Every easy fix that floods our Instagram feed would equate to an equally good result in a perfect world. But nothing good comes that easy, and there is a time where the only proper fix involves something offered at your doctor’s office, be it a minimally invasive treatment or a surgical procedure. So rather than spinning your wheels on gimmicks, products, and tricks that won’t provide the result you’re trying to achieve, consider these proven solutions to make a change once and for all.
- If dieting isn’t getting rid of stubborn fat, consider liposuction or non-invasive fat melters.
Dieting restricts calories to reduce fat, but in-office fat-reducing procedures and surgeries permanently remove it. Each one has its pros and cons—fat melters don’t require anesthesia or surgery, whereas liposuction physically removes fat for a better result. Yet, regardless of the treatment you ultimately choose, one thing is for sure: surgically removing fat will not allow it to come back, and that’s not necessarily the case with dieting.
When ab exercises and Pilates still leave you with a post-baby pooch, turn to a tummy tuck.
When diastasis recti (abdominal separation that forces the belly button area to protrude outwards) is present, no amount of crunches or Pilates classes will fix the issue at hand. Instead, a tummy tuck is the only way to get a flat stomach. According to Dr. Jason Hall, a large part of women’s problem after pregnancy is due to muscle and connective tissue weakness, which you can only fix surgically.
During a tummy tuck, your surgeon will create an incision along the hip bone—it varies in length depending on how much muscle repair and skin removal is necessary—to repair the abdominal muscles. Your plastic surgeon will address the belly button, and any hooding or loose skin, plus protrusion, is surgically corrected and forever fixed.
Cellulite creams won’t do much to smooth out dimples, so QWO injections are a more practical option.
Thick anti-cellulite creams are ineffective in evening out dimples on the body. More cellulite options have become available in the last few years, but many require cutting the bands that live under the skin. The newest solution is QWO, an FDA-approved injectable that treats moderate to severe cellulite in the buttocks. The enzymes in QWO release the fibrous bands that contribute to cellulite while redistributing fat cells in the area and promoting the production of new collagen.
- Push-up bras don’t offer long-lasting volume, fullness, and size, but a breast augmentation undoubtedly does.
Push-up bras are great for a quick fix, but if long-lasting volume and size are what you want, breast augmentation is the surefire way to do it.
Breast augmentation uses breast implants for a permanent boost and allows your breasts to best fill out your tops, dresses, and bathing suits. “With breast augmentation, patients should have a clear idea of what they want their result to look like and allow a board-certified experienced plastic surgeon to guide them in a direction that will give them a long-lasting, pretty result,” Dr. Hall says.
6.For serious skin-tightening that creams can’t achieve, opt for skin-tightening lasers.
Skin-tightening creams don’t do much for the skin since they don’t work on the dermal layers of skin where the body creates collagen. Dr. Hall says fractional ablative laser technology, such as Fraxel or Sciton’s ProFractional, is great for permanent skin tightening with minimal downtime. A series of these treatments can make a dramatic difference in the appearance of the skin, create new collagen over time. Then, as that new collagen remodels and lays down, it tightens the skin for a more youthful effect.
Eye de-puffing serums and creams provide minimal results at best, yet lower blepharoplasty is a sure-fire way to get rid of bags.
Most eye creams hydrate the skin under the eyes but do little to take down puffiness and bags. “For most patients with eyelid bags, a combination of muscle tightening and fat removal or repositioning is a good, permanent way to eliminate them,” Dr. Hall explains. Plus, there’s no need to worry about the fat returning later on (it won’t), but a touch-up procedure may be necessary if other signs of aging begin to affect the eyes.
Written by Elise Minton Tabin
