Many
people who experience rapid, large-scale weight loss find that just
dropping the weight doesn’t leave them feeling immediately beach ready.
Major weight changes in a short period of time can lead to loose, excess
skin, which can make people feel uncomfortable with their appearance
and wanting to discover how to tighten skin after weight loss.
[post_ads_2]What Causes Loose Skin?
The
amount of hanging skin you develop when you lose weight depends on a
number of factors. If you lose the weight more gradually, you may have
less loose skin, as your body is likely to better able to respond and
adjust to these factors. Similarly, yo-yo dieting can make excess skin
more likely, as frequent fluctuations in weight tax the skin and
increase the chances of it becoming loose. Additionally, the more
elastic your skin is, the more it will bounce back, so age and skin
quality will also affect how much loose skin you have as well.
Gain Muscle
So
how do you tighten skin after major weight loss? Michael Matthews of
Muscle for Life points out that sometimes people think they have excess
skin, when in fact, they don’t. What sometimes appears to be skin can
actually include an additional layer of stubborn fat hiding underneath
the skin. Unless people are in a relatively low body-fat range (9 to 10
per cent for men and 17 to 18 per cent for women), the look of floppy,
saggy skin could be reduced by further weight loss.
[post_ads]However, in
cases where the skin is genuinely loose, one way to tighten the the skin
is to try and fill it in with muscle. Think of your skin as a pair of
pantyhose. If there’s nothing inside the hose, it will look droopy and
empty. Fill it up, and it will look tighter and more appealing.
It’s
important to note here that when people go through serious weight loss,
they often lose more than just fat. Unless you’re putting a conscious
effort into doing strength training while dropping weight, it’s very
common to lose muscle as well. Building up muscle is essential in
filling in some of the missing space and reducing the appearance of
sagging or loose skin.
Improve Elasticity
Another basic
method to get rid of loose skin is to work with the skin’s elasticity.
Increasing the elasticity of your skin will make it cling more tightly
to the structures beneath and sag less. So how can you improve your skin
elasticity?
Some studies suggest that vitamins C and E (whether
in one’s diet or as a lotion) can help protect the skin’s elastin and
collagen from free radicals, which can help reduce wrinkles and maintain
skin elasticity. Lotions containing copper may also help.
Supplementing
with fish oil may also be able to help. In one three-month study, women
taking an oral supplement including fish oil improved their skin
elasticity by 10 per cent. Other studies suggest massage may also be
helpful, as it improves circulation and therefore also skin health.
People looking to improve their skin elasticity should protect themselves from overexposure to the sun, avoid smoking, moisturize daily, manage stress, eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated to take care of their skin.
[post_ads_2]Surgery
When
all else fails, there are surgeries that can tighten loose skin after
weight loss. This is usually reserved for those who have lost a very
significant amount of weight and have been able to keep it off for a
long period of time. While skin-removal surgery can have good results in
some cases, prospective patients should always make sure to research
the procedures carefully and be aware of all possible side-effects and
risks. Surgery is one of the most effective and powerful ways of
removing excess skin, but it also tends to be invasive, traumatic and
expensive. Body contouring surgery is very complicated, and often
multiple surgeries are required. There is a very high risk of
post-operative complications and scarring is extensive. Even after all
that, it is not guaranteed to give satisfactory results. Think very
carefully about the pros and cons before electing body contouring
surgery.
Serenity
Finally, people who have loose skin
after losing a large amount of weight should consider cultivating a
sense of acceptance. If you can learn to feel comfortable with the
changes in your body, you may realize that a little bit of excess skin
isn’t the end of the world. You are beautiful, happy and healthy.
[post_ads_2]
There
are a number of ways you can embrace a sense of peace and self-worth.
Focus on the positives of your body, both in its appearance and in the
wonderful things that it can do. Stop comparing your body to others’, or
even to your own body at other times of your life, and appreciate it
for what it is. Replace negative thoughts about your body with positive
ones.
You’ve worked hard to achieve your goals — now is the time
to be proud of your accomplishments and appreciate the skin you’re in.
Courtesy Fitness Republic
