Decolletage, arms, hands, stomach: dermatologists’ zone-by-zone action plan to smooth out the skin on your body
Sagging skin on the stomach, arms that look withered, a wrinkled décolletage after the summer… These subtle but very real signs affect many women, yet they are often rarely discussed. The wrinkles on the body are caused by different mechanisms than those on the face, and the appropriate treatments vary depending on the area in question. Here’s what aesthetic medicine has to offer today, area by area.
Why Does the Skin on Our Bodies Wrinkle Over Time?
Unlike facial expression lines, sagging skin on the body results from a gradual loss of collagen and elastin. The skin becomes thinner, loses its density, and eventually develops wrinkles. This process is exacerbated by menopause and estrogen deficiency.
Other factors also accelerate this process. Pregnancy, significant weight loss, yo-yo dieting, and repeated sun exposure weaken the skin. As a result, certain areas age much faster than others.
The good news, however, is that aesthetic medicine offers targeted solutions. By restoring the skin’s density, these treatments can visibly improve its appearance. It’s best to act early, when the skin’s regenerative potential is still at its peak.
The décolleté: an area that requires special care
The décolleté ages faster than the rest of the body. The skin there is thin, has little fatty tissue, and is often poorly protected from UV rays. As a result, it develops the well-known “sun-induced wrinkles,” which are accentuated by certain sleeping positions on one’s side.
This area heals less well because it has fewer hair follicles. Overly aggressive techniques can leave marks, especially on darker skin. Therefore, the choice of treatment must be carefully considered.
Three options are currently available. Injections of hyaluronic acid (skin boosters) or a collagen-stimulating agent such as Radiesse, with results lasting 12 to 18 months and costing between 400 and 1,350 €. Radiofrequency microneedling (Morpheus 8, Potenza, Exion), requiring two to three sessions, at a cost of between €300 and €400 per session. Finally, the UltraClear cold laser, which is better suited for sensitive skin, costs about 1,200 € per session, often a one-time treatment.
“I start the treatment with the ‘Ultra’ mode to boost collagen and elastin, then finish with the ‘Clear’ mode, which removes cells from the stratum corneum to improve skin texture and even out skin tone.” — Dr. Michael Swann, a dermatologist in the United States.
Arms, hands, and stomach: solutions tailored to each area
The inner arms are the first to show signs of aging, often around the age of 60. The withered, “crepe paper” appearance is particularly noticeable in slender individuals. On the other hand, when excess fat is present, the condition is referred to as “bat wings,” which then requires surgical intervention.
For moderate sagging, combination injections are recommended. Dr. Michael Margulies, a cosmetic physician, uses cross-linked hyaluronic acid enriched with calcium hydroxyapatite, followed by a skin booster. These products are injected in a fan-shaped pattern from the crook of the elbow to the armpit, at a cost of between 500 and 900 €. Absorbable thread lifts can also be performed, costing between 2,000 and 2,500 €, with results that can last up to two years.
If the arms are plump, it is best to treat the excess fat first. Cryolipolysis is well-suited for moderate amounts of fat, without exacerbating sagging. According to Dr. Jean-Michel Mazer, a dermatologist, “we even observe a stimulation of collagen synthesis” with this technique.
- The décolleté requires gentle techniques, as the skin there heals less effectively.
- The arms are treated with combination injections or thread lifts, depending on the degree of sagging.
- Hands reveal one’s age through a loss of volume: hyaluronic acid remains the best option.
- Dull skin around the navel can be improved with Profhilo Body or a collagen-stimulating treatment such as Lanluma.
- The knees and thighs require a cautious approach: if the crease is deeper than 1.5 cm, surgery is often necessary.
The hands are one of the areas that most clearly reveal a person’s age. The loss of fatty tissue causes veins and tendons to become visible. A two-step hyaluronic acid injection treatment—first a cross-linked product, followed by a skin booster applied as a layer—restores volume and texture, for between €700 and €800. Laser treatment or a chemical peel can also be combined with this to reduce dark spots.
For the abdomen, sagging is mainly concentrated around the navel. Profhilo Body, injected at ten points into the deep dermis, acts as a dermal remodeler. Two sessions spaced one month apart are sufficient, at a cost of approximately €800. Another option is Lanluma, a collagen-stimulating treatment suitable for large areas, with results lasting up to two years and a cost ranging from €2,000 to €4,000 depending on the treatment area. For moderate to severe sagging, Endolift introduces a 1,470-nanometer laser fiber into the subcutaneous fat at a controlled temperature of 52°C, for approximately 1,800 €, with treatments repeated every two to three years.
Thighs and knees: complex areas that need to be addressed realistically
The inner thighs are the area most affected by sagging skin. Dr. Laurence Benouaiche, a plastic surgeon, is clear: if the fold is wider than 1.5 cm, surgery becomes necessary. For moderate cases, subcutaneous radiofrequency treatment (such as Endo D.A.S.) delivers heat between 42 and 52 °C, with initial visible results appearing as early as the sixth week, at a cost of approximately 1,200 €.
The knees, for their part, are a particularly delicate area. Dr. Mazer notes: “This area is complex. I never push patients to undergo treatment here because the results can be disappointing.” For fine creases, radiofrequency microneedling can be tried, requiring at least three sessions costing between 300 and 400 € each. Endocutaneous techniques such as Endolift, on the other hand, allow for more pronounced tightening of deep creases, at a cost of between 1,000 and 1,200 €.
When it comes to body wrinkles, aesthetic medicine offers increasingly targeted solutions. However, each treatment has its limitations, and caution is still advised. Acting early, choosing the right practitioner, and tailoring the treatment to your body type are the three keys to achieving satisfactory results for body wrinkles.
