5 Ways to Firm Up Skin, According to Experts

If you’re just beginning to notice crepey texture, early laxity or a loss of bounce in your skin, you’re not alone. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons agree that tightening doesn’t come from one magic product or device but rather consistent at-home care paired with targeted collagen stimulation.

Ahead, the expert-backed ways to make your routine work harder, based on what specialists themselves recommend.

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Featured Experts

• Marina Peredo, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
• David Alfonso, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Grand Rapids, MI
• Alan Durkin, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Vero Beach, FL
• Vivian Villamizar, Spa Director at The Belgrove Resort & Spa
• Olga Bachilo, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Houston

1. Commit to High-Quality Skin Care Daily

New York dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD says the biggest at-home mistake people make is relying on gadgets instead of proven products. “Don’t waste money on at-home gadgets,” she says. Instead, she recommends “really good medical-grade skin care, like repair and regenerative products,” used every day.

Grand Rapids plastic surgeon David Alfonso, MD agrees that long-term skin health starts here. “Patients get the most benefit from long-term skin-care products, specifically ones that utilize retinol to help skin cell turnover and overall skin health and thickness,” he explains. Strengthening skin makes it more resilient and responsive to tightening treatments later.

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Houston plastic surgeon Olga Bachilo, MD also stresses the importance of choosing the right products from the start. She recommends “a good home skin-care routine using medical-grade products,” adding that many items people buy on Amazon or Sephora “may not be the best options.” She also notes that red LED light can be helpful, but only “at the correct wavelength and used consistently

2. Incorporate a Targeted Body Treatment

Body skin often responds more slowly than facial skin, which is why expert-grade formulas can make a noticeable difference. Dr. Heather Rogers created her Body Repair Treatment specifically for dryness, thinning and crepiness. She explains that she developed the formula because “body skin just is so slow to do anything,” noting that she included bakuchiol, glycolic acid, gluconolactone and squalene to address those concerns. She says it works so well that it has been called “laser in a bottle” for the visible smoothing and moisture it delivers.

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Used consistently, it helps support repair and improve texture, making the skin stronger and more prepared for collagen-stimulating treatments.

3. Use Dry Brushing to Boost Circulation

Dry brushing is one of the simplest ways to wake up dull, crepey or tired-looking skin—and it is easy to do at home. Using a natural-bristle brush on dry skin before showering helps stimulate circulation, encourages lymphatic flow and lightly exfoliates so your firming products can absorb more effectively. At The Belgrove Resort & Spa in West Palm Beach, Spa Director Vivian Villamizar says this step is essential because it “gently awakens the skin, stimulates lymphatic flow and preps the body to fully absorb the benefits” of the nourishing seaweed oils that follow in their treatments.

If you prefer to leave it to the professionals, The Belgrove incorporates dry brushing into their Voyager Massage Journey, where the exfoliation is paired with flowing, rhythmic bodywork and seaweed-rich oils from VOYA skincare for a more immersive tightening and renewal experience. Whether done at home or as part of a spa service, dry brushing helps keep the skin active and responsive, especially when you are beginning to notice early creping or changes in tone.

4. Add Gentle Daily Exfoliation

Some tightening comes from simple habits you may not immediately connect to firming. Vero Beach plastic surgeon Alan Durkin, MD notes that a form of daily dermabrasion already exists in most men’s routines. “Dermabrasion. But as a male plastic surgeon, I just call it shaving,” he says. “No question that men have a tightening effect after shaving daily for decades.” This steady, gentle resurfacing keeps the jawline looking firmer over time, he says. For women, using a mild exfoliating wash or gua sha tool regularly can provide a similar benefit without irritation, but the key is consistency, stresses Dr. Durkin.

5. Consider In-Office Treatments That Build Collagen

Energy-Based Devices

When you want visible tightening, experts agree that collagen stimulation is essential. Dr. Peredo sees the strongest improvement when she pairs injectables with energy. She says her preferred combination “not only sees tightening, but also an amazing skin texture and glow improvement” because it stimulates collagen and elastin at multiple levels.

Dr. Durkin approaches the face and body with the same logic. For facial tightening, he uses an energy-based treatment like Ultherapy alongside regenerative fillers and HALO because “one event, multiple depths targeted” delivers a more complete result. He also relies on radio frequency in areas such as the thighs and buttocks.

Dr. Bachilo also likes radio frequency when patients want noticeable tightening. “I really prefer radio-frequency treatments, either topical or with microneedling or nano fractional ablative,” she says.

Filler

Biostimulatory injectables can amplify results by building structure and firmness over time. Dr. Bachilo often stacks radio-frequency treatments with injectables like Sculptra and hyperdilute Radiesse because they continue to strengthen the skin in the months following treatment.

Dr. Durkin also incorporates regenerative fillers when patients need support in areas where fat and collagen are depleted. Because the results develop gradually, he reminds patients to be patient: “These treatments are a long-term, staged process.”

Fractionated CO₂

Dr. Alfonso says one of the most effective options in his practice is fractionated CO₂. “I find the CORE laser, a fractionated CO₂ device, gives the best tightening and wrinkle reduction in my hands,” he explains. By creating controlled columns of heat in the skin, the treatment stimulates collagen at a deeper level and smooths texture while improving firmness. “Patients should understand that many treatments need more than one session and the results are visible over the course of a few weeks to months,” he adds. “People also respond differently to treatments and will have different end points for results, so it is important to discuss the range of results with patients ahead of time.”

Dr. Peredo reminds patients that tightening “does not happen overnight. You really need to give yourself about three months.”