Sagging (skin laxity) Treatment in Fukuoka, Tenjin | Divided by Whether the Cause is Skin, Fat, or Supporting Tissue

How to Read This Article

The treatments listed here are performed at our Fukuoka clinic (Tenjin). All are private pay (not covered by insurance), and clicking on the treatment name will take you to a page with detailed explanation and the latest price list. Our Fukuoka clinic offers device and injection treatments; we do not handle incisional lift surgery. With that in mind, we describe what is and is not possible.

The most common misunderstanding in consultations about sagging (skin laxity) is:"Ending the explanation with 'the skin has become loose'"is.

The actual face is composed of four overlapping layers. With age, these four changeat separate paces.

1. Skin— Collagen decreases, and texture and firmness diminish
2. Fat— The upper region thins while the lower region descends. Both occur simultaneously within the same person
3. Supporting tissue— The layer connecting skin to muscle loosens, and the entire structure descends
4. Bone— The foundation itself shrinks slightly, and the tissue resting on it becomes excess

This is crucial.Each treatment reaches certain layers and does not reach others.No matter how many treatments that work on the skin you undergo, if the supporting tissue is loose, the contour will not return. Conversely, if you receive tightening treatment when fat has decreased and the cheeks are hollow, it will appear even thinner.

The Conclusion of This ArticleThere is no treatment that "works on sagging (skin laxity)" in general. There is only"treatment that works on that particular layer."If you visit a clinic for device treatments without first identifying which layer your sagging (skin laxity) comes from, you will see changes only immediately after treatment, which fade quickly—and the cycle repeats.

We list three ways to distinguish the cause in front of a mirror. While it is difficult to make a complete determination on your own,you will understand what to discuss at your consultation.

1. Lie on your back

Lie on your back and look in a mirror (you can also use your smartphone camera).

• It no longer bothers youTissue that had sagged due to gravity has returned to its original position. The main causes are fat descent or laxity of the supporting tissues.
• There is hardly any changeRather than sagging (skin laxity), the change is due to the quality of the skin itself or changes in bone structure.

2. Lift your cheeks diagonally upward

Using the pads of your fingers, gently lift your cheeks toward the temples.Do not pull forcefully.

• Nasolabial folds and jawline become more definedThe main issue is laxity of the supporting tissues. Treatment in the tightening direction is appropriate.
• Even with lifting, the result is unsatisfyingVolume may have decreased. We will consider treatment in the direction of adding volume.

3. Compare with a photo from 10 years ago

Look at a photo from when you were at approximately the same body weight.

The upper cheeks appear hollowed— This is fat and volume loss. Even tightening treatment will not resolve this and may make the face appear thinner.

The position has moved downward— This is sagging (skin laxity). The upper cheeks should be thin and the lower cheeks thickened. Check whether there is a step or depression at the jawline.

• The surface has become roughIf neither of the above but only the skin surface has changed, it is a skin quality issue. This is managed as texture, fine lines, and loss of radiance.

It is normal for these to be mixedIn reality, the typical pattern is "upper cheeks hollowed, lower face sagging, and skin quality declined." Therefore, what the consultation determines is not choosing one single issue, but ratherwhich is most noticeable and where to start treatmentdeciding that.

Devices for treating sagging (skin laxity) each havea specific depth at which they work.Understanding these points will help you avoid being swayed by advertising claims.

• Radiofrequency (RF)Primarily warms the dermis and subcutaneous tissue over a broad area, promoting collagen tightening and production. It works on skin quality and laxity.
• Ultrasound (HIFU)Delivers heat deeper into the supporting tissue layer to shrink it. Used when targeting facial contour tightening.
• Injection (hyaluronic acid, etc.)Restores lost volume. A treatment approach that fills in hollowed areas.
• Fat-dissolving injectionReduces excess fat. Used in areas where thickness is a problem, such as under the chin.

What no device can do

Reduce the excess skin itself.Devices can shrink or regenerate tissue through heat, but they cannot cut away surface area.

Therefore, patients with obviously excess skin who undergo device treatments often experience: "it seemed to change right after the procedure, but returned to baseline within 1–2 months."This is not because the treatment didn't work, but because the layer treated didn't match the problem.

Unlike other skin concerns,Sagging (skin laxity) has a narrow range that can be recovered through at-home carein reality. What is mainly possible is "preventing further progression."

