Most importantly it is imperative to look at the time course after the procedure.  Six weeks is a long time on the one hand, but more often three months and six months is needed to really get an assessment of the final result.  Before and after pictures are viewed at these time periods and get a better sense of what really has taken place, what improvements or lack of improvements have really transpired.  This is important for the incision site as well.As far as “tightness” and “lax skin” issues or concern, the laxity itself is generally slightly improved and overall tissue should be tighter after a lift.  However the focus is not so much how things feel (with one’s own hand) but more how things look.  The best way to assess how things appear is really to look at the before and after pictures generally at the three and six month time period.  Minimal, mild, moderate or significant improvement can be easily assessed with expert before and after pictures and this is the gold standard of assessing the success of the procedure.Generally in terms of improvement with time, this is not something of improving the tightness but on the other hand there is an aspect of further diminishing of swelling that can lead to better appearance.