Flat, elastic stomach: all the subtleties and secrets of how to tighten it at home and in the salon

Sagging skin on the abdomen is a fairly common problem, and it mainly concerns two cases. The first is sudden weight loss, in which the skin cannot adapt to the reduction in volume and remains flabby. The second is pregnancy and childbirth, which in themselves involve a significant increase, and then a decrease in the volume of the abdomen, and the situation is aggravated by constant changes in hormonal levels. Despite the fact that the skin itself is very elastic and adapts to changes quite easily, it often needs time and additional help. Let's look at how to remove loose skin from the abdomen after losing weight or giving birth, and what is required for this.

Skin tightening cream

The essence of any cosmetic product of this type (regardless of the area for which the cream is intended) is toning: the active substances cause the fibers inside the tissues to contract in order to maintain skin elasticity. It is possible to achieve tightening of problem areas if the composition of the product is good, but the weight loss process itself will not be helped, no matter what promises the manufacturer makes. The effect that girls get from such a cream is exclusively cosmetic and is noticeable only in terms of skin quality. Fat will not burn.

However, there is a difference between products designed to tighten the skin:

• some are focused on restoring natural turgor;
• others help increase blood circulation to remove fluid.

After losing weight

Caffeine, pepper extract, algae (mostly badyaga) - this is just a short list of components present in creams that work to tighten the skin during and after weight loss. Experts advise starting to use this cosmetic product at the same time as losing weight to prevent severe sagging. The product often contains locally irritating substances, which trigger an increase in intracellular temperature and accelerate metabolic processes. In addition to them, the following may be observed:

• AHA acids that remove dead cells, which provokes regeneration of the dermis;
• citric or tartaric acid - help increase the hygroscopicity of the skin;
• enzymes - their deficiency causes the loss of natural skin turgor, the inability to produce collagen fibers in the body;
• retinol is a stimulator of cellular renewal, also helping to synthesize collagen.

After childbirth

A woman who has undergone pregnancy, even if she has not gained excess weight, faces the problem of sagging abdominal skin and stretch marks. There is little physical activity in this situation: the appearance of the body is much worse than even after losing 25-30 kg. A product that is used for women after childbirth must have a moisturizing function. Anti-cellulite and other products that have a thermogenic effect should not be taken, because They will not help reduce the amount of excess skin. If collagen is present in the composition, the effectiveness of the product increases.

Additionally, you should pay attention to the presence of:

• base oils (almond, wheat germ, avocado, etc.);
• royal jelly;
• vitamin C;
• mumiyo.

How to remove loose skin on the stomach with exercise

At first, it may seem that physical activity and sagging skin on the abdomen are in no way connected. But this is not so, since between the skin and muscle tissue there are connecting elements in the form of connective tissue fibers. If the abdominal muscles are toned, they pull behind them the fibers that connect it to the deep layers of the skin. An actively working muscle improves blood circulation, thereby increasing the delivery of nutrients and vitamins to the skin, which has a beneficial effect on its condition.

If you want to get rid of loose skin on your stomach, pay attention to the following exercises :

• Warm up your muscles by bending your torso laterally. Leaning to the right, stretch your left arm up along your body and try to stretch as hard as possible. Tilts to the left are accompanied by stretching of the right arm. Repeat the exercise on both sides the same number of times.
• You need to lie down on a semi-hard surface - a rug or gymnastics mat. Hands need to be clasped above your head. At the same time, lift your upper body by lifting your shoulder blades off the floor and bending your knees. Try to touch your elbows to your knees.
• Bend your legs, place them completely on the surface with your feet. Raise your torso with twists, trying to touch your right elbow to your left knee and vice versa. In this case, the feet should not leave the floor.
• Stretch your arms down along your body, straighten your legs and lift them up. Now you need to raise your legs and pelvis, trying to get into the position of a birch tree, and then smoothly lower them down.
• The plank exercise helps a lot. You need to focus on extended bows and toes, straighten your body and stay in this position for 30-60 seconds.

It is recommended to perform each exercise in addition to the plank in two sets of 10 times. The hula hoop with massage balls tightens the skin on the stomach well. This is a great way to improve the appearance of your belly as it combines both muscle work and a massage effect.

