Pregnancy can come with a few changes to the body. While some changes may disappear after delivery, you may be left with loose skin. Skin tends to outstretch as your belly protrudes, and once it expands, it might take a lot of effort to return it to its original shape.
Nothing frustrates a woman after giving birth more than loose skin. It can cause emotional distress as a woman looks to get back to her shape before pregnancy. However, regaining your original shape before pregnancy can take time. You already did great by giving birth to your lovely baby, so go easy on yourself. Try out these few tips to help firm up your loose skin after delivery.
Regular Strength Training
Strength training exercises can help tone muscle and firm up loose skin after delivery. Start with pushups and situps and advance to more rigorous activities such as yoga, planks, and Pilates to help tighten your glute muscle, hip, and core. These exercises help improve muscle tone and lengthen and tighten your loose skin. And let your instructor or trainer know that you recently gave birth to avoid moves that may cause injuries.
It’s important to know that women who have delivered via C-section may require a longer recovery period before exercise should be implemented. Make sure to consult your doctor if you have any questions about how much exercise you should be doing after delivery. In many cases, recovery times are shorter for women who incorporate a prenatal fitness program into their daily routine before and during pregnancy.
Massage Your Skin
Research has found some plant-based oils are effective in repairing skin deformities due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. A good example is almond oils, which experts say can help with stretch marks. How about trying out essential oils that come diluted with carrier oils? They have proven to offer several skin health benefits. Rubbing coconut oil or jojoba oil along the tummy line may help firm up loose skin. Another alternative would be adding a few drops of neroli or frankincense to your massage oil.
Research claims that rubbing the skin with essential oils can stimulate fibroblasts and boost blood flow. Fibroblasts cells are responsible for elastin and collagen production, both of which may help tighten loose skin. Therefore, rubbing cream or oil along the tummy line can help tighten the skin and improve its appearance.
Diet
A nutritious meal rich in healthy fats, proteins, and vitamins can help boost collagen and build muscle. Collagen is an essential protein that helps firm up loose skin after pregnancy. You may also improve your skin’s appearance and elasticity by drinking plenty of water. It is wise to incorporate these healthy eating habits now that your baby also depends on your body’s nutrients while breastfeeding.
Nonsurgical Cosmetic Procedures
Nonsurgical treatments have proven effective in helping tighten loose skin on the stomach. Radiofrequency helps heat the dermal layers to boost collagen production, which subsequently helps tighten loose skin. You may need to undergo several treatment sessions to achieve your desired shape, though. It may take months or up to a year to see the results.
Laser skin treatments use heat to stimulate the production of elastin and collagen. It is a procedure that can be used to tighten loose skin anywhere on the body. But you might need to undergo three to five treatments to see results. Notable results may take up to six months to appear. But one advantage of nonsurgical skin treatment is that they tend to be short and are more convenient than surgical procedures. However, they may not be as effective as surgical procedures when treating severe loose skin cases.
Surgical Skin Treatment
One effective way to get rid of loose skin after delivery is through surgical cosmetic procedures. Results of a tummy tuck will remain permanent as long as you manage your weight after surgery. Tummy tucks are categorized into extended, mini, and standard tummy tucks:
- A standard tummy tuck is a process of extracting excess fat and skin around the belly button. The downside of this procedure is that you will be left with a long scar around the belly button and across the lower abdomen.
- A mini tummy tuck helps get rid of excess fat and skin below the belly button. Unlike a standard tummy tuck, a mini tummy tuck procedure leaves a slightly shorter scar around the pubic hairline.
- An extended tummy tuck revolves around tightening up the skin from the upper to the lower abdomen. It may also extend to the sides of the body. It leaves an anchor-shaped scar on either side of the belly button and around the side of the body.
Pregnancy can cause many body changes, one being loose skin. The skin tends to expand as your belly grows, and after birth, you will likely have loose skin on your stomach. Fortunately, these tips above can help tighten up your skin again even after giving birth. You can learn more about a tummy tuck procedure here.
