Over half of Americans say that they want to lose weight to lead healthier, more confident lives. Ideally, those people will lose weight gradually over several months or even years. This moderate approach gives the body time to adjust to changes.
Even if you lose weight slowly, you may still develop loose skin that can make you feel self-conscious. If your weight loss has caused loose skin, try one of these five ways to tighten it so you will regain your confidence and look your best.
Massage
Getting regular massages will increase blood circulation to your muscles and skin. This increased blood flow gives your skin more oxygen and nutrients so it can repair itself after major weight loss.
You don’t have to hire a professional for every massage. Self-massage offers many of the same benefits. Massages from a friend or partner could also encourage better skin health and tone.
THERMIlift
THERMIlift is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to repair saggy skin. You can have THERMIlift used on many parts of your body, including your waist, legs, and arms, which are some of the most troublesome areas for people who have recently lost a lot of weight.
Although THERMIlift is a medical procedure, it requires little to no downtime. Most patients experience some mild swelling for a few hours, but it doesn’t interrupt their lives.
Unlike many skin-tightening options, THERMIlift can last for up to two years. You won’t get that level of effectiveness from many other options.
Spa Wraps
Spa wraps, which are also called herbal wraps and body wraps, are multi-step processes that rejuvenate skin in several ways. Although the specific procedure varies from spa to spa, it usually involves a scrub to remove dead skin cells. After scrubbing the body, the torso, legs, and arms get wrapped in electric thermal blankets that force you to sweat for about 30 minutes. A layer of lotion is then applied to the skin.
This process does several things to tighten skin. The scrub removes dead cells and encourages regrowth. The sweating dehydrates the skin and makes it ready to absorb the lotion. By the end, you should have smoother, tighter skin. Some doctors suspect that the benefits of spa wraps are overrated, but they do offer noticeable changes.
Daily Scrubs
If you can’t afford regular spa treatments, you can use a daily scrub at home. Find a mildly abrasive scrub made from natural ingredients. Apply the scrub to loose skin to remove dead cells and encourage regrowth. The new skin should be tighter and healthier than the cells you remove.
Skin-Firming Creams
Skin-firming creams typically use ingredients like collagen and amino acids to reduce sag after major weight loss. Some creams also claim to reduce cellulite, but it’s unclear whether they are effective. Still, there are many affordable lotions available, so you can try this as a first step.
You don’t have to live with the embarrassment of loose skin. If you’ve recently lost a lot of weight, take the next step so you can show off your accomplishment.
