Undesirable changes in the skin can be among the most obvious signs of aging, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. These changes commonly come in the form of wrinkles and sagging as the elastin and collagen fibers that help skin maintain its firmness deteriorate with age. Mature skin may also become thinner and less able to repair itself. Several skin treatments may help firm loose skin.
Fillers
Collagen injections can smooth out wrinkles and give skin a fuller appearance, according to SmartSkinCare.com. The effects of bovine collagen, such as ZyDerm and ZyPlast, and human collagen, such as CosmoDerm or CosmoPlast, typically last three to six months before the product is absorbed by the skin.
Soft tissue fillers like hyaluronic acid, brand names Juvederm and Restylane, also add volume to the skin and soften the appearance of wrinkles. As with collagen, the injections must be repeated after several months in order to maintain their antiaging effects. Fillers may cause temporary swelling, bruising and redness at the injection site.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermasion is a facial rejuvenation technique that may help firm skin due to its collagen-producing effects. The treatment consists of using a hand-held device to blow polishing crystals onto the skin's surface. Dead skin cells are then vacuumed away to make way for new, smoother skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
A study published in 2009 in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment found when microdermabrasion was combined with a polyphenolic antioxidant serum, it resulted in increased dermal thickness and collagen. The study was led by Dr. B.M. Freedman of the Plastic Surgery Associates of Northern Virginia.
Ablative Laser Rejuvenation
Laser resurfacing can improve the appearance of skin, minimize wrinkles and have a modest firming effect, according to the AAD.
Ablative or wounding laser resurfacing uses a laser beam to destroy the outermost layer of skin and heat the skin underneath in order to jump-start the production of collagen. The end result is the formation of new, tighter skin. It may be several months before the skin has completely healed for this type of laser therapy.
Ablative laser resurfacing may postpone the need for more invasive tightening procedures---namely, a facelift.
Non-Ablative Laser Therapy
A less wounding laser treatment called non-ablative laser therapy may also help tighten loose skin. Low-intensity lasers, including radio-frequency and pulsed-light sources, encourage elastin and collagen production by heating the inner layer of the skin. Non-ablative lasers may require a series of treatments for maximum skin-firming effects.
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