Skin Laxity Treatment in Winchester

Reversing the Signs of Ageing

When we are born we have loaded collagen stores and our skin is plump, fresh and rarely dry. Great rates of cell turnover from healthy cells mean that our skin is packed full of Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen and Elastin - resulting in bright, tight and hydrated skin.

Over the decades these skin calls (fibroblasts) slow down and the rate of skin turnover drops. These changes start in our 20’s with collagen stores dropping about 1% every year. By the time we reach our 40s, the cumulative changes in the skin over time can be much more noticeable than before. By this point you’ll probably notice fine lines starting to sneak up, your skin getting a lot drier, greyer and it can also begin to sag. If you are female, the menopause takes an extra toll on our collagen, robbing about 30% over the first 5 years if we don’t take action!

Since skin is a living organ, our body's largest organ in fact, it is a reactive mechanism and will respond to internal and external factors. Everything we put in and on our bodies, along with our environment, stress levels, and sleeping patterns have an impact on the skin.

If you’re suffering from aging skin that has lost its laxity – don’t worry. We can help you to successfully manage your skin and bring back its youth, here at The Secret Garden.

What causes skin to loose its laxity?

Over time, our skin becomes thinner, more fragile and drier. It can sag and bruise easier than before. We get fine lines especially around the mouth and eyes as well as the appearance of wrinkles.

There are two vital components to the skin’s structure that will affect laxity; collagen and elastin. As we age we begin to lose these two key components and our skin begins to lose elasticity, resulting in loose or sagging skin.

Elastin is a protein that acts like a spring within the elastic fibres of connective tissue. The lack of Elastin in the skin is what leads to less elasticity which becomes more apparent over time. This is due to a loss of hyaluronic acid, slower cell turnover and reduced sebum production in the epidermal layer and a decrease in collagen — a protein that promotes cell regeneration in our skin.

Collagen is the main structural protein found in the skin and other connective tissues throughout the body. Think of collagen as the “building blocks” of the skin. Collagen and elastin are found in the deeper layer of your skin, the dermis, located just above the fatty layer. The skin depends on both collagen and elastin to remain tight to your face and body.

Although the natural aging of the skin can be accelerated by our lifestyle, we simply stop producing collagen and elastin as we age so it is inevitable. However, factors such as smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, hormonal changes, sun damage, dehydration, poor nutrition, poor sleep quality and poor skin care also play a part in skin aging.

Busting the skin laxity myths

“Fine lines and wrinkles only occur after 40”

False. There is no single age at which you might notice wrinkles or begin to see sun spots appear on the skin. Genetics, diet, sun exposure, and a number of daily habits will all influence how your skin ages, so you should think more about these factors than your actual age when it comes to selecting anti-aging treatments.

“Sunscreen is even more important after 40”

False. Sunscreen is important across the decades but aging skin may be more sensitive to the sun and the decline of oestrogen leads to a decline in melanocytes, which can make you more prone to sun damage, particularly hyper and hypo pigmentation. Sun damage happens when ultraviolet (UV) light hits unprotected skin, causing DNA changes at a cellular level. A broad spectrum SPF will help prevent age spots, wrinkles, and cancer. Use it even in winter, inside or outside — and don’t forget the backs of your hands!

“Daily exfoliating and moisturising can eliminate wrinkles”

False. Moisture is important for youthful looking skin, but moisturisers cannot penetrate to the deeper layers of skin where wrinkles originate. Serums are more beneficial at changing the quality of the skin as they can be more deeply absorbed. Daily Exfoliating does keep skin bright and improves skin quality, but products alone are unlikely to eliminate wrinkles. You may need to boost your skincare with professional treatments like laser, chemical peels, injectables and skin boosters to reverse the existing age-related damage.

Treating Ageing skin

When you visit us in clinic, we’ll carry out a full skin analysis to understand the cause of your skin concerns.

We’ll then start you on a programme that is bespoke to your skin.

There are a wide range of treatments which stimulate skin health and support skin at any age. All of them focus on stimulating fibroblast cells to make more collagen and elastin. It’s important to know what treatment you enjoy here whether it’s chemical peels, microneedling, injectable skin boosters, laser rejuvenation or HIFU together with medical grade skincare to be used at home.

What are the best anti-ageing treatments?

There are three particular treatments in clinic that are great for treating skin laxity and have achieved incredible anti-ageing results for our clients. These are Radio Frequency Microneedling, HIFU and Skin Boosters. When you visit the clinic for a skin consultation, we’ll curate a bespoke skin care plan to support your goals and give you unrivalled results by tailoring the most appropriate treatment recipe for your skin.

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

Simply book a luxury consultation with us and we’ll analyse every layer of your skin and give you a full skin health check, discuss your skin concerns, and will recommend a treatment plan that matches your budget and your goals. Price plans for skin tightening are in the range of £200 - £350 a month and will fully support you to feel confident and glowing in your skin!

Secret Garden Skincare Journeys

Jenny’s Anti-Ageing Journey