Skin Elasticity vs. Softness, Smoothness, Tenderness

Skin Elasticity Improvement

Elasticity is a scientifically measurable characteristic.

Skin analysis of elasticity measures concentration of elastin by detecting the degree of polarization of light reflected from the skin using spectral analysis.

It is not the same as the many other things that creams and lotions claim to affect such as:

  • softness;
  • smoothness;
  • tenderness;
  • moisturization; etc.

Skin elasticity is an important factor and can have a significant impact on a patient's suitability and preparedness for two surgical procedures offered by Dr Djinovic:

Penis enlargement surgery requires good skin elasticity
  1. penis girth enhancement using PLGA scaffolds & tissue engineering; and
  2. Total Phalloplasty.

You don't smoke, do you?

Loss of elasticity is related to aging. Smoking will make it worse.

Have a skin elasticity problem? STOP smoking.

Some plastic surgeons say you cannot regain elasticity once it is lost.

Let's assume they are trying to convince us only surgery can solve the problem and don't want us to find a non-surgical solution.

Alkaline soaps can decrease elasticity.

When people are talking about their face they define elasticity as tighter skin with less sagging. They want tighter.

Men who have “non-compliant” and/or insufficient redundant penile skin to get girth enhancement do NOT want tighter.

Total Phalloplasty patients with low BMI and/or “non-compliant” (tight) musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi (MLD) donor site skin and tissue do NOT want tighter.

Be careful in choosing a skin care product. Tighter is the OPPOSITE of what you want.

Sometimes people swap the word “tone” or “firmness” or “tension” or “tightening” with “elasticity”.

They are not the same!

BE CAREFUL.

Using the wrong product can make the problem worse — such as ones with aloe vera or copper-peptides which tighten skin.

Do not just grab something off a store shelf and blindly slap it on.

Some time ago a product was intensely advertised as specifically designed to improve elasticity.

PLGA scaffolds seeded in serum

It seemed to be exactly what men with insufficient or non-compliant penile skin would need to prepare for male enhancement surgery — and just what the doctor ordered for Total Phalloplasty patients.

But getting the “free sample” roped the person into a strange long term agreement of monthly shipments for a year at a significant cost.

We didn't think that was advisable to recommend to others but you might find the terms acceptable.

 Things reported to improve elasticity include:

  • retinol (Vitamin A)
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E
  • omega-3 fatty acids:
    • docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
    • eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
    • walnuts
    • fish oil; and
    • olive oil
  • trace minerals silica & selenium
  • collagen-elastin supplements (plasticizers)
  • potassium supplements
  • and eating “live foods” (fresh, colorful, non-processed)

Hydration of the skin is said to be one of the most important factors impacting on it's elasticity.

Reports say you have to improve both at the same time to get the desired effect with a moisturizer, such as hyaluronic acid, and a plasticizer such as the ones mentioned above.

Lots of people are hawking stuff that supposedly improves things that influence elasticity.

But we haven't found a product with scientific evidence proving increased elasticity will result from using it.

Chanel, Lancôme, YSL and Armani all have “revitalizing” serums they claim improve elasticity — but they are expensive.

The most affordable one is Giorgio Armani Regenessence Youth Regenerator which is still not cheap at US$150 (€122±).

Again, where's the scientific evidence?

And when they say “elasticity”, do they mean the “firmness” or “tightness” aging people want on their face?

Some people say Dove Cold Cream is cheap and works great.

Skin elasticity

However, we have not studied the ingredients to see if it contains:

  • hyaluronic acid
  • collagen
  • elastin
  • retinol
  • omega-3
  • DHA
  • EP
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin E
  • silica or
  • selenium

The more of those ingredients in a product, the more likely it may actually improve the elasticity of penile skin in a way that will improve the result of penis enlargement surgery.

If I personally needed and wanted to improve the elasticity of my penile skin, I would probably try to:

  1. find some reputable collagen-elastin supplements;
  2. ensure my diet included all the nutritional factors reported to improve elasticity;
  3. find a cream, ointment or serum with as many of the elasticity-improving ingredients as possible; then
  4. do test applications on a specific, controlled area of the skin, NOT EVERYWHERE, to see if there was any noticeable difference between treated and untreated areas; then
  5. if the stuff really does improve elasticity in a detectable way, only THEN would I apply it frequently and generously over all my penile skin.

At the moment, we do not have a specific product to recommend.

Dr Djinovic has never specifically mentioned any brand of product to improve this skin characteristic when he tells a patient they need to improve elasticity.

If you find one that is effective, please share with us the details for the benefit of other patients. next:  Penile Dysmorphic Disorder