Three Solutions for Saggy Knees

As we age, gravity causes wrinkles on the face and 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 Skin  Tightening 

Radiesse & Sculptra

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. Biostimulating injectable treatments like Radiesse and Sculptra offer long-lasting results.  These fillers stimulate your body's collagen production, making the skin firmer and lifted.  This treatment works best for people with a small amount of wrinkled skin in the knee area. 

Ultherapy®

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

SkinTyte

SkinTyte can be used on the hands, arms, chest, upper knees, and abdomen.
SkinTyte stimulates collagen production using infrared light technology to heat the dermal layers of the skin.  A series of five treatments is usually recommended for best results.  SkinTyte has no downtime, and it is an excellent accompaniment to PDO thread lifts and biostimulators like Radiesse and Sculptra.

 Renuvion For Skin Tightening 

Renuvion set the gold standard in skin tightening. This minimally invasive treatment utilizes a technology called J-Plasma for skin tightening. This technology combines helium plasma with radiofrequency energy. When the plasma comes into contact with the skin, it tightens and contracts the tissues.  Renuvion can be used anywhere on the body where loose or sagging skin is a concern. It can be used alone or in combination with liposuction and other surgical procedures to enhance the outcome.

When used as a stand-alone procedure, Renuvion's minimally invasive nature means shorter recovery times, allowing you to return to your routine with minimal disruption. Renuvion does not increase the recovery time when done in conjunction with other procedures.  

Surgical Thigh Lift

A surgical thigh lift may be needed for patients with a large amount of loose or saggy skin. 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 significant 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 anesthesia. For patients who undergo liposuction of the upper knee area, a compression garment should be worn to aid in the tightening of the skin.  Renuvion, Ultherapy, and SkinTyte 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, Dr. Jocelyn Leveque, and Dr.  Nathan Patterson.