Skin Tightening: Information & Specialists in Skin Tightening

A skin lift is also known as a dermolipectomy. It involves the surgical removal of excess and sagging skin and fat tissue. The goal is to achieve a smooth appearance of the skin.

In most cases, a skin lift is performed

• on the abdomen,
• on the thighs, 
• on the upper arms,
• the buttocks

. A skin tightening procedure is usually performed on an inpatient basis under general anesthesia and requires a hospital stay of 3 to 10 days.

The excess skin and subcutaneous fat tissue is first precisely measured and then surgically removed. The incisions required for this procedure are made in such a way that the inevitable scars remain as inconspicuous as possible.

If necessary, a skin tightening procedure can also be supplemented with liposuction.

The motivation for a skin lift is the desire to improve the overall aesthetic appearance of one’s face. It is therefore usually a cosmetic procedure.

Often,

• diets,
• physical activity,
• massages, or
• liposuction

are no longer enough, so a surgical skin lift is recommended.

The self-esteem of those affected often suffers as a result of these body image issues. Significant changes in the skin and body proportions can also lead to

• chronic skin irritation,
• mobility issues, or
• abdominal wall hernias

. In such cases, there may also be a medical indication for the procedure.

Before undergoing surgical skin tightening, all other options for weight loss should have been exhausted. The closer the patient is to their ideal weight at the time of surgery, the better the results of the skin tightening will be.

Before a skin tightening procedure, it is advisable to

• protect the skin with special skincare measures and
• stimulate blood circulation with cold showers.

Any existing skin inflammations should ideally be treated and monitored by a dermatologist beforehand.

For a major procedure, the patient may have their own blood drawn approximately 3 to 6 weeks before surgery.

In addition, the patient should avoid

• avoid taking sleeping pills and pain relievers that inhibit blood clotting—such as aspirin—and
• the consumption of alcohol and nicotine

.

A skin lift is usually performed under general anesthesia as part of a 3- to 10-day inpatient hospital stay. The exact length of the patient’s hospital stay following the surgical skin lift depends

• on the extent of the skin tightening and
• the size of the treated area.

Only minor skin tightening procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.

Before the actual skin tightening procedure, the surgeon first marks and measures the areas of the body where skin and fat tissue are to be removed. The affected skin is then disinfected several times. In addition, solutions may be applied to the skin to be operated on, which significantly reduce bleeding during the surgical skin tightening procedure.

During the skin tightening procedure itself, the surgeon finally removes the excess skin and the underlying fatty tissue. If necessary, the skin tightening can also be supplemented and supported by simultaneous liposuction.

At the end of the procedure, the surgeon sutures the edges of the incision, thereby tightening the remaining skin. Vacuum tubes, known as Redon drains, are inserted to prevent the accumulation of wound secretions and minor bruising. They remain in place at the surgical site for several days.

Facelift

A facelift is typically performed to address age-related wrinkles on the facial skin. The facial skin may begin to sag earlier than average

• in smokers,
• in people who have frequently been exposed to intense sunlight, and
• after significant weight loss.

A facelift is currently the most effective method of facial rejuvenation. Depending on the technique used, the procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia. The surgical method the surgeon chooses depends on the patient’s individual circumstances and preferences.

During the surgery, the skin is tightened and excess skin is removed. To minimize visible scarring, the number of incisions is kept to a minimum.

In addition to surgical skin tightening, there is also

• laser facelifts,
• the gold thread method, as well as
• injections with Botox or hyaluronic acid.

They are all designed to reduce wrinkles and visually rejuvenate the skin.

Neck Lift

If the skin on the neck is severely sagging or a double chin has developed, a neck lift may be performed. This procedure is usually done under local anesthesia.

Various procedures are available for skin tightening on the neck. If there is only slight sagging, liposuction of the excess fatty tissue is sufficient. If the skin has lost its elasticity, the excess skin is surgically removed.

Tummy Tuck

One of the most commonly performed tightening procedures is the tummy tuck. For some women after

• pregnancy or
• significant weight loss

, the stretched skin in the abdominal area does not return to its original state. A tummy tuck can help with a sagging or wrinkled abdominal wall.

The so-called mini-abdominoplasty (mini tummy tuck) is a minor outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia. During this procedure, excess fatty tissue below the navel is removed.

In contrast, the classic, more extensive abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia to tighten the entire abdominal wall. During this procedure, the navel must also be excised and later reattached. This procedure requires a hospital stay of several days.

Thigh Lift

As we age, excess fat on the thighs can create an unbalanced body contour. For this reason, slender women aged 50 and older are particularly interested in thigh lifts.

The skin loses elasticity with age. Many women perceive the inner thighs in particular as a problem area.