What works

• Sun protectionUV rays damage collagen and elastin. It is the single largest environmental factor in sagging progression, and the only one you can control daily.
• Avoid large weight fluctuationsRepeated cycles of weight gain and loss leave stretched skin that doesn't fully bounce back, resulting in excess skin.
• Reduce time spent looking downwardThe posture of viewing a smartphone directly causes sagging in the neck and under the chin. Simply raising the screen to eye level makes a difference.
• RetinoidsThey work on skin quality (texture and fine lines). However, ptosis itself does not improve.

What not to do

Pulling massage.Repeatedly applying strong force to the skin and supporting tissues works in the direction of loosening. Think of gentle lymphatic-draining treatment and face-lifting treatment as two different things.

Facial muscle training can also deepen wrinkles depending on the method. Be cautious about treatments that impose strong daily demands such as "X minutes per day."

Treatments are divided by layer and by what each targets. Pricing and detailed information are available via the link to each treatment name.

For supporting tissue laxity

HIFU (UTIMS A3)

Concentrates ultrasound deeply to generate heat and shrink supporting tissue. A non-invasive approach to facial contour tightening; results emerge over several months.

• GuidelineOnce every 6 months to 1 year
• DowntimeMinimal. Redness and swelling immediately after, soreness for a few days from pressure
• Suitable forThose whose appearance improves when the cheeks are lifted. Those with minimal excess skin remaining
• Not suitable forThose with hollow cheeks. May appear thinner

Thermage

Radiofrequency warms the dermis and subcutaneous tissue broadly, tightening and regenerating collagen. It works at a shallower depth than HIFU, making it ideal when you want to improve both skin laxity and quality.

• GuidelineOnce every 6 months to 1 year
• DowntimeMinimal. Redness immediately after
• Suitable forThose with both skin laxity and quality degradation at the same time
• Not suitable forThose with significant ptosis. Beyond the depth it can reach

For lost volume

Hyaluronic acid injection

Restores volume to hollowed areas, rebuilding the foundation. Although it appears opposite to tightening treatments, for those with reduced volume, this approach looks naturally more youthful.

• GuidelineDepending on the formulation and area, 6 months to 1 year or more
• DowntimeBruising, swelling for a few days
• Suitable forThose whose temples or upper cheeks have become thin, those whose nasolabial fold foundation has descended
• Not suitable forThose with naturally high fat volume, where Sagging (skin laxity) is the primary concern

Increased fat

FatX Core (fat-dissolving injection)

Reduces fat itself. Suitable for cases where thickness under the chin or along the jawline obscures facial contours.

• GuidelineEvery 2–4 weeks, multiple sessions
• DowntimeSwelling peaks at 2–3 days. Subsides within about 1 week
• Suitable forThose concerned with thickness under the chin
• Not suitable forThose with excess skin rather than fat

Skin quality

JALUPRO Super Hydro

An amino-acid-containing formulation is injected to work on the quality of the skin itself. Positioned as a treatment to establish the foundation skin rather than to lift.

• GuidelineEvery 2–3 weeks, 3–4 sessions
• DowntimeSmall puffiness at injection sites, bruising
• Suitable forThose concerned with loss of radiance and skin texture
• Not suitable forThose expecting facial contour changes

Treatment structureLifting treatments and additive treatmentsneither is superior.Layering tightening on hollowed areas makes them look older, and layering injections on sagging areas makes them look heavier. To determine the order, first confirm which layer is most prominent.

I write from the position of someone responsible for surgical procedures.At the Fukuoka clinic, we do not perform lift surgery involving incisions.What we perform here are treatments using devices and injections.

That said, I want to clearly communicate that there are stages that devices cannot reach.Continuing to recommend devices without stating what cannot be done is the worst approach in Sagging (skin laxity) treatment,in my view.

Signs that devices reach with difficulty

• Skin is clearly redundantWhen lifted, the skin with nowhere to go sags. It exceeds the range that heat can shrink.
• The device's recovery has become faster.If results that previously lasted six months now revert in two to three months, sagging (skin laxity) is progressing.
• The step at the jawline is clearly defined.When the jaw line appears broken at this stage, the problem with supporting tissue has become significant.
• The position to which results return does not change even with repeated treatments.If results return to the same point each time you receive treatment, the layer is not matched.

Even so, there are cases where continuing with the device makes sense.

