for facial skin laxity offer improvement, not permanent change.
What to understand:
With the development of modern cosmetic procedures, you can improve your appearance with minimal pain and downtime. The goal is firmer, more supported skin that still looks natural.
Various treatment options are available to help tighten facial skin. The most appropriate treatment depends on how much laxity is present, your skin type, and what’s contributing most to the change. A consultation allows your provider to recommend the best approach for your specific situation.
Microneedling with radiofrequency is one of the most effective non-surgical treatments for skin tightening.
How it works: Tiny needles combined with heat energy reach deeper layers of skin and stimulate collagen production. When the small needles puncture the skin, the healing process kicks in and begins repairing the tissue, resulting in firmer, tighter skin.
Why it’s effective: Microneedling with radiofrequency has been proven effective for tightening skin. The combination of mechanical stimulation and heat energy triggers robust collagen remodeling.
Best for:
PDO Thread Lift is an excellent non-surgical alternative to the traditional facelift for addressing skin laxity.
How it works: Fine PDO (polydioxanone) threads are inserted beneath the skin to lift sagging tissue and suspend it in a more youthful position. The threads also encourage collagen production and add volume to the treated area over time.
Benefits:
Best for:
Laser skin resurfacing can improve both skin texture and laxity by stimulating collagen production.
How it works: The Erbium laser ablates (removes) the outermost layer of skin. The laser targets water in the tissues and promotes collagen production while tightening the skin during the healing process.
Best for:
Considerations: This treatment has more downtime than other options but can produce more dramatic results for the right candidates.
MOXI is a gentle fractional laser that improves skin tone, texture, and overall quality with minimal downtime.
How it works: MOXI delivers fractionated laser energy to create micro-channels in the skin, stimulating collagen production and promoting cellular turnover. It treats a portion of the skin while leaving surrounding tissue intact, which allows for faster healing.
Best for:
MOXI is often combined with BBL for comprehensive skin rejuvenation — BBL targets pigmentation and vessels at the surface, while MOXI works on texture and tone at a deeper level.
Chemical peels can help improve skin firmness by promoting cell turnover and collagen production.
How it works: A chemical solution exfoliates the outer layers of skin, stimulating the growth of new, firmer skin. Different levels of peels can be applied depending on your skin condition.
Results: Chemical peels result in a more youthful, firmer, and more elastic facial appearance. They work best for mild laxity and are often combined with other treatments.
Best for:
Microdermabrasion offers gentle exfoliation that can support skin firmness over time.
How it works: An aesthetician uses very fine microcrystals to remove the upper layer of skin and exfoliate dead skin cells. This stimulates the production of new skin, resulting in a firmer and more youthful look.
Best for:
Microdermabrasion is often part of an ongoing skincare maintenance plan rather than a standalone treatment for significant laxity.
In some cases, dermal fillers may be recommended to restore underlying support in areas where volume loss contributes to skin laxity.
How it works: Rather than treating the skin alone, this approach focuses on rebuilding structure beneath the skin to improve how it drapes and holds shape. Adding volume to key areas (like the cheeks) can provide a lifting effect that reduces the appearance of laxity.
Products used:
Best for:
Many patients achieve the best results by combining multiple treatments.
Common combinations:
Why combination works: Different treatments address different aspects of skin laxity. Combining approaches allows for comprehensive improvement in both skin quality and structural support.
Your provider will recommend the most effective combination based on your specific concerns, skin type, and goals.
If facial skin laxity is something you’ve been noticing, a consultation can help you understand your options. At Lazaderm, consultations focus on education, safety, and helping you feel confident in your care decisions.