Belly cream

The number of products that promise to quickly tighten contours and rid a woman of fat and the appearance of cellulite is large: every major cosmetic company considers it its duty to produce such a cream. However, whether the product will be effective, whether its use will reveal the desired tightening of the skin after losing weight, depends on the composition. We have already listed above the components whose presence makes sense in products aimed at improving the condition of the skin (stomach and not only). Below is a detailed analysis of the most popular ingredients.

With oils

If you see essential oils in the product, especially lemon, bergamot, anise, you can rest assured that the product will be effective. These components in skin tightening products have a good warming effect, have a positive effect on the water-fat balance, and can even help reduce the severity of stretch marks. Manufacturers practice adding essential oils to anti-cellulite products, because... Some of them give a good warming effect. During use, redness appears, indicating local irritation.

It is not advisable to use a tightening product that contains essential oils:

• for problems with blood vessels;
• during the menstrual cycle;
• in areas with wounds, abrasions, inflammation, dermatitis.

Products containing vegetable oils will also be effective, i.e. fatty – almond, cocoa, jojoba, etc. They will moisturize the skin, which will make it smooth. This component is mainly needed to combat stretch marks after pregnancy. On young skin, according to experts, products based on oils perform a tummy tuck no worse than products with a more complex composition, because sagging is not aggravated by third-party physiological causes.

With glycerin

Glycerin has been used as a component of body care cosmetics for a long time, but it is mainly found in creams intended to protect the skin of the hands. However, this substance has benefits. Glycerin helps normalize the water balance in the epidermal cells, as a result of which it becomes more elastic. In some products that model body contours, this substance is necessary to soften the aggressive effects of other components. Glycerin does not affect subcutaneous fat.

Silicone based

The group of products containing silicone is assessed by experts as relatively safe. The reason lies in the main property of this substance: silicone does not allow moisture to evaporate, because covers the dermis with a dense, impenetrable layer. The general principle of action is almost the same as that of glycerin, except that you cannot expect absorption from silicone. Alone, it does not provide any benefit to the skin, especially in terms of tightening, but if the product contains valuable microelements that provoke collagen synthesis, silicone will provide its fibers with moisture saturation.

A couple of important points regarding this category:

• It is not advisable to use such body care products every day: you won’t be able to achieve a beautiful figure faster, and you will harm the dermis (the easiest consequence is clogged pores).
• Choose a product with silicone, where this element is in the middle of the list of ingredients or closer to the end, otherwise smoothness, elasticity, etc. visual results will be only a cosmetic effect that lasts until you take a shower.

With vitamins

Dermatologists say that the skin will benefit from a group of B vitamins, which increases the protective functions of cells, stimulates their renewal, nourishes, and improves blood circulation. You can also take a closer look at products with retinol, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and vitamin D, which are fat-soluble. Even a high percentage of these substances in the cream will not harm the body, because the impact will be external. However, lubricating the body with cream with vitamins will not give the same strong result as taking them orally.

On hyaluronic acid

Experts continue to dispute the meaning of the presence of hyaluronic acid in products intended for skin elasticity. An argument in its favor is the ability of hyaluronic acid to absorb water if it is high molecular weight, and to moisturize the dermis if it is low molecular weight. However, the effect of using this substance is short-lived, so it must be supported by the use of amino acids.

Cosmetology measures at home

Cosmetology can give you the answer to the question of what to do with loose skin on the abdomen. In some cases, you don’t even have to resort to the help of specialists – effective home measures are enough. These measures are aimed at improving the internal structure of the skin and increasing the density of the collagen fiber framework. To develop fibers and make them stronger, you need to take care of your skin regularly.

At home, you can perform the following procedures, alternating and combining them to improve the result: wraps, peelings, self-massage and home mesotherapy. You can also buy a good cream for sagging belly skin, which will help speed up the achievement of results. Of course, cosmetics alone will not be enough, but as an additional, securing measure, it will not be superfluous.

Self-massage

There are many massage options that will help improve skin tone. But in any case, it is important to use massage oil (you can use vegetable oil: olive, almond, apricot).

The simplest version of massage is performed with the palms of your hands. must be performed sequentially :

• stroking;
• rubbing with the edge of the palm;
• vibration movements with finger pads;
• shading movements with fingertips;
• final strokes.

