Whether at a beauty salon or at home, there’s no shortage of skin-tightening solutions. Some treatments focus on toning the skin of the face and neck, while others aim to tighten the skin of the stomach and thighs… But there are many other interesting options for invigorating the skin! From collagen injections to lifting massage, from healthy eating habits to BioStimology®, we tell you all you need to know about the main techniques for firming skin.
Did you know ? Skin cells are constantly renewing themselves. But over time, cell renewal slows down, damaging cells called fibroblasts. These cells produce collagen and elastin, two molecules essential to skin elasticity. Hyaluronic acid, necessary for deep skin hydration, also begins to be produced less by skin cells around the age of 30.
As a result, tissues sag, skin becomes looser and flabbier, and the first fine lines and wrinkles appear. In short, it’s a perfectly natural phenomenon. But remember, sagging skin is not just age-related. It can also be caused by many other factors. These include
source : Iora
Certain areas are particularly prone to sagging skin. These include :
It’s true that skin produces less collagen over time. This is one of the main reasons why it gradually loses its radiance and suppleness. But there’s nothing to stop you providing the precious collagen your skin lacks ! You’ll find many collagen-based serums and creams in the cosmetics aisle.
Collagen is also available in the form of dietary supplements. A word of advice though: if your aim is to invigorate and firm your skin, make sure you choose type 1 collagen-based supplements. Dietary supplements containing type 2 collagen are used to improve joint suppleness.
Finally, there’s also the option of collagen injections, which we’ll discuss below.
Think lifting massage: it’s one of the most widely used techniques for firming facial skin. It can even be applied to the neck, shoulders and bust, if desired. It comes in a variety of forms, including :
These massages can also be used in conjunction with exfoliation. Also known as exfoliation, this technique involves applying a substance to the skin to unclog pores, remove dead skin cells and activate cell renewal. This restores radiance and vitality to your skin, while combating the signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles.
Please note
Although most anti-aging massages are fairly gentle, there are some contraindications. It’s best to avoid massages if you have :
In the presence of certain illnesses, traditional tui na massage also requires special precautions, depending on the area of application. This is particularly the case if you suffer from diabetes, heart disease or circulation disorders.
Another interesting technique is photorejuvenation. Using pulsed light, it stimulates several skin processes, including collagen production. This anti-aging technique helps firm the skin and reduce fine lines, redness and brown spots, mainly in the :
Also known as photo-rejuvenation, this technique can produce really good results. However, you should carefully avoid exposure to the sun in the days leading up to your first session and throughout the beauty treatment cycle.
You should also be aware that photorejuvenation sessions can cause a number of undesirable side effects. The most common are a slight burning sensation during the treatment and temporary swelling of the treated area.
Finally, there are several contraindications to its use (e.g. skin infection, taking photosensitizing medication). So don’t hesitate to seek your doctor’s advice.
Have you heard of BioStimology® ? It’s a new non-invasive technology for firming the skin of the body and face, depending on the device used. It can be used in beauty salons or at home ! Based on low-frequency alternative bioenergetic fields, it is painless and has no side effects.
While it improves skin firmness and refines the oval of the face, it is also useful for :
It’s a multi-functional technology, acting as both a slimming and firming treatment. It is already available in a range of devices to suit your needs.
At home, you can easily use the BodySculptor slimming belt on your own. Its main functions: to refine your waistline while improving the firmness and texture of the skin on your stomach.
Are you looking for a solution to reshape the oval of your face ? If so, you can use the BodySculptor face lift mask right at home. In addition to firming the skin on your face and neck, it also :
Finally, several devices using BioStimology® are also used in beauty salons. These include the BodySculptor Reveal, which combines :
What’s more, this aesthetic device also performs micropressure body drainage to stimulate lymphatic and blood circulation. The result is a feeling of well-being and relief for heavy legs.
If your skin is distended, certain physical exercises will help you tighten it. Swimming , for example, can tone the skin on your arms, as can push-ups and pilates.
