How to Tighten Stomach Skin

If you’ve recently lost a lot of weight – either from a weight loss program or after giving birth – you might have some loose skin around your belly. To tighten that skin, focus on exercises that will tighten your stomach. You can also do things like drink more water, eat protein-rich foods, and protect your skin to help tighten your skin. Be patient because it will take time to see results. However, keep in mind that you can only tighten the skin so much once it has stretched. [1] Along with offering some skin tightening benefits, building your stomach muscles will help to improve the appearance of your stomach by filling out the area, holding in your organs better, and preventing your back from arching out too much.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Exercising to Strengthen Your Stomach

  1. Lie on your back, making a 90-degree angle with your legs to the floor (they should be sticking straight up toward the ceiling). Hold your arms straight out in front of you (they’ll also be pointing toward the ceiling) and curl your shoulders and upper back up off the floor. After holding this position for a second, slowly lower your body back down. Repeat this move 10 to 15 times. [2]
    • You can hold dumbbells in your hands for an added challenge.
  2. Put your hands behind your head, bending your elbows. Raise your shoulders off the floor, and take your right elbow to your left knee. Then switch so that your left elbow touches your right knee. Continue alternating left to right for 10 to 15 repetitions. [3]
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  3. Lie on your side, with your weight resting on your elbow and forearm. Use your abdominal muscles to lift the middle of your body off of the floor. Your entire body should make a straight line from your torso to your feet. Hold this position as long as possible. [4]
  4. Lie flat on your back, making a 90-degree angle with your legs to the floor. Slowly lower your legs until they almost touch the floor, then raise them slowly back up. You should keep your legs straight through this entire exercise. [5]
    • Make sure your back stays tight against the floor for this exercise. If you try to use your back to lift or lower your legs, you can injure your back. If you can’t lower your legs all the way without lifting your back off the floor, don’t lower your legs as far.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Taking Care of Your Body

  1. More water can increase your skin’s elasticity and smoothness. This likely won’t improve the appearance of a lot of loose stomach skin, but it can help if you have some slightly saggy skin. [6]
  2. Certain protein-rich foods, like cottage cheese, milk, fish, beans, and nuts – contain collagen. They can also help your skin form elastin. Both elastin and collagen can tighten up your skin’s appearance. [7]
    • If you do go out in the sun, make sure your take a shower shortly after and apply a moisturizer to your skin.
  3. If your loose skin is the result of rapid weight loss, keep in mind it’s going to take time to tighten it back up again. You might not notice a change overnight, or even in the first week or two. If you can stay patient, you might just see results. [8]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Undergoing a Tummy Tuck