Vacuum massage, for which special jars are used, gives good results. You can find out about abdominal massage with cupping for weight loss here. They can be bought at the pharmacy. Japanese medicine offers its own massage method to improve the tone of the skin of the abdomen. You need to roll a terry towel into a tight roll, lie on your stomach and roll it up and down, thus kneading the anterior abdominal wall.

A simple way to remove sagging skin on the abdomen is a home hydromassage with a change in temperature.

Wraps

Wraps are a great way to saturate the skin with useful substances, tighten it, and speed up the processes of fat burning and metabolism. One or another mixture is applied to the skin, then the abdomen is wrapped with film, and its area is insulated. There are a large number of mixtures for tightening the abdominal skin, including the following:

• Honey-butter. Mix 2 tablespoons of liquid honey and 50 ml of olive oil, add a couple of drops of liquid vitamin E.
• Composition with cocoa. Knead the cocoa butter in your hands, apply it to the anterior abdominal wall and wrap with film.
• Honey mustard. Combine four tablespoons of honey and two tablespoons of mustard. Before application, the composition must be warmed up.

You can also buy powdered seaweed and clay at the pharmacy for wraps. usually recommended to perform wraps in courses of 10-15 procedures, repeating them periodically.

Peelings

A procedure such as peeling perfectly helps to tighten sagging skin of the abdomen. Exfoliation of the dead layer of skin helps to activate regenerative processes. You can use store-bought scrubs for peeling or prepare them yourself. You can pay attention to the following recipes:

• Combine two tablespoons of ground coffee and one egg.
• A combination of liquid honey and coarse sea salt works well.
• Mix three tablespoons of medium-leaf green tea and two tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Home mesotherapy can also be used. To carry out this procedure, you need to purchase a special device called a mesoscooter, equipped with a mass of tiny needles. They puncture the skin and inject medicinal compounds into it. Hyaluronic acid serums, vitamin mixtures, and protein concentrates can be used as active substances.

How to use firming cream correctly

A flat stomach means regular workouts in the gym or at home, plus good nutrition. If you decide to add cosmetic procedures to this program, you need to perform them competently. To tighten the abdomen, warming agents can be used 2 times a week, tightening agents - every other day. The duration of the course is determined by the specific product.

A few general nuances that will help you get positive results from using body products that ensure skin firmness:

• Take a shower before the procedure - the product will better penetrate the layers of the dermis.
• Distribute the product along the massage arrows, lightly rubbing it.
• It is advisable to apply warming (mainly anti-cellulite) products in the evening.
• Products that stimulate skin tightening through hydration and collagen production can be used morning and night.
• The effectiveness of using such creams and lotions will increase if you massage your abdomen after applying them. The manipulations are simple: pinching, tapping, stroking, rubbing. Duration – up to 5 minutes or until there is a clear reaction of the skin in the form of redness.
• If you are worried about your abdominal tightness after childbirth, you should start using the cream during pregnancy: this will reduce the severity of stretch marks and the degree of sagging.
• Don't expect immediate results: it will take several weeks to see the effect that the dermis firming product does (or doesn't give) after losing weight or giving birth. Only your doctor can tell you exactly how long to wait. Often the course of use of such a product is 2-3 months with daily use.

Fitball

Fitball is a fitness ball. You can practice with it while lying down with your legs straight. The ball must be held behind the head (arms straight on the floor).

Then the ball slowly rises and at the same time the body lifts off the floor. The movement stops the moment the ball reaches the chest area. At the same time, you need to raise your legs and touch the ball with them.

It is recommended to repeat the exercise up to 20 times and do it 2-3 times a week.

Popular brands

You can find a product that promises to help tighten the skin from online brands (Oriflame, Faberlic, etc.), and from brands presented in pharmacies, and in standard perfume and cosmetic chains. It makes sense to consider some products in detail:

• Guam is famous for its good skin care cosmetics, and Firming Cream for the body with a contour tightening effect is especially popular. Contains seaweed extract. The product can be used not only for the stomach, but also for the chest.
• Collistar is also among the popular brands. All skin tightening products have received a lot of rave reviews due to the pronounced effect obtained in 3-4 weeks, convenient packaging and the absence of allergic reactions.
• Nip + Fab is a little-known brand, but loved by women for its cream with bee venom. It gives a pronounced skin tightening effect, quickly helping you get into shape. A bonus is the low price for such creams.