On the other hand,Even at a stage when considering surgery, devices and injections are not wasted.If the goal is to spend the interim period before surgery with quality care, or to prepare the skin's condition, there is plenty of meaning. What matters is that you understand what your objective is.

From Director Hane:We sometimes receive consultations saying, "I keep coming for device treatments but nothing changes." In most cases, it was not that treatment was poorly performed, but simply that the layer was not matched. At consultation, we will honestly tell you whether the device is sufficient at your current stage, or whether it is time to consider another approach. If we cannot do something, we will say so.

We will write honestly.

• Preventing sagging (skin laxity) from progressingImpossible. We can slow it down with sun protection and weight management, but we cannot stop it.
• Reducing excess skin with a deviceHeat can only shrink within a limited range. The area itself does not decrease.
• Completing treatment in one sessionDevices require treatment every six months to one year, and injectables have product longevity. It is a maintenance treatment.
• Reversing bone changesWhatever the foundation has shrunk, we compensate by adding volume.

Sagging (skin laxity) treatment is not something to stop, but ratherto slow its progression and maintain a well-balanced appearance appropriate to one's age.Thinking of it this way makes it easier to decide how to proceed.

At what age should I start?

There is no set age. The guideline is when you start to notice changes and whether differences show up in photographs. The effects available from devices become more significant when there is less excess skin.

Which is better, HIFU or Thermage?

Neither is superior; they work at different depths. HIFU is better for contour tightening, while Thermage is closer to addressing overall skin quality. Both may be used together.

Do you offer Thread lift?

We do not offer it at our Fukuoka clinic. During your consultation, we will advise whether a Thread lift or a surgical lift is appropriate for your stage.

My skin sagged after I lost weight.

This is common. As fat decreases, skin becomes loose and appears to sag. In such cases, an additive treatment may be more suitable than tightening alone.

How long do results last?

Devices typically last six months to one year; injectables last six months to over one year depending on the product and area treated. However, aging continues during this time.

Can men receive these Treatments?

Yes. Men have thicker skin and more fat, so consultations about under-chin fullness are relatively common.

The Treatments introduced on this page areall self-pay (not covered by insurance).

Possible side effects

• Redness and swellingMay occur immediately after heat-based Treatments
• Tenderness on pressureMay occur for several days after HIFU when pressure is applied
• Bruising and swellingOccurs with injectables
• Asymmetry and irregularityInjectables may cause temporary asymmetry or surface irregularities
• Temporary numbnessRarely, heat may affect a nerve, causing numbness or difficulty moving the mouth corner
• Hollowed appearanceExcessive power may reduce fat, causing cheek hollowing
• Vascular occlusionExtremely rare with hyaluronic acid, but if it enters a blood vessel, skin damage or vision loss may occur
• Individual variation in resultsExpected changes may not be achieved. Differences are especially pronounced when layers are mismatched

Pricing, required number of sessions, and specific risks for each Treatment are listed on the linked page for that Treatment.

Supervising physician for this page

Dr. Kazuhide HaneDirector, Zetith Beauty Clinic Fukuoka

Graduated from Kobe University School of Medicine in 2021. Previously served as director of the Osaka clinic. From 2025, director of Zetith Beauty Clinic Fukuoka. Specializes in surgical procedures including nose surgery, as well as injectable and device treatments in cosmetic dermatology.

When you cannot tell which layer is involved

Whether a concern is hollowing or sagging, and whether it involves skin or support structures, is difficult to judge in a mirror—and most people have a combination. During your consultation, we assess movement when lifted and the feel on palpation to determine where to begin. If we judge that devices cannot reach the problem, we will inform you. We offer free consultations at our Fukuoka (Tenjin) clinic, so please come in for an initial consultation.

Book a free web consultation

Related pages

• Fukuoka cosmetic dermatology guide Pores, acne scars, spots, and sagging by concern
• Nose pore guide 3 types: comedones, enlarged pores, and blackheads
• Acne scar guide Different treatments for redness, hyperpigmentation, and depressions
• Spot and melasma guide How to distinguish melasma, freckles, and acquired dermal melanocytosis
• Wrinkles and Botox guide Different treatments for dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles
• About Fukuoka clinic Access, hours, and physicians

※ This page provides general medical information and does not guarantee results. All Treatments listed are self-pay (not covered by insurance). Treatment eligibility, cost, and risks are determined individually during consultation. Results vary by individual. ※ All photos shown are for illustration purposes. They are not Before-after cases from our clinic.