Non-surgical options likeradiofrequencyand collagen-boosting treatments can also help firm loose skin.
If these methods dont give you the results you want, surgical procedures may be an option.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
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Verywell / Jessica Olah
Exercise
Staying active with bothstrength trainingandcardiocan help tighten and tone your skin over time.
Exercise builds muscle to fill out loose skin and boosts circulation, which improves skin elasticity and overall appearance.
Exercising helps tighten skin by:
For better skin tightening, prioritize exercises that build muscle and boost circulation.
Optimize Your Diet
Another way to improve loose skin is with your diet.
Well-hydrated skin is more elastic and flexible than dehydrated skin.
Unless otherwise directed by your healthcare provider, aim for about 8 to 12 glasses of water per day.
It also helps you keep muscle, which supports your skin and keeps it firm.
While moisturizing is helpful, it wont make a big difference in skin tightness on its own.
For major results, you should probably combine it with other healthy habits like eating well and exercising.
Do Firming Creams Work?
Firming creams claim to tighten loose skin, but research hasnt proven these effects.
Natural or herbal remedies, in particular, dont require proof of safety or effectiveness before being sold.
Before trying a new skin product, its best to check with your healthcare provider.
Look for water-resistant formulas and reapply every two hours when you are spending time in the sun.
Unlike prescription drugs, supplements dont go through strict testing for safety and effectiveness.
Always check with your healthcare provider before taking them.
Wear Compression Clothing
Wearing compression clothing can help prevent some of the side effects of loose skin.
Compression stockings and other garments that firmly hold loose skin together minimize friction from skin-to-skin contact.
This can help reduce pain, irritation,itching, and the risk of infection.
Compression clothing will not improve loose skin itself, however, only the side effects.
Consider Surgery
Losing a lot of weight, especially after bariatric surgery, can leave you with excess skin.
If this happens, talk to your healthcare provider about your options.
If you lose more weight afterward, you may need another procedure.
A plastic surgeon performs this procedure, which requires general anesthesia and a hospital stay.
Recovery may take several months, but most people start feeling better after about four weeks.
In fact, after losing weight, your skin contains less collagen.
This results in its composition changing.
However, it is also possible for this extra skin to become irritated and even infected.
Studies have found that having excess skin can negatively impact quality of life, self-esteem, andbody image.
Summary
Loose skin after a significant weight loss is common and often doesn’t require treatment.
Surgical tightening can also be an option for some people.
To determine which treatment is right for you, talk with your healthcare provider.
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