A thigh lift is performed on an inpatient basis under general anesthesia. The skin is detached from its underlying tissue and pulled upward. In addition, excess skin is removed and the incision is sutured closed.

To achieve long-lasting skin tightening, the surgeon secures the skin flap to the pubic bone and the inguinal ligament.

Upper Arm Lift

A skin tightening procedure can also be performed on the upper arms. For older women, the sagging pockets of skin on the upper arms are often so bothersome that they avoid wearing sleeveless clothing.

During an upper arm lift—which is usually performed under general anesthesia—an incision is made from the armpit to the elbow joint. The surgeon then removes excess skin and fatty tissue and closes the incision.

The scars on the inner side of the upper arms are barely visible.

Breast Lift

Breast lifts are frequently performed on women whose breasts, due to

• their size,
• pregnancy, or
• significant weight loss

. To achieve firmer breasts, skin tightening can be combined with breast augmentation using an implant.

A breast lift is usually performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon has various incision techniques at their disposal. They remove excess fatty tissue, reshape the breast tissue if necessary, and reposition it higher on the breast.

It may also be necessary to reposition the nipple or reduce the size of the areola.

Buttock Lift

A buttock lift is an increasingly popular procedure for removing fat tissue from unwanted areas of the buttocks.

As we age, the buttocks lose firmness and volume. Using various techniques, the buttocks can be tightened and simultaneously augmented with a buttock implant.

The surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia as part of a short hospital stay. Excess fat tissue in the buttocks can be removed through an incision made above or below the buttocks. If simultaneous augmentation is desired, this is achieved using the patient’s own fat from other areas of the body or silicone gel implants.

Hand Rejuvenation

The skin on the hands is particularly sensitive and, in addition to natural aging, is exposed to many daily stresses such as

• water,
• heat,
• cold,
• sun exposure, and
• chemicals

. This can lead to age spots, wrinkles, and sagging.

Unlike other problem areas, the hands cannot be concealed. That is why some people opt for hand rejuvenation.

There are various procedures available for skin tightening on the hands. These include

• dermabrasion,
• autologous fat transfer,
• laser therapy,
• tissue augmentation with hyaluronic acid, and
• surgical hand lift.

For some
people, hands with wrinkles and age spots are a reason to undergo hand rejuvenation © zamphotography | AdobeStock

As with any surgery, cosmetic procedures also carry certain risks and complications may occur. These include

• a possible adverse reaction to general anesthesia,
• bruising, and
• bacterial infections.

In particular, after a thigh lift, impaired lymphatic drainage is possible. In the case of a tummy tuck, there is an increased risk of blood clots.

With all surgeries, skin sensitivity in the area of the scars may be impaired for several months. Thrombosis and embolism are relatively rare complications following a skin tightening procedure.

Complications can be prevented to a certain extent. Patients who suffer from

• vascular diseases,
• venous stasis, or
• blood clots

require special precautions before the procedure. The patient must inform the doctor in advance if he or she

• any medical conditions or allergies to certain medications, bandages, or ointments, and
• whether they take medication regularly.

As a precaution, the patient’s blood count and coagulation are tested before the skin tightening procedure. In addition, an ECG of the heart and an X-ray of the lungs are performed.

Mild pain usually occurs immediately after the surgical skin tightening procedure. The patient is given pain medication to manage this.

Wound healing and reduction of swelling in the surgical area take about two to three weeks. However, complete healing of the operated areas is not expected until several weeks later. As a rule, though, the patient is fully able to return to work after about three weeks.

After the skin tightening procedure, the patient should

• during the day and
• perform isometric muscle exercises.

The goal of this is to

• prevent blood clots and embolisms,
• stimulate blood flow and oxygen supply to the operated areas, and
• support the healing process.

Other measures to support the healing process include

• skin care products such as panthenol ointments and
• cold showers to stimulate blood circulation.

In addition, the patient should avoid

• avoid excessive and sudden tension on the suture lines and
• move carefully.

They can resume physical activities five weeks after surgery and gradually increase the intensity.

Absorbable sutures dissolve on their own. Other sutures must be removed approximately three to six weeks after the skin lift.

The cost of a skin lift varies widely. It depends on the area of the body where the procedure is performed and the technique used.

If a skin lift is performed due to an accident or as a result of certain medical conditions, the costs are partially or fully covered by health insurance. The patient must pay for purely cosmetic procedures out of pocket.

Although surgical skin tightening results in longer scars due to the necessary larger incisions, it offers a way to remove large pockets of fat and skin folds that cannot be corrected by other means.

A skin lift can restore harmony to the body’s proportions. For those affected, this means an improvement in subjective well-being and a boost in self-confidence.