Tag Archives: Waist Cinchers

How far are you willing to go for a slimmer waist?

Many years ago I read a wonderful book, Lisa See’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, that opened my eyes to the ancient practice of foot binding. This practice had very young girls repeatedly having their feet broken and tightly wrapped so that they wouldn’t grow larger than 4 inches or so. This began as early as the 10th or 11th Century and didn’t fall out of fashion until the early 20th Century. It seems that women have long been suffering for the sake of beauty.

The things we’ll do: Noses are broken and reset straighter. Ears are pinned back so they don’t stick out. Teeth are filed down and covered with crowns. Breasts are enlarged or lifted or minimized. Fat is sucked out of thighs and abdomens. Skin has acid applied and toxins injected to smooth it. Women still suffer and we do so willingly.

A not-so-secret beauty secret that’s trending right now and practiced by more than a few celebrities is wearing a waist cincher — Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba and Amber Rose have all posted selfies of themselves with it. This little device is said to dramatically whittle your midsection leaving you with a flatter tummy, a more hourglass figure and better posture. Many users have reported a reduction of 1″ or more when worn up to 10 hours a day for at least 30 days. I tried it for a day or two and for me it was too tight and too uncomfortable. Apparently I’m not willing to suffer that much. It might not be in your best interest to either. When your lungs and ribs are compressed this way it makes it much harder to breathe.  Women have been know to pass out when it’s been worn too tight or kept on for too long. There’s also the fact the many doctors believe it’s not all that effective and real harm can be done.

For now, I’ll stick with a mostly healthy diet and regular exercise regimen, but if you’re looking to slim and contour your waist and diet and exercise aren’t getting you where you want to be, it might be time to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can help you get real results. There are numerous options including the following:

  • A Tummy Tuck or Abdominosplasty is a surgical procedure performed to remove excess fat and skin and, in many cases, weakened or separated muscles are restored as well.
  • Liposuction, Lipoplasty or Liposculpture is a procedure that actually breaks up and removes fat from the body via suction.
  •  CoolSculpting is a non-surgical procedure that uses controlled cooling for fat reduction.

A board-certified plastic surgeon will know what’s the best choice or combination of procedures for you, depending on your particular anatomy and frame. Click here to find one in your area.

Note: For more of my stories on aesthetic procedures, check out my blog posts on Smart Beauty Guide.

 

(featured image via pinterest)