If you have a significant amount of weight to lose, chances are that you're going to have some saggy skin after you reach your goal weight. The reason is quite simple. Your skin is made up of collagen, an elastic substance that makes your skin feel firm and tight. Once it gets stretched out, this elastic component will bounce back some but can never go back to the way it was before. This can be very discouraging for those who are working hard toward a specific body. If you're losing weight, there are some ways you can minimize or get rid of loose skin, however.
Lose Weight Slowly
Weight-loss surgery patients lose weight very rapidly, which doesn't give their skin enough time to contract naturally. This is why they typically end up with so much excess skin. If you want to minimize loose skin, strive to lose weight slowly. The CDC recommends losing weight at the rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week. You can even strive for less if you want. The goal is to make lifestyle changes that will bring your weight down naturally and to avoid fad diets that will make you drop weight very quickly.
Build Muscle Underneath
If you lose a bunch of weight and don't build any muscle underneath, your skin will simply lie there, deflated. If you build healthy muscle, however, it will help fill out your skin and give it a shape to adhere to. For this reason, you should always incorporate strength training into your weight loss program. There's only so much weight lifting can do, however. If you have a lot of excess skin, there's really nothing you can do personally to fix the problem.
Have Skin Surgery
You can have someone fix the problem for you surgically. Plastic surgeons perform tummy tuck procedures to remove excess skin and give the tummy a flat, toned appearance. They can also perform body contouring, which includes procedures such as full-body lift, thigh lift, butt lift, etc.
Keep in mind, too, that it takes time for skin to shrink back. If you lose weight slowly and strive to build muscle, you will see some improvement in the elasticity of your skin over the course of months. If you still don't like your skin after 6 months to 1 year, you may want to consider getting a tummy tuck or having your body contoured surgically. For more information, contact a company like Renaissance Center For Facial & Body Sculpting.
Share9 June 2016
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