LIFTING & TIGHTENING

The need to lift and tighten our skin becomes more of priority as we age with discoloured and wrinkled or sagging skin starting to appear as we hit the age of 40. This is particularly the case for the skin on our neck and décolletage with many clients seeking treatment for jowls and ‘turkey neck’ as they age. Stretch marks are also a common concern, particularly amongst women who have given birth.   

COMMON CONCERNS 

• Sagging skin 
• Turkey neck 
• Jowls 
• Stretch marks 
• Wrinkles and creases 

 CAUSES 

Sagging: Changes in body shape, lifestyle and the activities we take part in can greatly affect our skin’s elasticity and appearance. Age also plays a major role, with skin losing elasticity and beginning to sag as we get older due to collagen loss. The skin on our neck and décolletage is particularly prone to premature ageing as it’s three times thinner than the skin on our faces. It also lacks the regenerative ability required to bounce back when damaged. Environmental factors such as excessive UV exposure and over sensitisation from perfume spraying are key causes for our necks and décolletages ageing before their time and can also often lead to a condition called poikiloderma.   

Poikiloderma sounds serious, and for the thinner skin on your neck and chest, it is. Appearing as reddish, brown skin, poikiloderma causes a rough or ‘chicken skin’ texture. This rough texture is elastosis, resulting from abnormal elastin fibres being produced. This can make the skin appear thickened, wrinkled and sagging.  

In addition to poikiloderma, some women can develop an ageing ‘veiny’ appearance to the neck. This is due to a muscle called the platysma becoming more prominent, resulting in vertical band formation. These bands contribute to the ‘turkey neck’ that many women experience as they get older.  

Stretch marks: Stretch marks occur when the skin is pulled by rapid growth or stretching. It most commonly affects teenagers who are going through growth spurts, people who have lost weight, and women who have gone through pregnancy. Often confused with cellulite, stretch marks present as red, white or purple marks on the skin, whereas cellulite causes skin to dimple