Three Solutions for Saggy Knees

As we age, gravity not only causes wrinkles on the face, but it can cause wrinkly knees. While requests for a knee lift aren’t as common as a face lift, more and more women are asking if something can be done for “old lady” knees. Here are a few options to consider:

Non-Surgical Knee Tightening

If you’ve tried topical skin-tightening treatments and haven’t seen much improvement, you may need to visit a doctor for a stronger solution. Some patients can see positive results when using fillers on the loose skin around the knees. Dermal fillers used in this area are temporary, usually lasting a year or two. This treatment works best for people who have a small amount of wrinkled skin in the knee area.

Ultherapy®, a treatm ent that uses ultrasound technology to rebuild collagen in the deep layers of the skin, provides significant tightening. This is one of the best treatments for knees (and elbows) available. Ultherapy to the knees and elbows typically requires one to three treatments.

Surgical Knee Skin Tightening

For patients who have a large amount of loose or saggy skin, a surgical thigh lift maybe needed. During a thigh lift, the skin is tightened and the excess skin is removed. This also removes the excess skin around the knees. This procedure is often performed after major weight loss, along with other treatments to reduce excess skin.

Some patients with a moderate amount of excess skin can benefit from a direct excision of the skin around the knee. However, this procedure does leave a visible scar. Most patients decide wrinkly knees are better than the scar.

Liposuction of the Knee

Liposuction of the knee is usually done in the office, under local anesthetic. For patients that undergo liposuction of the upper knee area, a compression garment should be worn to aid in the tightening of the skin. However, Ultherapy can also be used in combination with liposuction to create additional tightening following liposuction. The combination of these treatments leaves the knees with a smoother, more youthful appearance.

If you are self-conscious or unhappy with the appearance of your knees, we may be able to help. Schedule a consultation at Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery with one of our award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Peter Butler and Dr. Jocelyn Leveque.