What Causes Loose Skin On Stomach After Weight Loss
Skin has elastic properties which help it adapt to changes of the body. Weight gain can stretch the skin. Its structure is a lot more complicated than just that layer we see, and it is comprised by rather a few different layers, loads of cells, nerves, receptors, etc.
Often if the changes on the body happen quickly the skin fails to follow the adaptations. For example stretch marks at pregnancy. The skin stretches relatively quickly and as a result it loses its elasticity and creates stretch marks. Similar skin fails to adapt when putting on weight too fast or losing weight too fast.
Apart from sudden changes if the weight has been there for years everything has adapted to this including the skin. It can be overstretched for prolonged period of time causing it to lose its elasticity or has grown in excess. A final reason could be that there is still fat under the skin which is not lost creating the effect of excess skin.
Is It Loose Skin Or Fat
This is the first question we need to answer.
Is what youre worrying about actually loose skin or simply excess fat thats hanging on for dear life?
You see, we all have stubborn deposits of fat that take longer to shrink than others. In men, youll find this fat mainly in the stomach region and in women, its usually the hips, thighs, and butt.
Unfortunately, you cant achieve targeted fat loss in specific areas of your body with special diets or exercises and theres no magic pill or powder for those last pockets of fat.
There are physiological reasons for this, but we dont need to dive into the technicalities here.
We just need to determine if youre dealing with a legit case of excess skin or if youre being mislead by soft and jiggly body fat instead.
And the easiest way to do this is to simply pinch the part of your body thats the source of your woes.
If you can grab more than a few millimeters of skin then theres more fat to lose.
That doesnt mean you dont have excess skin, too, but until you burn away the majority of the fat its covering, the skin on top is not going to tightenit will continue its sad, droopy existence.
Remember that skin is shaped by whats underneath, and once youve lost those last stubborn pounds, it can and will tighten.
Increase Your Bodys Muscle Mass
As we covered, skin becomes loose after weight loss because the fat that was supporting the skin has literally been removed. With that mass gone, you are left with an empty wrapper. So, why not fill that wrapper back up with some muscle mass?
Engaging in some hypertrophic activities, especially in the areas around the loose skin, can give the appearance of tighter skin. Sure, you arent actually shrinking the skin, but you are giving it the appearance of tightness by filling that empty space with muscle, a healthier and more metabolically active tissue.
It can take at least four weeks of concerted muscle gain effort for you to start seeing and changes, so be patient and go slow.
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Excess Skin Removal Surgery By Jet Medical Tourism: What To Expect
Jet Medical Tourism® has on board some of the best excess skin removal surgeons that will help you achieve healthy and exceptionally beautiful outcomes. You can expect a dramatic improvement in your appearance and a new level of self-esteem following the skin removal surgery. Here are some of the key benefits of excess skin removal after weight loss.
First Of All What Causes Loose Skin
Having a baby inevitably causes the skin to stretch, most notably around the stomach, but also in other places such as the face, legs and buttocks. While some women are lucky and have very little loose skin after giving birth, itâs completely normal to see some and want to get rid of it.
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Will Strengthening My Abdominal Muscles Help Tighten My Loose Skin
Unfortunately, doing targeted abdominal exercises will not help you tighten loose skin. You should instead focus on eating a well-balanced & healthy diet while developing more muscle tissue.
With that said, it is still important to develop core strength in the postpartum period. Check out my post on 100 abdominal exercises you can do even with diastasis recti.
So How Do You Get Rid Of That Skin
If youre self-conscious about the appearance of your loose skin on your belly, you should schedule an appointment with a plastic surgeon to learn more about getting a tummy tuck. If you are concerned about having pain, its good to know that we now have excellent ways to minimize pain after surgery. If you are concerned about scarring, there are new ways to improve and hide incisions. Nothing does what a tummy tuck does to improve the look of your tummy!
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Stay As Active As You Can
Aside from maintaining a strength training schedule, you should also try to be as active as possible. This is one of the little-known ways to keep your metabolism high and body fat levels low.
This does not mean you have to go running and/or swimming on a regular basis.
This could be as simple as walking every day. Walking is one of the best and most underutilized forms of exercise.
Whatever days you arent exercising, take a 20-minute walk.
This is a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle!
It May Not Be Preventable
I know this is not what you want to hear but it is the truth.
