If you have recently lost a lot of weight, either as a result of a diet or after becoming pregnant, you may have excess skin in the belly area. To tone that area, focus on exercises that work the abdomen. You can also drink more water, eat protein-rich foods, and protect your skin. Be patient, as it will take time to see results. However, remember that after "ironing" the skin, you will only be able to recover your previous appearance within certain limits. In addition to allowing you to tone your skin, developing the abdominal muscles helps you improve the appearance of the belly by occupying the area better, containing the internal organs more effectively and preventing the back from sagging too much.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Doing Exercises to Strengthen the Abdomen
Step 1. Do arm crunches
Lie on your back, keeping your legs perpendicular to the floor (they should be facing the ceiling). Extend your arms out in front of you (which is also towards the ceiling) and lift your shoulders and lower back off the ground. Hold the position for a second, then come back on your back. Repeat the exercise 10-15 times.
To make the exercise more difficult, you can hold dumbbells
Step 2. Do the bicycle exercises
Put your hands behind your head and bend your elbows. Lift your shoulders off the ground and bring your right elbow into contact with your left knee. Repeat the movement with the left elbow and right knee. Keep alternating left and right 10-15 times.
Step 3. Make a side bridge
Lie on your side, supporting your weight with your elbow and forearm. Use your abs to lift your core off the ground. You should form a straight line with the body, from the chest to the feet. Maintain the position as long as possible.
Step 4. Raise your legs from lying down
Lie on your back, keeping your legs perpendicular to the ground. Slowly lower them until they touch the floor, then lift them back up. You should keep them stretched out for the duration of the exercise.
Make sure you keep your back close to the floor for this exercise. If you use your back to raise or lower your legs, you may be injured. If you can't lower your legs to just touch the floor without lifting your back, don't go down that far
Method 2 of 3: Taking Care of Your Body
Step 1. Drink more water
Increased hydration improves skin elasticity and smoothness. This advice probably won't improve your appearance if you have a lot of excess skin on your stomach, but it does help if your abdomen is only slightly flabby.
Step 2. Eat protein rich foods
Some protein foods, such as cottage cheese, milk, fish, legumes, and nuts, contain collagen. They can also help the skin form elastin. Elastin and collagen help to give the skin a more toned appearance.
If you're in the sun, be sure to shower right after and apply a moisturizer to your skin
Step 3. Be patient
If you have loose skin due to rapid weight loss, remember that it takes time to tone it up. You will likely not notice any progress in a few days or even in the first few weeks. However, if you are patient, the results will come.
Method 3 of 3: Undergo Aesthetic Surgery
Step 1. Talk to your doctor
Before deciding to have a tummy tuck, consult your doctor. You should go over all your medical history and consider the medications you are taking. If you want to have the surgery because you have lost a lot of weight in a short time, be prepared to discuss your weight loss program with your doctor.
- You should also tell the doctor what you want to look like after the procedure, so that he can best advise you.
- If your doctor is unable to perform the operation, ask him for a recommendation for a plastic surgeon. This is the best way to find a reputable professional without resorting to online reviews.
Step 2. Consider the risks
Since abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure, it carries some of the typical risks of these operations: the incision can become infected and continue to bleed, or you can have an adverse reaction to the anesthesia. There are also risks related directly to abdominoplasty, such as the appearance of scars, the accumulation of fluids under the skin and tissue necrosis, i.e. the pathology in which the tissues under the skin are damaged or die.
Talk to a doctor about the specific risks of your case
Step 3. Prepare the body for the procedure
If you decide to undergo abdominoplasty you need to take care of some preparations. You should quit smoking, keep your body weight the same, and take medications prescribed by your doctor. You should also ask someone to help you at home after the surgery.
Step 4. Take care of yourself after the surgery
Your doctor will give you specific directions to take care of your scar. You should also avoid pulling the scar by sitting and moving carefully, for about 6 weeks. This usually means that you shouldn't bend over or rotate at waist level.
You will also need to have regular check-ups with your doctor for one year after the surgery. Make sure you stick to your appointments and let them know of any pain or discomfort
Step 5. Try non-invasive procedures
If having surgery makes you nervous, you can try other types of treatment. Your doctor can treat your problem with lasers, radio waves, infrared lights, or ultrasounds. All of these methods work by inflaming the collagen or elastin in the skin, making it more toned.
- If you decide to go this route, make sure your doctor has experience with these types of procedures.
- These procedures can be quite painful, even after administering a topical anesthetic. Consider your pain tolerance before accepting therapy.
- Non-surgical procedures are best if you only have little excess skin, for example in the neck. You probably won't get the results you want without surgery when your skin is very loose, particularly in the abdomen area.
