Have you recently embarked on the exciting journey of motherhood? Every pregnancy is a life-changing experience that results in many changes. Quite noticeably, your body has gone through a significant physical transformation during the past couple of months. After giving birth, your body won't go back to the way it looked before your pregnancy, at least not at first. It takes a lot of time and effort to restore your body to its original condition.
For many women, a common problem is the loose, stretched skin on their bellies after the pregnancy. This happens because your skin expands to accommodate the growing baby bump. When the baby has been delivered, you are left with folds of excess skin around the stomach area. This symptom is visually unappealing and may seem like a frustrating setback after your pregnancy.
Fortunately, there are different ways to firm the loose skin on your stomach. You may be interested in trying out skin tightening treatments, home remedies, and numerous exercises to bring your body back to shape. Below, Beauty Med has compiled a list of tips and tricks on how to tighten loose skin after pregnancy:
1. Use a skin tightening treatment
The skin tightening treatment is a very effective solution for getting rid of excess skin after pregnancy. With the use of advanced radio-frequency technology, this procedure has a proven record of success with consistent skin tightening results. It works by channeling a concentration of radio-frequency energy onto the targeted skin layers, which stimulates collagen production and enhances skin elasticity.
In recent years, the skin tightening treatment has surged in popularity, particularly among women who have given birth. This is a safe, non-invasive cosmetic procedure that feels virtually painless. The treatment is commonly applied on the abdomen, arms, and other body areas. The skin tightening can also be used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on your face.
2. Exfoliate your skin
Exfoliation promotes the growth of new, healthy skin cells. Its benefits include improved blood circulation and increased skin elasticity. Another benefit is its skin tightening ability for women after their pregnancies. Regularly exfoliating your belly should help to tighten the skin around this area.
You have many exfoliation options available, which include a loofah sponge, a soft bath brush, or a gentle exfoliating scrub. You can purchase exfoliation products, or make your own at home with oatmeal powder, sea salt, and olive oil. As a safety precaution, make sure you don't go too hard on exfoliating your stretched skin. Over exfoliated skin may come with certain unwanted skincare complications.
3. Massage your belly with oils
If you are familiar with using essential oils, you can prepare a blend of oils to promote healthier skin. Almond oil is famously known to help with the healing of stretch marks. Castor oil can assist with softening scar adhesions. Other types of oils, such as olive oil or coconut oil, contain antioxidants that improve your skin quality.
Gently massage these oils onto your belly as part of your regular routine, such as every time after you take a shower. You should see positive results as the loose skin around your belly slowly repairs and tightens itself. To maximize the effectiveness, you can purchase massage oils that were created specifically for new mothers.
4. Add some exercise to your busy routine
Daily exercise may not sound like the most appealing activity, especially if you feel tired and groggy after taking care of your newborn baby. However, keep in mind that exercising is the best activity to help you lose weight. With the right types of exercises, you can easily shed those few extra pounds and get rid of the belly fat.
You may want to start with smaller exercises, gradually increasing the length of your workouts after a few weeks. Include some strength training exercises to tone and shape your belly muscles, as well as cardio training to burn excess fat. If you don't enjoy exercising, simply taking a brisk walk with your baby stroller can be a great form of physical activity.
5. Eat healthy food
Did you know certain healthy foods can help with firming loose skin after a pregnancy? There are a handful of nutritious fruits and vegetables that promote skin elasticity. Eating these healthy fats and protein-rich foods will help to strengthen the firmness of your skin.
Your balanced diet should include plenty of spinach, almonds, oranges, strawberries, cashews, eggs, and tomatoes. If you are breastfeeding your baby, you will need to consume a higher intake of protein, so plan your dietary considerations carefully.
6. Drink plenty of water
In addition to eating healthy meals, you should drink lots of water each day. Staying hydrated will help to improve and maintain the elasticity of your skin, which is necessary if you want to tighten your belly. Every day, drink at least 8 glasses of water.
This amount of water intake allows your body to burn more calories easily. Drinking water nourishes your body, slowly improving its appearance and tightening the extra skin after pregnancy.
7. Take care of your mental health
As the parent to a newborn baby, your schedule largely revolves around the offspring's daily whims and moods. You may experience stressful multitasking, sleep deprivation, and persistent exhaustion in the upcoming months. Under these unpredictable conditions, the stress of caring for your baby can take a toll on you, both physically and psychologically.
Self-care is important after your pregnancy. When you don't take care of yourself, your body lacks the proper rest and energy that it needs to replenish itself. Over time, the stress and exhaustion may cause your skin condition to worsen. If you want to tighten your skin after pregnancy, it starts by attending to your mental health. Get plenty of sleep, engage in relaxing activities, and recharge your body to handle each new day with vigour.