Homemade formulations

Self-prepared skin tightening products also create a positive effect. The most popular among home lifting procedures are belly wraps.

Let's look at the recipes for the most effective formulations:

• With seaweed. Pre-soak kelp sheets in warm water for 15 minutes. Apply them tightly to the skin of the abdomen and secure with film. Keep for 45 minutes.
• With dirt. Apply cosmetic mud to problem areas and wrap with cling film on top for half an hour. Rinse off with warm water.
• With honey. Take 3 tbsp. l. honey, add a little cinnamon, coffee, mustard or citrus essential oil. Apply the warm mixture to the stomach and sides, wrap with film. After 40 minutes, wash off.

Such homemade recipes help restore tone and smoothness to the skin of the abdomen, tighten and improve its health.

Price

The cost of a product that gives a noticeable effect (for stretch marks, folds, and other imperfections) ranges from 500-3000 rubles. Among cheap products (i.e. 100-200 rubles), there is no point in trying to choose something effective, according to reviews from women. The current price for such creams in Moscow can be seen in the table:

Yoga

Warrior Asana (Virabhadrasana) – can tighten the abdominal muscles in the lateral area:

• Stand up straight with your feet about 80 cm wide.
• Place your palms together and raise.
• Bend your right knee and turn your body in the same direction.
• Do not lift your feet off the floor.
• Freeze in this position for 1 minute.
• Repeat, turning in the opposite direction.

Cobra asana (Bhujangasana) - well strengthens the deep muscles of the abs and back.

• Starting position lying on the floor, face down. Hands rest on the floor at chest level.
• The exercise begins with a deep breath, then the front part of the body rises up, leaning on straight arms.
• Try to pull your stomach in as much as possible and pull your shoulders back.
• Maintain this pose for about a minute, then completely relax and rest.
• Do 15 repetitions.

Boat Asana (Paripurna Navasana) - can effectively tighten the muscles in the abdominal area.

• Take a sitting position on the floor with your legs extended forward.
• The body is slightly tilted back.
• Your legs need to be raised up to the same level as your head.
• Arms are straightened, parallel to the floor.

Maintain the pose for about a minute, relax, repeat.

Beginners can bend their legs slightly during the first lessons.

Watch the video for some yoga exercises to strengthen your abs.

Anti-cellulite detox body oil Cellutox Active Body Oil, Elemis

Tested by BeautyHack senior editor Anastasia Speranskaya
The beautiful blue bottle (it looks like the Genie is about to jump out of it) hides a powerful weapon to combat visible signs of cellulite. It contains lemon and juniper essential oils, as well as buckthorn and fennel extracts - together they not only make the skin more elastic, but also remove toxins. After two weeks of use, the skin was noticeably tightened - I applied the oil to problem areas after a shower. By the way, the product also serves well as a massage oil. It has a lymphatic drainage effect, makes the skin smooth and silky, and smells very appetizingly like lemon marmalade.

Price: 3,690 rub.

Three pillars of elastic belly skin

To ensure that the appearance of the skin of your abdomen does not upset you, you should follow 3 simple rules:

1. Eat a healthy and balanced diet, delivering all the necessary substances to the body with food (protein, carbohydrates and fats should be on every person’s menu in “healthy” proportions).
2. You need to try to increase blood circulation in the abdominal area so that the skin regenerates faster and therefore looks elastic and renewed.
3. It is advisable to include regular exercise in any type of fitness (aerobics, swimming pool, skiing, skating, etc.) in your life. This can be done both at home and in specialized centers. By exercising on a strictly defined schedule, you can promote the process of replacing fat cells in the abdominal area with muscle mass. The muscles will “tighten” the skin and help increase its turgor.

Sculpt Expert modeling cream, Guinot

Tested by BeautyHack founder Ekaterina Domankova
If you use the cream in addition to regular exercise, you will 100% see a quick effect. I apply the product after training, visually the skin immediately looks smoother and more toned. And then the active components of Guinot begin to work: hydroxyproline, which stimulates the synthesis of collagen and elastin, and brown algae, which prevents their destruction in the future. After a week of use, along with pleasant smoothness, noticeable elasticity of the skin appeared. I liked the texture of the cream, not sticky, but not too liquid, easy to apply right in the locker room, threw it in my bag, got dressed and ran about my business!

Price: 5,360 rub.