One of the most important parts of recovery from a tummy tuck is eating well. But what does that mean? In general, you should be eating foods that are high in protein and low in carbs. This will help your body recover and heal efficiently. You should also drink plenty of water, as this will help reduce swelling and prevent dehydration.
If you’re having trouble staying hydrated because of pain or nausea, try drinking juice or tea instead of water. If you’re breastfeeding, make sure to eat as much as possible to keep up your milk supply—and don’t forget to drink lots of water!
Read on to learn more about Good Diet For After Tummy Tuck, Diet After Tummy Tuck And Lipo and What Foods To Eat After Tummy Tuck
Good Diet For After Tummy Tuck
After your tummy tuck surgery, there are a number of steps you should take to ensure a smooth, complication-free recovery that will have you showing off your beautiful new silhouette as soon as possible. These involve getting enough rest, caring for any incisions, and minimizing any strenuous activity or exercise. But it’s also important to watch what you eat! Consuming the right kinds of foods can help your body heal, and will better ensure your recovery is seamless and without issue.
What Is Tummy Tuck Surgery?
A tummy tuck is a type of plastic surgery that helps you achieve a flat, toned abdomen by removing excess fat and skin. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. During the tummy tuck procedure, your surgeon will lift the abdominal skin and repair any weakened abdominal muscles. The surgeon will then trim the excess skin and stitch it together. They will also make a new opening for the belly button, which is necessary since the skin has been tightened.
What To Expect After Tummy Tuck Surgery
As with all surgeries, you will experience some pain and swelling following your tummy tuck. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medication to help you remain comfortable during your recovery period (you should not take aspirin after your surgery). You will be able to shower 48 hours after your surgery, and you should keep active, though strenuous activity should be avoided. Your surgeon will advise you to keep your body raised while sleeping to reduce inflammation.
What Type Of Food Should You Eat After A Tummy Tuck?
Eating the right kinds of foods is an important part of recovering from your tummy tuck procedure. While your body is healing, you should provide it with healthful, protein-rich foods and foods that may provide anti-inflammatory effects, and should avoid too much sugar, fat, and salt. Giving your body the fuel it needs to heal is a key component of a full, speedy recovery.
Water
After your tummy tuck surgery, it’s important to stay hydrated. Plain water, tea, and clear broths made with lean meats are excellent ways to ensure you’re getting enough hydration following your surgery. Avoid sugary beverages or drinks that are caffeinated, as these can cause dehydration and inflammation.
Protein-Rich Foods
Lean protein-rich foods will help your body speed healing. Protein helps your body build and repair skin and muscle, and can also help fight infection. Good, lean protein sources include chicken, lean fish, lean meats such as veal or pork, tofu, eggs, and nuts and seeds. Beans and pulses are also excellent sources of protein, but you may wish to avoid them — or eat them sparingly — as they can cause gassiness that may be uncomfortable during your tummy tuck recovery.
Vitamins
Vitamins A and C are particularly important during your recovery period. Vitamin A promotes collagen production, which helps to heal, while Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, which can help your body avoid infection. Vitamin A is found in eggs, dairy, and cod liver oil, while citrus fruits, green vegetables such as brussels sprouts and broccoli, and berries are high in Vitamin C. You can also take a supplement.
What Type Of Food Should You Avoid After A Tummy Tuck?
While it’s important to know what types of foods to eat after your tummy tuck, it’s just as important to be mindful of avoiding foods that may slow down your recovery.
Alcohol
Alcohol thins the blood and can compromise your immune system, which affects your body’s ability to heal. Try to avoid alcohol for at least three weeks after your surgery.
Foods High In Sugar
Maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is key to healing after your surgery. In addition, foods high in sugar may cause constipation, and any gastrointestinal stress after your tummy tuck surgery may be extremely uncomfortable.
Foods High In Fat
While some fats — such as the omegas found in fatty fish — are excellent for healing, foods that are high in processed or saturated fats can cause abdominal pain and bloating, which will be especially uncomfortable during your tummy tuck recovery.
