Loose skin around the belly button can happen from aging, sudden weight loss and pregnancy. There are several effective surgical options to correct it, but they are expensive and painful. Nonsurgical options do not provide the immediate results of surgery, but they are more affordable and do not require the down time of surgery.
Exercise
For those who have loose skin around the belly button because of sudden weight loss, exercise as a solution may seem counter-intuitive, since weight loss usually involves dieting and cardiovascular exercises. Get a physical trainer to work with you specifically on your abdominal area. Tightening the muscles will help tighten the skin as well. Most gym fees include time with a physical trainer.
If you have post-pregnancy skin sagging, it may also be muscle-related. It takes up to two years for the body to return to normal after having a baby. Post-pregnancy bodies need special attention from a physical trainer or physical therapist to retrain the abdominal muscles, especially the transverse abdominals, which is the deepest muscle. The trainer will also give you a regimen of Pilates and even deep-tissue massage, to correct sagging skin around the belly button.
Products
Several skin-tightening products on the market are designed for the face, but there is no reason you cannot use them on skin anywhere on the body. If you have a skin-care regimen that firms and tightens, try it on your abdomen. Keep in mind that the skin on the face is much thinner than the rest of the body, so you may need more product for the abdominal area.
Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures
Your dermatologist could do a few procedures in-office that do not require general anesthesia or recovery time. Microdermabrasion removes the top layer of sagging skin to reveal a newer, tighter layer underneath. There is also laser skin tightening treatments. Laser treatments use infrared lasers to stimulate your body to produce new collagen, which should tighten the area. You may need several of these treatments before seeing results.
References
Writer Bio
Based in Richmond, Va., Dawn Gibbs writes about topics such as history, fashion, literature, crafts, alternative medicine and healthy living. Her work has appeared on GreenDaily.com and several style websites. Gibbs holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Virginia Commonwealth University.