Is It Possible to Tighten Skin With Elastic Body Wrap?

Body wraps tighten the skin by dehydrating and flushing the body of toxins, according to "Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice." Though the effects of the body wrap are not permanent, they can be dramatic, making the use of body wraps perfect to use when you feel bloated or need to shrink just a few inches to fit into a special outfit. Due to the dehydrating nature of the use of body wraps, however, it is recommended that you consult your physician prior to using a body wrap, according to "Foundations of Nursing."

Mix two cups dried seaweed with two quarts distilled water in a bucket. According to "Handbook of Dermatology: A Practical Manual," seaweed is the preferred ingredient when making a body wrap due to its tendency to stimulate subcutaneous fibers and decrease fluid retention.

Place the elastic bandages in the bucket with the seaweed mixture. The amount of elastic bandages that you will need is based upon the amount of surface area of your body. Most people need 15 elastic bandages, according to "Braun-Falco's Dermatology," though some people will need more or less based upon their body size.

Allow the elastic bandages to soak in the seaweed solution for at least 30 minutes to allow the elastic bandages to become saturated with the solution.

Place the towel on the floor and change into your swimsuit. Remove one of the elastic bandages from the bucket and wrap it around one of your legs, starting from your ankle and working up toward your knee. The wrap should fit snugly, but you should able to comfortably fit two fingers between your skin and the wrap, according to "Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice."

Wrap a second elastic bandage up your other leg, starting at your ankle and ending at your knee. Wrap another bandage from your knee to your hip, overlapping the beginning of the bandage that will cover your thigh with the one that covers your calf. Continue this process until you have wrapped elastic bandaged up your torso. Then, wrap bandages on your arms.

Don a PVC workout suit, which can be found at a sporting goods store. Relax in the suit for an hour, which provides the body adequate time to absorb the seaweed solution and release its excess fluid, according to "Braun-Falco's Dermatology." Sip water while resting in the PVC workout suit to avoid dehydration.

Take off the PVC workout suit, remove the elastic bandages and take a shower to wash off the excess seaweed solution.