Skin laxity and sagging

Doctor-led assessment · Surry Hills, Sydney

A jawline that has softened. Skin that no longer springs back the way it did. Non-surgical tightening can do a great deal here, and there is also a point where it stops being the right answer. We will tell you which side of that line you are on.

Choose your consultation

Assessment before recommendation · (02) 8074 1559

013D imaging, so change is measured rather than remembered
02A doctor-led clinic with a qualified dermal therapy team
03An honest view on whether this is the right treatment for you

Facial assessment and imaging at The Centre for Medical Aesthetics

Sagging is usually three things at once

When people point at their jawline, they tend to describe it as loose skin. It rarely is, on its own.

Underneath, three separate things are happening. The collagen and elastin in the skin are thinning, so it holds less tension. Fat pads that used to sit high in the face have descended and lost volume. And the bone itself has changed shape, which alters the scaffolding everything sits on.

Each of those responds to something different, and treating only one of them is why results can feel underwhelming. Working out the proportions is the whole point of the assessment.

Where people usually sit

01

Early laxity

Skin quality is starting to change. Nothing has really dropped yet, but makeup sits differently and photographs look less crisp along the jaw.

Best approach: this is the most rewarding stage to treat, and the one where doing a little goes a long way.
02

Established laxity

A visible softening of the jawline, some heaviness through the lower face, skin that folds when you lie down.

Best approach: non-surgical tightening still helps meaningfully, usually in combination and over a course rather than a single session.
03

Beyond what devices do

Significant descent and excess skin, where energy-based tightening will make a small difference at best.

Best approach: we will say so, and point you towards a surgical opinion rather than sell you a course that cannot deliver.

That last one costs us treatments and we include it anyway. Spending thousands on the wrong thing is worse for you than an honest conversation.

What the assessment covers

3D imaging, which measures contour rather than relying on memory
How much is skin quality, how much is volume, how much is structural
Skin thickness and how it is likely to respond to energy
Your age, and what is likely to change over the next five years
Downtime you can accommodate
What outcome would actually make you happy — which is not always what you first ask for

You will see your own imaging and have the components explained. Where we think the honest answer is a surgical opinion, you will hear that, and it will not cost you a treatment plan to find out.

Treatments we use

Tightening works by heating the deeper layers so the skin makes new collagen over the months that follow. It is gradual by nature.

SofwaveNon-invasive tightening with no downtime
Morpheus8Radiofrequency microneedling for deeper remodelling
RejuranSkin quality, resilience and elasticity
SkinPen MicroneedlingCollagen stimulation for skin quality
Healite II LEDSupporting healing and collagen response
Cosmetic injectablesDiscussed at consultation where structural support is relevant

More on the skin treatments we offer, or browse other skin concerns.

Some plans also involve a conversation about cosmetic injectables. That is a separate consultation with Dr Chahal and is discussed rather than sold.

What the timeline actually looks like

Week 0Imaging and plan
Baseline 3D imaging, an explanation of what is driving what, and a staged plan you take home.
Weeks 1–8Treatment
Depending on what suits, either a single session or a short course. Most people notice very little at this stage.
Months 3–6Where collagen shows up
Tightening results build slowly. This is the window where the change becomes visible rather than theoretical.
AnnuallyReassess
We re-image against your baseline. Ageing continues, so maintenance is a decision you make with real numbers in front of you.

Slow is not the same as ineffective

Everyone would prefer the version where you walk out looking different. Collagen does not work that way. What you are buying is a change that shows up around month three and keeps improving to about month six.

This is precisely why we image at the start. Six months is long enough that people genuinely forget where they began, and then conclude nothing happened.

It also means starting earlier is better. Maintaining skin quality is a far easier job than trying to reverse significant laxity later.

Common questions

Does non-surgical skin tightening actually work?

Yes, within limits. It produces meaningful improvement in early to moderate laxity. It does not replicate what surgery does, and any clinic suggesting otherwise is overselling.

How long do results last?

Generally one to two years, though ageing carries on underneath. Most people maintain with a session every twelve to eighteen months.

Is it painful?

It varies by device. Most people describe heat and a prickling sensation rather than pain, and comfort options are discussed beforehand.

When is surgery the better answer?

When there is genuine skin excess and significant descent. We will tell you if we think that is where you are, and we will not treat you just because you asked.

What age should I start?

There is no correct age. It is more useful to think about what your skin is doing than what your birthday says, which is what the imaging is for.

Can I combine it with other treatments?

Usually yes, and combinations often work better than any single treatment. Sequencing matters, and that is planned at your consultation.

Start with an assessment

3D imaging, an honest read on what is driving the change, and a plan you can hold us to.