If you’ve been on social media, you may have seen the buzz about “waist training,” made popular by
some celebrities. Many famous women are touting this old-turned-new treatment for shrinking your waist. However, medical experts are warning that it won’t make you slim down – and it could be dangerous to your health.
What is waist training?
Waist training is basically the age-old practice of wearing a corset – a constricting garment designed to cinch your waist. You’ve probably seen photos in history books of women in the 1800’s wearing corsets with boning in the front and laces up the back, designed to be pulled as tightly as possible. Today’s waist trainers tend to be smaller and sleeker, but their intended use is the same.
Does it work?
While there’s nothing wrong with wearing a corset-style garment for a sexy, old-fashioned appeal, wearing a tight-fitting corset to try and “train” your waist is risky, and won’t shrink your waist. Even if celebrities swear by it, there’s no evidence that these garments can change the shape of your waist or help you lose pounds. It may look slimming while it’s on, but the effects will disappear when you take the garment off.
Why is it risky?
If women wore corsets for hundreds of years, why are they dangerous? It’s a fact, many women have been injured by waist cinching, and here are a few of the possible problems:
- Painful bruising of your ribs
- Heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Interference with digestion
- Trouble breathing, which can lead to fainting
- In severe cases, bruising of internal organs
Wearing a corset or similar garment that gives you that hourglass shape is okay for a special occasion. As long as it’s not uncomfortably tight, it can be safe for short periods of time. But keeping one on for days will increase your risk of health problems. Not to mention, no studies have shown that these trainers can do anything to help you lose inches. In fact, there’s a good chance your body will look exactly the same as before once you stop wearing it.
Real options for a smaller waist
If you’re looking to improve the look of your abdominal area and have tried eating healthy, working out, you may want to consider cosmetic procedures known to help slim your waist. Some possibilities include liposuction, tummy tuck, and even a buttocks fat transfer, which will give you a more hourglass shape by adding volume to your buttocks. Any of these procedures are effective ways to give you a shapelier, curvier figure with lasting results.
GLOW Surgical Arts offers a variety of cosmetic surgery and minimally invasive procedures to help you look and feel more attractive. Request a free consultation online, or call GLOW Surgical Arts at (650) 241-2209.
