Do Body-Firming Creams Actually Work? Dr. Daniel Gould Featured in PopSugar

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Gould, MD, PhD was featured in PopSugar discussing the effectiveness of body-firming skincare products and how they compare to professional aesthetic treatments.

As the body ages, the skin gradually loses two key structural proteins: collagen and elastin. These proteins are responsible for maintaining skin strength, resilience, and elasticity.

“Collagen is an important building block of the skin that acts like rebar, diffusing tension and compression and improving the strength of the skin,” Dr. Gould explains. When collagen levels decline, the skin can become thinner and lose its structural integrity.

Elastin plays a different but equally important role. It allows the skin to stretch and return to its original shape. When elastin decreases with age, skin can become looser and less able to bounce back, contributing to visible skin laxity.

Can Topical Firming Products Tighten Skin?

Many body creams and serums claim to firm or tighten the skin. According to experts, these products can help improve the appearance of skin texture and hydration, but their results are generally modest compared to in-office treatments.

Topical ingredients may help support skin health by:

• Improving hydration levels
• Supporting collagen production
• Smoothing the appearance of crepey skin
• Temporarily improving skin firmness

However, significant skin laxity is often better addressed with medical treatments or surgical procedures.

Ingredients That May Support Firmer Skin

Certain ingredients are commonly used in body-firming skincare products and may help improve the look of skin when used consistently.

Common ingredients include:

• Peptides, which signal the skin to produce more collagen
• Retinol, which increases cell turnover and collagen production
• Hyaluronic acid, which boosts hydration and plumps the skin
• Caffeine, which can temporarily improve circulation and skin appearance

Dr. Gould also notes that topical collagen cannot penetrate the skin barrier deeply enough to improve the body’s natural collagen levels. While collagen-based creams can provide hydration, they do not replace the body’s natural collagen structure.

When Professional Treatments May Be More Effective

For individuals experiencing more significant skin laxity, in-office treatments may offer stronger results. Procedures such as radiofrequency treatments stimulate collagen production by delivering controlled heat into deeper layers of the skin.

In cases where excess skin is present, surgical procedures such as body contouring or skin-removal surgery may be the most reliable option for tightening the skin.

Read the full article in PopSugar:

https://www.popsugar.com/beauty/firming-body-products-efficacy-49437886