Other foods that should be avoided include simple sugars (e.g., candy, cake), processed foods (e.g., chips), high-fat foods (e.g., fried foods), citrus fruits and juices (e.g., orange juice), spicy foods and spices (e.g., red pepper), carbonated beverages (e.g., soda), fatty meats or fish (e.g., hamburger patties or salmon steaks).
The primary food to avoid after tummy tuck is alcohol. Alcohol can cause the blood vessels to dilate, which can lead to excessive bleeding and bruising. This can result in delayed healing, wound separation, and even death. The second most important food to avoid is dairy products. Dairy products can cause inflammation and irritation of the surgical site, which can lead to a higher risk of infection and delayed healing.
Read on to learn more about Food To Avoid After Tummy Tuck, What To Eat After Tummy Tuck To Reduce Swelling AND
How To Maintain A Flat Stomach After A Tummy Tuck
Food To Avoid After Tummy Tuck
Surgery can take a toll on anyone — even when it’s minor. That’s because, in addition to dealing with the worry and stress that come with pre-treatment, you have to be mindful of when and what you eat before and after. This can impact your energy levels and mood, especially if your favorite foods are on the list to avoid. The same dietary restrictions can be said for cosmetic procedures such as a tummy tuck. What foods should you avoid? And, for how long?
What is a tummy tuck?
Tummy tucks, also known as abdominoplasty, are a cosmetic enhancement that’s performed to remove excess fat and loose skin from the abdominal area. There are different types of tummy tucks depending on the area of the stomach that needs to be tightened, but typically, a tummy tuck can target the upper abdomen, lower abdomen, and/or the entire region.
There are different reasons for wanting a tummy tuck — whether it’s to help tighten the abdominal muscles after giving birth or for other health reasons, such as pairing it with hernia correction. No matter the reason, there are some precautions you’ll need to take post-surgery to ensure your healing process goes smoothly.
Foods to Eat After a Tummy Tuck
Eating the right foods is one of the fastest ways to heal post-surgery. That’s why it’s important to stock up beforehand and follow your doctor’s instructions for what foods to avoid. Crucial foods to keep in your kitchen for after your tummy tuck include:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C and A
- Proteins — such as meat, beans, and eggs
- Omega-3-rich foods — such as mackerel, salmon, chia seeds, and walnuts
- Dairy products such as milk and yogurt (once you’ve resumed having bowel movements)
- Vitamins — such as arnica and bromelain found in bananas and avocado — to reduce bruising
- Grains and nuts
- Water — and plenty of it (64oz a day)
Foods to Avoid After a Tummy Tuck
Just like some foods can help promote a speedy recovery, other foods can slow down the process. Processed foods are typically high in salt and sugar, which can increase bloating and cholesterol — slowing down your healing process. That’s why you should avoid foods such as:
- Fried foods
- Baked goods
- Sodas
- Fast food
- Sugary cereals
- Foods high in sugar and salt
- Alcohol
What to Expect Post Surgery
It can take up to six weeks for you to recover fully from a tummy tuck. Until then, you should follow the instructions provided by your doctor — including information about using ice packs, how often you should walk, what medications to take and how often, and other considerations. You should also avoid smoking before and after your surgery since nicotine can restrict blood flow and increase your risk of infection. Talk to your doctor before exercising and to follow-up on any other post-surgery questions you may have.
If You’re Thinking About Cosmetic Enhancements, Contact Innovations Medical
If you’re looking to reshape your body and boost your self-confidence, Innovations Medical is here for you. We’ll answer your questions and resolve any concerns you have about cosmetic procedures. We’ve been helping our patients look their best since 2005, and even our most advanced procedures are often minimally invasive.
What To Eat After Tummy Tuck To Reduce Swelling
As a general rule, the first week after a tummy tuck is the most critical time for healing. You should not be doing any strenuous activity and try to get as much rest as possible. You will have drains in place and these need to be monitored for proper drainage. I would suggest that you stay off of your feet and avoid getting them wet for at least a week.
You can begin your diet slowly by eating liquids such as soup, gelatin, pudding, etc., as tolerated. Your doctor will most likely want you to start taking some protein prior to full liquids which can include eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese or even chicken broth if tolerated well. Your diet will progress from there over a period of about 2 weeks until you can tolerate most normal foods again (but no heavy lifting).
It is important during this time that you drink plenty of water (at least 64 oz per day) to help flush out your system and prevent constipation which may occur due to decreased bowel activity due to pain medications. It is also important that you do not drink alcohol at this time as it has been shown that it interferes with healing and increases swelling!
The swelling after a tummy tuck can be quite impressive. In order to reduce this swelling, you should eat foods that are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
The following foods are recommended:
-Berries: they contain a lot of antioxidants and vitamins B and C. The best berries are blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. You can eat them fresh or frozen (but not canned).
-Olive oil: it contains high levels of vitamin E which helps to reduce swelling by reducing the formation of blood clots and helps the healing process of your skin.
-Red wine: red wine is rich in resveratrol which has antioxidant properties as well as anti-inflammatory effects which helps to reduce swelling after surgery. It also helps prevent blood clotting. This is why you should also avoid alcohol for at least two weeks before your surgery because it can increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.
How To Maintain A Flat Stomach After A Tummy Tuck
The best way to maintain a flat stomach after a tummy tuck is to follow your doctor’s advice. You will most likely be advised to exercise and eat healthy foods. If you have been told that you need to gain weight, it is important to do so slowly over time.
If you want to lose weight after having your procedure, then losing weight should be done slowly over time in order to avoid putting pressure on your incision site.
After having a tummy tuck surgery, it is important for you to wear a compression garment for at least six weeks. This will help reduce swelling and support the areas where stitches were used during the operation.
You should also avoid lifting heavy objects immediately after surgery because this could cause complications with your recovery process.
Exercise can help accelerate your recovery process by increasing blood flow throughout the body and aiding in muscle growth and repair. However, it is important not to overdo it when exercising as doing so may cause pain or swelling around your incision sites which can delay healing or lead to infection or other complications
If you have had a tummy tuck, you may have noticed that after the initial healing time, there is still a little bit of swelling or fluid retention in the area. This is normal and can take up to 4 weeks to resolve completely.
The most important thing for you to do during this time is to rest and let your body heal. It will take about 6 weeks before you can return to normal activities without pain or discomfort. Once the swelling goes down, you will be able to see your final results.
If you are feeling well enough, it is important that you start exercising again as soon as possible after surgery. This will help improve your overall health and reduce your risk of developing complications such as blood clots or pneumonia due to lack of movement while recovering from surgery.
Exercises should always be done under the supervision of a doctor or physical therapist who has experience treating patients who have had tummy tucks. They will know what exercises are safe for you at this stage in your recovery and how often they should be performed each day so that you get the best results possible without putting yourself at risk for further injury.