In most cases, loose skin is not preventable. If you plan to lose 100 pounds, chances are, you will have loose skin.
Most people who lose lots of weight have loose skin. The more weight you lose the more loose skin you may have.
The good news is you wont have excess skin all over your body. The skin loses elasticity only in spots that carry excess fat.
For instance, if you have excess belly fat but your arms are slim, you may have loose skin on the stomach but the skin on your arms will remain firm.
Not everyone has loose skin after losing lots of weight. As I said earlier, age and genetics also determine skin tightness after weight loss.
You will notice that some women spring back to bikini body shape after several pregnancies, while other women have loose skin on the stomach after one pregnancy. It is the same thing with weight loss.
Now, if it happens that you have excess loose skin after weight loss, there is only ONE way to get rid of it surgery.
You cant diet off or train off loose skin. Loose skin can only be cut off.
The good news is surgeons are good at cutting off skin nowadays. The bad news is surgery is costly and risky.
With that said, the strategies below can help reduce the appearance of loose skin when losing weight.
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What About Creams Wraps Or Surgery
If youve ever researched how to tighten loose belly skin, youve probably come across a range of products designed to help. There are endless creams, oils and wraps designed to reduce the appearance of excess skin on the stomach. However, their overall effectiveness is questionable and many people report disappointing results.
The most effective approach is to do your research and read reviews from verified purchasers. This is the best way to find a topical product that is likely to work for you. Dont believe the marketing hype and product descriptions full of amazing promises go by the results that real people have experienced. This will give you the best chance of sourcing a cream, oil or wrap that will actually get meaningful results.
When it comes to surgery, there are risks and drawbacks as well as obvious benefits. For women who have given birth, its recommended to wait between 6-9 months before opting for a tummy tuck procedure. This is also a good rule of thumb for anyone whos lost a significant amount of weight. If youve waited this amount of time since reaching your goal weight but are still unhappy with loose skin, then you can probably assume it isnt going to get any better without surgery.
Intermittent Fasting For Loose Skin
One of the best ways to lose weight is through intermittent fasting and it can also help tighten your skin. Fasting will not only lower your daily calorie intake but youll also release fat burning and muscle building hormones in your body.
Another benefit of these hormones is theyre great for strengthening the integrity of your skin. This will help to reverse the loosened skin on your belly.
One of the ways intermittent fasting is great for loose skin is it naturally increases catecholamine levels . This helps to increase the blood flow to your extra stomach skin which will naturally help tighten it back up.
With intermittent fasting, you can expect to not only burn off more fat but also preserve your lean muscle when youre strength training . This too will help fill out your loose stomach skin.
Fasting naturally improves your bodys insulin sensitivity . This promotes fat burning from stubborn areas such as right underneath your loosened skin.
Ideally, its best to fast for 12-18 hours daily. Id recommend starting off at the lower range and building your way up to at least 16 hours. Some people go so far as following an eating every other day fasting diet.
It can be kinda hard at first to get used to intermittent fasting. Start off on the lower end and work your way up. Your stomach will continue to shrink and it will become easier.
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Fill Any Gaps With The Right Supplements
Nutrients can work wonders in building skin elasticity, but its harder to get them through a normal diet. One such example is gelatin, which has been shown in some studies to increase elasticity in skin. Another example is fish oil, as one of its multiple benefits includes improving the skin elasticity in women.
Collagen is a key protein for the elasticity of your skin. Taking a collagen supplement can help to strengthen its elasticity and ability to hold its firmness and form even after significant weight loss.
Easy Tips How To Get Rid Of Loose Belly Skin After Weight Loss
On hot summer days, you will want to wear a bathing suit to hit the beach with your friends. Nevertheless, does the loose belly skin make you feel unconfident? Do not get confused because so many people have the same worries with you. This condition usually occurs in postpartum women and those who have recently lost weight.
There are many dangerous and ineffective gimmicks on how to get rid of loose belly skin. There is no magic wand that can help you tighten belly fat for a day, but this article will explain why your waist is getting loose and how to get rid of this condition.
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Exercising To Strengthen Your Stomach
Is It Possible To Tighten Loose Skin
Tentatively, it is possible to tighten loose skin. There are two main ways to do this:
Natural ways on how to tighten loose skin. This comprises of natural ways such as muscle building exercises.
