[Doctor Bellevue Column 61.] Two Solutions for Creating Firm Skin

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What does firm skin mean?

Firm skin, in a word, refers to a condition in which the skin has the ability to stretch and then return to its original shape. Like a stress ball, it indents when pressed, but when the pressure is removed, it returns to its original form. This skin characteristic is mainly determined by two proteins: collagen and elastin. These two proteins play very important roles in maintaining the skin’s structure and elasticity. So let’s list a few features of firm skin.

• Elasticity: Firm skin, like spandex, stretches easily when exposed to external pressure or stress, and quickly returns to its original state once the pressure is gone. This is a sign that the skin is healthy and sufficiently hydrated.

• Smoothness and firmness: Firm skin has a soft and smooth texture like silk. Once the skin’s volume is well maintained, it looks youthful and healthy.

• Reduction in wrinkles and sagging: The better the skin’s elasticity, the fewer wrinkles form and the less sagging occurs. This helps prevent wrinkles and sagging, which are major signs of aging.

Causes of reduced skin elasticity

As you know, skin elasticity decreases as everyone ages. From the late 20s to the early 30s, the production of collagen and elastin begins to decline. In other words, aging and reduced skin elasticity are closely related. There are also several other factors that can affect a decrease in skin elasticity. The first is ultraviolet rays. Excessive sunlight can also bring out pigmentation, but it destroys collagen and elastin, reducing skin elasticity. The second is smoking. Smoking impairs blood circulation in the skin and increases the production of enzymes that can reduce skin elasticity. If you want to maintain your youth for a long time, you definitely need to quit smoking, right? Also, if you continue eating a diet that is unbalanced and lacking in nutrients, it negatively affects your health and can reduce the skin’s elasticity. This is also why excessive dieting makes you age faster. For example, cases like Ozempic face.

As an essential condition for an attractive and youthful appearance, firm skin is an important indicator of healthy skin and is a kind of ability for the skin to respond well to external stimuli and return to its original shape. To maintain this, proper skin care, healthy lifestyle habits, and sun protection are all essential, as you can probably understand well.

And there are also many people who receive dermatology procedures to improve firmness. Recently, it seems to have emerged as the most important issue in the aesthetic procedure field after fillers and Botox. There are various methods, but laser lifting and collagen injections in particular have gained a lot of popularity recently and have become options for effectively improving skin elasticity. Below, we will look in detail at the principles, effects, and precautions of these two procedures.

1. Laser lifting

▶Principle

Laser lifting is a method that promotes collagen production by using high-intensity laser to deliver heat to the dermis layer of the skin. In this process, skin elasticity improves and fine wrinkles can be reduced. Representative laser lifting procedures include Ulthera, InMode, Shurink, Shurink Universe, Thermage, Oligio, and Titanium. Combination procedures are also possible, such as Ulthermage, which combines Ulthera and Thermage; Ulthertitan, which adds Titanium to that; and Titheera, which combines Titanium and Ulthera.

▶Effects

Most people can feel an immediate tightening and lifting effect, and it tends to improve further over time. Collagen regeneration begins around one month later. You may feel the skin tighten immediately after the procedure, and many people say they experience a more noticeable effect as time passes. The facial contour also becomes smoother, while fine lines and deep wrinkles are reduced and skin texture improves. Since it often involves pain, anesthesia is needed, but using the latest equipment can minimize skin damage, and the recovery period is short, making it easy to return to daily life.

▶Precautions

After laser lifting, temporary redness or swelling may occur, but it usually subsides within a few days. Some people say their cheeks became sunken or their face looked skeletal; of course, if the skin is too thin and there is little fat, excessive inward tightening (lifting) can lead to such results. In other words, the effects can vary greatly depending on the individual’s skin condition, so a thorough consultation beforehand is essential.

2. Collagen injections

▶Principle

Collagen injections are a method of naturally improving skin elasticity by directly injecting collagen-producing substances (collagen stimulators) into the skin. The injected substance gradually breaks down and disappears over time, leaving only your skin’s own collagen, whose production has been stimulated in the process. Traditional collagen production stimulators such as Radiesse and Sculptra are representative examples. Recently, products such as Olidia, Juvelook, and UltheraCol 200 have also been used frequently.

▶Effects

When it comes to collagen injections, volume is certainly one of the main benefits. As collagen is gradually produced within the skin, it provides a natural sense of volume. It also reduces wrinkles and improves overall elasticity. Some collagen injection products require several sessions, while others show lasting effects even with just one treatment. In any case, once collagen is created in the body, it becomes the foundation of the skin and does not disappear all at once. If you maintain collagen health well, the effect can last for a long time. It is best to receive the treatment little by little, like taking a skin tonic or laying bricks one by one, rather than being overly ambitious.

▶Precautions

Temporary swelling or bruising may occur at the injection site, which is a normal reaction. This is the same for all injection procedures that use needles.

Today, I introduced two representative methods used in dermatology to improve firmness. Laser lifting and collagen injections are procedures worth considering once or twice a year from the late 30s onward. For those in their 40s and 50s or older, it could even be said that getting them is always beneficial. For people in their 20s whose elasticity is still naturally firm, there is no particular need to do them, but that too should depend on each person’s skin condition and needs. Today I spoke in general terms, but I also frequently post about the advantages and effects of each procedure, so please look into them carefully and choose the appropriate treatment after consulting with a doctor based on your individual skin condition and goals.

That is all for today.

Thank you for reading.

This has been Doctor Bellevue~!

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