For many people, losing weight is necessary to be in a good health. However, it is also a process that can have aesthetic consequences and impact the quality of the skin. Indeed, it is common to observe after a significant weight loss a loss of elasticity in the skin tissues. In some cases, there is an excess of skin that makes the silhouette less harmonious and can be the cause of complexes.
Weight loss : what effects on the skin ?
The skin is a very elastic living organ. It stretches with our movements, but also when we gain weight. The dermis and hypodermis, the deep layers of the skin are composed of connective tissue and naturally elastic fibers, held tense by layers of fat.
In the case of significant and sudden weight loss, this structure no longer fulfills its role and the skin does not have time to adapt to this change. This also leads to a loss of muscle mass.
In addition, a restrictive diet deprives the skin of the nutrients that are essential for its elasticity and tone. The areas that are most affected by this problem are the abdomen, breasts, thighs, buttocks and arms.
How to preserve the skin during a diet ?
In order to limit the loss of elasticity and sagging of the skin, it is essential to adopt the right reflexes and this from the beginning of the diet. Once the slimming objective has been reached, it will be less difficult to firm up the skin.
-Controlling weight loss
As explained above, losing weight too quickly does not allow the skin to adapt. It is therefore essential to control this factor. Specialists generally recommend a fat loss of 0.5 to 1 kilo per week. Losing weight gradually is also a way to prevent the yo-yo effect which is as harmful to your health as it is to your skin.
-Drinking enough water and choosing the right foods
Drinking enough water every day is essential for your skin.
In addition, opt for vegetables and fruits and foods rich in protein and antioxidants.
-Practicing weight training
When dieting, it is recommended to combine with a personalized physical activity program. Strength training exercises with weights are particularly recommended to limit skin sagging.
Solutions to tone and firm up the skin
Sometimes, taking preventive measures is not enough and the skin becomes less firm and toned. In this case, several solutions exist to firm up the skin and tone up the affected areas. The results depend mainly on the weight lost, the quality of the skin and the age.
Some factors such as smoking or sun exposure also play an important role in the sagging of the skin.
-Sports
It is very important to opt for a daily physical activity so as to keep your body firm and healthy.
-Surgery
When the sagging of the skin is very important and the methods you opted for do not succeed in improving the condition of the skin, plastic surgery may be considered such as : Tummy tuck, thigh lift, arm lift…
Your surgeon will advise you according to your health, age, quality of skin…