Artificial ways on how to tighten loose skin. This includes processes such as skin tightening surgeries and supplements.
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Top 26 Tips On How To Get Rid Of Loose Belly Skin After Weight Loss
1. Do Not Apply Fad Diets
Not to apply fad diets is the first home remedy in this list of tips on how to get rid of loose belly skin.
Eating healthy and exercising is the best way to lose weight and own tightening belly skin. Applying a fad diet can have a temporary effect, but it can affect you after a period of time, or even severely damage your body. In the long run, fast food diets will only make you eat more or in unhealthy and unsustainable ways and will cause weight gain. Every day, try substituting bad foods into healthy foods until you no longer use junk food as your main food.
2. Use Raw Shea Butter
Shea butter is obtained from shea trees nuts, which derives from West Africa. It is usually used in natural skin care and cosmetic products.
Being a powerhouse of vitamin A, raw shea butter can help with a lot of skin issues like wrinkles, blemishes, stretch marks, dermatitis, muscle fatigue, and radiation treatments for a number of medical issues.
As shea butter is moisturizing and hydrating, it can offer instant smoothness and softness to the skin when used topically. In accordance with the National Center for Biotechnology Information, shea butter has anti-tumor promoting and anti-inflammatory compounds. It is also shown to have anti-aging effects, thereby boosting collagen production.
Method 1: UseShea Butter Only
All you need to do is:
Method 2: Shea Butter and Essential Oils
Note: You can store this mixture for about 3 weeks.
3. Dry Brushing
9. Eat Small Meals
Solutions For Excess Skin After Weight Loss
You did it. You logged the woman-hours at the gym and stocked your fridge with enough kale and Greek yogurt to slenderize an elephant. Or maybe you went under the knife and are now putting in major effort to maintain. Regardless, the numbers on the scale are at super-satisfying lows. There’s just one teensy, tiny issue: Your skin didn’t get the “I’ve got a new body now” memo.
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Kelly Coffey’s skin sure didn’t. Coffey, a personal trainer, wound up with some serious excess after losing 170 pounds from gastric bypass surgery. “It happened very quickly I was sort of shocked at how much there was,” she says.
For her own body, Coffey went the tummy-tuck route for extra skin around her midsection and amped up her weight-lifting routine for her arms, legs, and back. But which route is right for you? Here are 5 ways to deal with loose skinsurgical and notafter a serious drop in pounds.
Embrace the Weights
Sadly, gaining muscle isn’t going to actually remove any extra skin. But toning up could help you appear more taut after weight loss. The heavier the weights you lift, the better, suggests Coffey. “Don’t be afraid to lift heavy weights it takes a lot less time to achieve the same degree of muscle with heavier weights, and the quicker I built muscle, the faster I toned up,” says Coffey. To make sure you’re doing it correctly and safely, enlist a professional’s guidance when you’re first starting out.
Update Your Support System
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How To Avoid Having Excess Loose Skin In The First Place
If youâre worried about loose skin and its possible impacts on your health and wellbeing, itâs worth having a chat with your GP. Thinking about losing weight, but keen to avoid getting loose skin? A dietician or nutritionist should be able to help you work out a way to slowly lose weight while staying healthy.
8 June 2020
Getting Rid Of Saggy Belly Skin
Before you plan on getting surgery to tighten your loose abdomen skin try giving it at least one to two years. Use some of the methods below before you decide to pull the trigger on surgery.
But of course, depending on how much weight youve lost you might be able to only do so much. If you lost a lot of weight really fast then theres a chance there might always be a little bit of loosened skin on your stomach. And then that could require surgery.
Men tend to have more extra skin on their chest and belly. Women tend to carry more extra skin on their stomach, hips, thighs, and booty .
The best non-surgical thing you can do to naturally tighten your skin is to lower your overall body fat percentage. Youre going to need to firm up the loosened skin by building muscle and improving your body composition.
The key to getting rid of your loose belly skin is to lower your body fat percentage. You do this by continually burning fat and replacing it with lean muscle mass.
Loose stomach skin can also be just excess subcutaneous body fat thats right underneath your skin. Sometimes your loose skin is actually just fat right underneath your skin that can appear to be loosened skin.
But if it just feels like excess skin when you grab it then youll have to approach getting rid of your hanging belly differently.
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