You can also consider :
However, it’s important to make sure you execute the various movements correctly to avoid injury. You can easily find tutorials on the web, but don’t hesitate to seek advice directly from a sports coach.
Also read: Is it possible to lose weight by walking?
Eating a healthy diet can also help you regain firmer, younger-looking skin. In particular, we recommend :
On a broader level, it’s better to adopt a healthy diet on a daily basis than to go on several diets if you want to keep your skin firm and supple.
Alongside the collagen supplements used to rejuvenate the skin, supplementation with certain vitamins could also be of interest. These include
However, food supplements are no substitute for a balanced diet. What’s more, although vitamins are essential to the body in small doses, they can be harmful when consumed in excess. Too much vitamin A, for example, can damage the liver. This is why we recommend that you seek medical advice before taking any supplements.
To keep your skin supple and firm, it needs to be well hydrated. To achieve this, you need to drink enough water: in normal circumstances, an adult should drink between 1.5 and 2 liters of water a day.
You can also apply a moisturizing cream or lotion morning and night to optimize your skin’s hydration. Hyaluronic acid and glycerine-based products are particularly useful.
Finally, to combat skin dehydration, you can also apply :
Did you know ? The sun’s UVA rays cause the formation of free radicals, which can damage the DNA of your skin cells. The result is premature aging and sagging of the skin when too much exposure to the sun occurs. This is known as photoaging.
To avoid it, it’s best to stay out of the sun during the hottest hours, between 11am and 4pm. Ideally, you should also always apply a thick layer of anti-UV sunscreen before sunbathing.
The Syndicat National des Dermatologues – Vénéréologues warns of the damaging effects of tobacco on the skin. Tobacco accelerates skin ageing by producing numerous free radicals, as does overexposure to the sun. The same is true of excessive alcohol consumption. The good news, however, is that after quitting smoking and alcohol, skin often regains some of its elasticity. It’s more toned, firmer and wrinkles are less pronounced. So don’t hesitate to consult an addictologist to help you quit more quickly.
Some grandmother’s remedies also have a reputation for firming the skin. These include, in particular:
Sometimes, the skin is really very distended. This is particularly true of people who have successfully overcome obesity. In such cases, cosmetic surgery may be the only effective option. A brachioplasty or arm lift is often used to tighten the skin on the arms. It’s a fairly straightforward operation, usually performed on an outpatient basis.
Another common cosmetic surgery procedure for skin tightening is abdominoplasty. Performed under general anaesthetic, it tightens the skin of the abdomen by removing subcutaneous fatty tissue and excess skin.
Another interesting technique is radiofrequency, based on high-frequency electromagnetic waves. These stimulate collagen and elastin production, resulting in firmer skin.
Abdomen, arms, thighs, face: virtually any area can be treated with radiofrequency. However, it is usually contraindicated in cases of pregnancy, skin lesions, cancer and pacemaker use. The most common side effects include
This aesthetic medicine technique involves injecting hyaluronic acid, vitamins and essential minerals into your skin. This improves elasticity, reduces fine lines and boosts skin hydration.
Mesotherapy is mainly used to treat the face, back of hands, neck and low-cut. It has few side effects, apart from redness in the few hours following injections. However, there are a number of contraindications to be aware of :
Another classic in aesthetic medicine is collagen injection, performed in the dermis (middle layer of the skin). Its main purpose is to fill fine lines and wrinkles on the face. There is a risk of allergy, but this is easily ruled out by an allergy test performed on your forearm a fortnight before the first injection. Slight redness and swelling may sometimes appear after the procedure. It should be noted, however, that this technique is less and less used since the advent of hyaluronic acid injections.
It all depends on the technique used to firm your skin. Facial injections, for example, have an immediate effect. Even if you often have to wait a few days for the swelling and redness to subside before you can take full advantage. However, the effects last only 6 to 12 months. Injections must then be repeated: this is not a long-term treatment.
With most other toning techniques, it takes several weeks to several months. As a guide, to achieve lasting skin firming with BioStimology®, we generally recommend at least 12 sessions, at a rate of 3 to 4 sessions per week, depending on the device.