  1. Before you decide to go through with a tummy tuck, talk to your doctor. You should go over your full medical history and bring any medications you are taking. If you want the tummy tuck because you lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time, be prepared to talk about your weight loss with your doctor. [9]
    • You should also tell your doctor what you want to look like after the procedure so they can best advise you.
    • If your doctor can't do the procedure, ask them to refer you to a doctor who can. This is a great way to find a good doctor without having to rely on things like online reviews.
  2. Because a tummy tuck is a surgery, it has some typical surgery risks: the incision can get infected and keep bleeding, or you could have a bad reaction to the anesthetic. There are also risks related directly to a tummy tuck, including scarring, fluid accumulation under your skin, or tissue necrosis, which is when tissue under your skin gets damaged or dies. [10]
    • Talk to your surgeon about your specific chance related to these risks.
  3. If you decide to go through with the tummy tuck, you'll need to do a few things to get ready. You should stop smoking, maintain your weight at the same level, and take any prep medications your doctor prescribes for you. You should also ask someone to be available to help you at home after your procedure. [11]
  4. Your doctor will give you specific directions for taking care of your scar. You should also avoid moving or sitting in any way that will strain your scar for about six weeks. This usually means bending or twisting at the waist.
    • You'll also need regular check-ups with your doctor for a year after your procedure. Make sure you go to these appointments and mention any pain or uncomfortableness you experience. [12]
  5. If going under the knife makes you nervous, there are other procedures you can try. In these types of procedures, your doctor will use lasers, radiofrequency waves, infrared light, or ultrasound waves. They all work by inflaming the collagen or elastin in your skin, making your skin look tighter. [13]
    • If you decide to go this route, make sure you see a doctor who has experience with this type of procedure.
    • Any of these procedures can feel quite painful, even after your doctor or nurse uses a topical anesthetic. Consider your tolerance for pain before you choose any of these procedures.
    • Non-surgical procedures are best if you only have a bit of loose skin - near your neck, for example. You probably won't get the results you want with a non-surgical procedure if you've got a lot of loose skin, especially around your stomach.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What exercises tighten skin on the stomach?
    Danny Gordon
    Certified Personal Trainer
    Danny Gordon is an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer and Owner of The Body Studio for Fitness, a fitness studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 20 years of physical training and teaching experience, he has focused his studio on semi-private personal training. Danny received his Personal Trainer Certification from the California State University, East Bay and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
    Danny Gordon
    Certified Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Leg lifts would probably be my top recommendation. Just keep in mind, this won't technically tighten the skin. Your body doesn't really work like that. What will do is tone your muscles and give you the appearance of a tighter stomach, though.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7
  • Question
    What if I'm 50 pounds overweight, and it's all in my stomach? What kind of diet will be beneficial to me?
    Community Answer
    Any diet that cuts out sugar and reduces the amount of calories below what you expend. 20-40 minutes of cardio 4 days per week would be greatly helpful.
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  • Question
    I am menopausal. What can I do to lose weight like I used to be able to do?
    Community Answer
    Cut carbs from your diet and watch your calorie intake. Depending on your age you should be able to safely consume around 600 calories a day and start to see some weight loss. If you want a little more help, then doing over 30 minutes of cardio is a good idea. After 30 minutes your body stops burning carbs and calories and starts to burn the fat storage, which helps you lose weight.
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      Tips

      • You might need to consider surgery to get rid of your loose skin if you’ve lost a lot of weight you’ve carried for a long time. If you’re trying to tighten skin after a pregnancy you probably won’t need surgery, but if you’ve been overweight for quite a few years, you probably will.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.naturallyintense.net/blog/diet/5-ways-to-deal-with-loose-skin-after-weight-loss/
      2. ↑ http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/toning/5-belly-toning-exercises-to-tighten-skin-after-weight-loss.html
      3. ↑ http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/toning/5-belly-toning-exercises-to-tighten-skin-after-weight-loss.html
      4. ↑ http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/toning/5-belly-toning-exercises-to-tighten-skin-after-weight-loss.html
      5. ↑ Danny Gordon. Certified Personal Trainer. Expert Interview. 18 October 2019.
      6. ↑ https://www.muscleforlife.com/how-to-get-rid-of-loose-skin-after-weight-loss/
      7. ↑ https://www.muscleforlife.com/how-to-get-rid-of-loose-skin-after-weight-loss/
      8. ↑ http://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/ways-to-tighten-skin-after-weight-loss/
      9. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/tummy-tuck/details/how-you-prepare/ppc-20231172
      1. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/tummy-tuck/details/risks/cmc-20231161
      2. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/tummy-tuck/details/how-you-prepare/ppc-20231172
      3. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/tummy-tuck/details/what-you-can-expect/rec-20231183
      4. ↑ http://www.bostonplasticsurgeryspecialists.com/anti-aging-skin-care/nonsurgical-skin-tightening/

      About this article

      Article Summary X

      To tighten your stomach skin, perform stomach exercises such as arm crunches, leg raises, and side bridges. You should also try to eat protein-rich foods, like fish, beans, and nuts, since they can help tighten up your skin. Additionally, make sure you're drinking plenty of water as well as liquids rich in protein like milk to improve your skin's elasticity. To find out about other exercises you can try, and how to get a tummy tuck, keep reading!

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