As hard as it can be to get rid of unwanted pounds, loose skin is one problem overweight people rarely think about until they’re faced with it. It’s important to note that this isn’t a problem for everyone that loses weight, but it can easily happen to someone that loses it too quickly. If you have undergone bariatric surgery or participated in any type of rapid weight loss program, your skin’s elasticity may not respond quickly enough to keep up with the change. Fortunately, after laparoscopic gastric sleeve and other procedures, there are some things you can do.
Here are some tips to help tighten up your skin after major weight loss:
Build Muscle
What many dieters don’t realize is that exercise is just as important after the initial weight loss as it is before. While virtually any type of exercise can help you keep the weight off, exercising to build muscle can help tighten up loose skin and smooth it out. Losing weight rapidly deprives the body of calories and vital nutrients, prompting it to digest both fat and muscle. The result of this is sagging skin. Participating in a strength training program will not only help you maintain muscle tone, but also fill some of that space in with a layer of healthy muscle. Just remember that you can’t expect to see results overnight. It could take up to a year to make significant progress, but the sooner you get started, the sooner it will come.
Adjust Your Diet
A healthy diet is one of the best ways to acquire healthy skin and keep it that way. Smooth, tight skin is the result of a compound called “collagen,” which your body produces. The older you get, the less collagen you produce. This loss of elasticity is the reason for all those wrinkles associated with old age. It’s no secret that you have to eat healthy to keep the weight from coming back, but there are also certain foods that help stimulate collagen production in the body. Protein-rich foods are particularly important, especially those containing soy protein. Seeds, nuts, beans, cottage cheese and tofu are all foods you should be incorporating into your diet. Keep in mind that your body is best primed to absorb protein and other nutrients right after a vigorous workout.
Firming Creams and Lotions
Treating your skin with moisturizing creams and lotions can also help firm up your skin. Vitamin E keeps your skin moist, allowing for the production of new cells and minimizing wrinkles. Some creams are specifically designed to stimulate the body’s collagen production. Even the massaging action required to apply them can lead to tighter skin over time. We especially love the effects of Glo’s amazing 910 oil that is a legit cellulite burning oil to reduce that orange peel look on your thighs.
The results you get from these types of products depend on how severe your condition is. If you’ve recently had a baby and then lost those pregnancy pounds, you may find that your stomach skin doesn’t firm back up as quickly as you want it to. To help firm and tighten the skin, you can use firming and tightening body creams like StriVectin?TL Tightening Body Cream and WHISH Body Firming Cream. (Those are my two favorites right now!) Applying firming body creams and lotions twice daily can actually help improve the appearance and elasticity of your skin over time.
Here are a few we’ve tried and can recommend…
RF Treatments
Radio frequency treatments aim to treat loose skin in a non-invasive manner, as an alternative to surgery. The procedure involves using light and radio waves to heat deep tissue and stimulate collagen cells. It tends to work best in mild-to-moderate cases, when combined with exercise and a modified diet. In most cases, the treatment will involve multiple visits and may take weeks or months to complete.
Cosmetic Surgery
Extreme cases will eventually require cosmetic surgery. As with any other type of surgery, the procedures are invasive and involve some level of risk. Surgeons recommend waiting for up to a year before having surgery in order to establish a stable bodyweight. This waiting period also gives you time to think about whether or not you really need the surgery.
Although surgery is the quickest way to get rid of your loose skin, it’s also the most expensive. Taking both the costs and risks into consideration, it’s usually only worth doing in cases where all other available options have been exhausted. The recovery process itself can be quite painful, as you’ll have to refrain from physical activity for weeks, while confined to your bed. Since the process involves removing a large amount of skin tissue, there will be scarring in areas where the remaining skin is pulled tight. For more information, check out the various surgical options available from Roxy Plastic Surgery.
If you’re not planning to lose weight very quickly, loose skin may not be an issue. It’s healthier for your body to lose a couple pounds a week over a period of time and it’s easier for your skin’s elasticity to keep up. If you do find yourself dealing with loose skin, it’s best to begin with a solid diet and exercise program before opting for riskier treatments.
Cosmetic surgery can be pricey, but you can easily find out the easiest ways to borrow money are so that you can get the procedures you want!
