You may have seen them on Instagram celebrities or targeted ads in your Facebook feeds – they’re corset-like garments called “waist trainers” that are supposed to change the shape of your waistline when worn for extended periods of time. Unlike the corsets worn throughout history, today’s waist trainers no longer require laces, instead relying on zippers and hook-and-eye closures to keep the abdomen securely inside the garment. But while many women report noticeable results, do these garments really work, and if so are they safe?

Here’s why the waist trainer trend is one you may want to skip.

It’s Dangerous

The No. 1 reason you should skip the waist trainer is that it’s dangerous. Waist trainers can damage your internal organs by changing their shape. This can affect your kidneys, lungs, stomach and liver, just to name a few. This change of shape isn’t harmless, either – it can change the way these organs function and permanently damage them.

Waist trainers can also cause digestion problems including intestinal blockages and acid reflux, and even fracture your ribs! Wearing a waist trainer can also restrict your breathing by up to 60 percent, which in addition to shortness of breath and lack of oxygen can cause everything from dangerous inflammation to a deadly buildup of fluid in the lungs.

It Doesn’t Work

No matter how tight your trainer or how long you wear it, you simply cannot permanently alter the shape of your body with a corset. Any results you see will go away after you stop wearing the garment, whether it’s after 20 minutes or two days. If you are looking for a way to get that hourglass shape, try these ideas instead:

Diet and Exercise

You’ve heard it before a thousand times, but for good reason! The most effective way to trim your waistline is through proper diet and exercise. It’s not easy, or we’d all look like supermodels, but it is worth it, and it’s a lot safer (and better for you!) than a fad garment.

Girdles

While you can’t get permanent changes from a girdle or corset, many inexpensive garments can be purchased to create the illusion of a smaller waistline without causing permanent damage to your body. Make sure whichever garment you choose has enough room to allow for comfortable breathing and proper circulation, and make sure you take the garment off at night so your body has a chance to relax.

Liposuction

If you have tried diet and exercise and still can’t seem to get the shape you desire, consider a surgical procedure such as liposuction or a lipoabdominoplasty, which can remove both loose skin and fat and reshape the torso into the hourglass shape you desire. Best of all, the results are permanent, and the procedure is completely safe, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your vital organs to look great.