What to Do About Loose Skin After Pregnancy
Are you experiencing loose skin after pregnancy? For starters, it’s completely normal and natural. However, if you’d like to improve the appearance of your post pregnancy belly, there are many different stomach skin tightening options for you to choose from.
While a tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) is one option for treating postpartum belly, there are plenty of non-surgical options that work well too. Ahead, we show you how to get rid of loose skin after pregnancy with home remedies and skincare treatments.
What Causes Loose Skin After Pregnancy?
Abdominal stretching and pregnancy hormones are the most common causes of loose skin after pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body produces a hormone known as Relaxin that relaxes the ligaments in your stomach to create space for the baby to grow. As the abdomen expands, the skin stretches to accommodate the bump, leading to loose belly skin. Following birth, loose stomach skin tends to persist until treated.
In addition to loose belly skin after pregnancy, postpartum moms may also develop stretch marks after pregnancy. Fortunately, there are plenty of treatment options for restoring skin elasticity and firming loose skin.
How to Get Rid of Loose Skin After Pregnancy
Here are some of the best non-surgical treatments for tightening postpartum skin.
#1: Belly Tightening Body Care
One of the easiest and most indulgent ways to tighten loose skin after pregnancy is with firming skincare. By increasing collagen production and boosting skin’s elasticity, skin appears visibly firmer over time. Look for skin tightening treatments with collagen-boosting ingredients like retinol.
The great thing about skincare over plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures is that there’s no discomfort or downtime. In fact, it’s the perfect excuse to pamper yourself and enjoy a little well deserved me-time. Plus, it’s way more affordable!
Try Truly’s Dulce De Leches Routine, a boob and belly firming bundle that contains a belly polish, serum, and cream. Formulated with retinol, guarana, and hyaluronic acid, each treatment smooths the skin while increasing elastin for a firmer look and feel. Plus, it smells incredibly decadent—like warm caramel.
#2: Exercise
Regular cardio exercise can help burn fat, tone abdominal muscles, and minimize excess skin. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggest starting with simple postpartum exercises and slowly working up to 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every week.
Core strength exercises, such as yoga and pilates can help tighten muscles in the stomach, which may help improve the appearance of loose skin after pregnancy. Cardio exercise, such as walking, swimming, or jogging can also help to tone muscle while promoting weight loss.
#3: Massage
Studies have found that massaging the skin with oils or skin tightening treatments can help boost blood flow and stimulate fibroblasts, supporting collagen and elastin and thus helping to firm and tighten the skin. In other words, simply rubbing oil or cream into the skin can improve the appearance of loose skin.
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#4: Healthy Diet
A balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and healthy fats can help you build muscle and boost collagen, which is essential for firm, healthy skin. You may need more protein if you are breastfeeding.
What’s more, drinking plenty of water can increase the skin’s elasticity, giving your belly a firmer appearance. Aim to drink 8-9 glasses of water per day to hydrate and get perky.
#5: Skin Tightening Treatments
For a more advanced, non-surgical approach to tackling loose skin postpartum, skin tightening treatments like radiofrequency, ultrasound, or laser therapies are popular options. These procedures work by stimulating collagen production deep within the skin, helping to firm and tighten areas that need extra support, such as the belly and thighs.
These treatments are generally pain-free and require minimal to no downtime, so you can get back to your busy life as a new mom without skipping a beat. The results may take a few sessions to fully develop, but they offer a longer-lasting solution to loose skin.
Here are a few popular non-invasive treatments to explore for effective body contouring and tightening:
• Thermage: This treatment uses radiofrequency energy to heat the deep layers of the skin, stimulating collagen production and resulting in smoother, tighter skin. It’s great for targeting sagging skin on the stomach and thighs.
• Ultherapy: This non-surgical procedure uses ultrasound technology to lift and tighten the skin by promoting the body's natural collagen production. It’s a go-to option for firming the face, neck, and even the décolletage.
• Laser Skin Tightening: Using laser energy, this treatment heats the skin, encouraging collagen remodeling and reducing the appearance of loose, sagging skin. It’s especially effective on larger areas like the abdomen and thighs.
How to Prevent Loose Skin After Pregnancy
Now you know how to get rid of loose skin after pregnancy, here’s how to prevent it. You can’t prevent loose skin from pregnancy altogether, but you can reduce its appearance.
The most effective and easiest way to prevent loose skin after pregnancy is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight. Exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet helps keep your body in shape and prevents excess weight, reducing the chances of loose skin post-pregnancy.
Here are some quick tips for preventing loose skin after pregnancy:
• Try skin-firming creams and oils
• Wear loose-fitting clothing during pregnancy
• Maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy (and avoid excess weight gain)
• Eat a diet rich in healthy fats and proteins
Should You Consider Cosmetic Surgery?
Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, is always an option to tone muscles, remove excess skin, and firm loose skin after pregnancy. However, it’s not for everyone.
During the surgical procedure, doctors cut into the abdomen to remove extra skin and stitch together the remaining skin. A new opening for the belly button might be created as well.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the average price of a tummy tuck is $6,253 and that doesn’t include anesthesia, operating room facilities, and other expenses.
We recommend trying the non-surgical options above before jumping into cosmetic surgery, which come with far fewer risks and side effects.
Does Postpartum Saggy Belly Go Away?
If you’re dealing with loose skin after pregnancy, you might be wondering, will it go away on its own? With time, your postpartum belly will start to reduce on its own without treatments. That being said, it’s better to support the recovery process with the skin tightening treatments and remedies mentioned above. This will speed up the skin tightening process.
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