Salty Foods
As is the case with eating too many saturated fats, eating foods high in salt content may cause uncomfortable bloating. Salty foods will also interfere with your ability to stay properly hydrated.
Diet After Tummy Tuck And Lipo
Any surgical procedure in general, and a tummy tuck — also known as abdominoplasty — in particular, needs important considerations for a fast recovery and a low risk of complications.
A person who undergoes a tummy tuck, in addition to a list of foods physicians recommend to eat before the operation, will need a systematic post-surgery diet as it plays an important role in the healing process, having a direct impact on the tissue reconstruction and regeneration as well as the recovery process, in general.
By following a special post-operative diet after a tummy tuck surgery, patients can reduce the side effects of their abdominoplasty.
The post-tummy tuck diet is a list of foods doctors recommend patients to eat during the first week following the surgery.
WHAT FOODS TO AVOID AFTER TUMMY TUCK
Processed foods: promote inflammation. Patients should avoid eating processed foods, especially carbohydrates like bread, rice, and cereal.
Alcohol and cigarettes: slow the body’s healing process and thin the blood. Physicians recommend avoiding alcohol and smoking generally from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after surgery.
Salt: avoid salty foods for at least two to four months after tummy tuck. This is mostly because it may cause body bloat and nobody wants that after a tummy tuck!
Soda: leads to gas and bloating.
Fat: “Fat is the enemy!” Yes, keep this in mind. You have undergone tummy tuck only to get rid of your fats; if you expect a promising result, you should accept the limitations in your diet and take a different lifestyle with exercise and nutritional considerations on the top.
“Not all fat is bad!” Keep this in mind, too. Bad fat is saturated fat that is solid at room temperature and is found in most animal products, as well as fried and processed foods.
Just because you have got rid of fat deposits does not mean that all types of fats are bad. A healthy amount of good fat is essential for your health. The sources of good fat are olive oil, fruits like avocados, nuts, and grains.
A post-op diet does not limit or cut delicious foods, but only creates a healthy lifestyle through restraining unhealthy foods and encouraging healthy and nutritious foods. Therefore, it is important to follow certain dietary guidelines after your abdominoplasty and control your daily intake of calories, fat, sugar, salt, etc.
What Foods To Eat After Tummy Tuck
The key here is to focus on low fat, or lean proteins and make that the foundation of your post-surgery diet.
Water
Drinking plenty of water after tummy tuck surgery helps the body heal faster.
After the patient regains complete consciousness after surgery, and in the absence of nausea and vomiting, it is possible to use liquids such as water and juice.
If you keep your body dehydrated, essential nutrients will face problems being transmitted to the surgical site.
Loss of water, as well as low-fiber diet and narcotic pain medications, cause constipation and this, in turn, would lead to abdominal pain. Include foods that are high in fiber in your post-op diet and drink ample amounts of fluid to avoid constipation.
Plain water, light tea, fruit juice, and soups made from fresh and lean meat are recommended for post-op tummy tuck diet.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates help restore body strength and help with quick recovery. They prevent muscle loss and stimulates rejuvenation process. Whole grains, brown rice, oatmeal, etc., are good sources of healthy carbohydrates.
Vitamins
Taking vitamins A and C after surgery will ensure optimal healing of the incision, aid skin regeneration, and reduce bruising and the risk of infection.
Vitamin A is found in eggs, dairy, and cod liver oil. Vitamin C is found in citrus, tomatoes, strawberries, and leafy greens.
Proteins
Protein is a key factor in building new cells and structures efficiently throughout the entire healing process. It is found in eggs, lean meats, lean fish, beans, nuts, seeds, dairy products like yogurt, etc.
Post abdominoplasty medications
Caution should be exercised in taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen), or Aleve (naproxen) because most of them are all blood-thinning medicines, which can slow wound healing and cause bleeding. Consult with your doctor about the best pain killer after your tummy tuck surgery.