While there’s no doubt that tummy tucks are an effective way to deal with loose and unsightly abdominal skin, they’re also quite invasive, which can be a deal breaker for people worried about their safety. If that’s you, and you’re looking for an alternative to the procedure, try one of these effective alternatives instead.
- Diet and Exercise
For some people, diet and exercise can be a less troublesome alternative to a tummy tuck. Chances are that even after weight loss, there is still some stubborn fat around your abdomen that is contributing to your loose, droopy skin. By continuing to lose weight through watching what you eat and working out you can naturally get rid of those final fat stores, which will help your abdominal skin re-tighten on its own. However, keep in mind this only works if you have modest amounts of weight to lose. Generally if you’ve lost more than 75 pounds, you won’t be able to get the results you want without some surgery.
- Ultrasound Skin Tightening
This is a procedure that is becoming increasingly popular because of its noninvasive nature. Much like a pregnancy ultrasound, your doctor will apply an ultrasound gel and use a screen to monitor your skin tissue. The ultrasound machine will then emit short bursts of thermal energy, which causes the deep layers of your skin to tighten and provide more support to the upper ones.
- Radiofrequency Skin Tightening
Like ultrasound skin tightening, the radiofrequency approach provides a noninvasive alternative to traditional tummy tucks. Short burst of radiofrequency energy are shot into the dermal layers of the skin, which promotes the production of collagen—one of the skin’s major building blocks. This extra collagen re-tightens old skin and produces new, healthier skin cells as well. However, it normally takes multiple radiofrequency sessions to achieve desired results.
- Liposuction
Some people mistakenly believe that a tummy tuck is a weight loss procedure, but that’s not the case. While some fat is removed during a tummy tuck, it’s primarily focused on toning and tightening loose, hanging skin. If you’re looking for something that can provide more substantial fat loss, consider liposuction—with it, you’ll see a more dramatic reduction in the size of your stomach.
- Skin-Firming Creams
While there are some skin-firming creams on the market that can provide noticeable results, there are also plenty out there that are nothing more than a scam. Finding one that works for you may take a little research and experimentation. These products stimulate the body’s production of collagen and typically are full of vitamin A—one of the most important nutrients for skin health. Unfortunately, any results you see from skin-firming creams are normally temporary, which means that you’ll have to be diligent about applying it.
