What to Eat After Liposuction
Liposuction can transform your body, helping you achieve your ideal figure and contours. However, what you eat is vitally important for optimal recovery and best results and can affect outcomes positively or negatively. Foods can wreak havoc on your new shape or provide benefits like reduced inflammation and tissue repair. This blog will discuss some of the best foods and nutrients to include in your diet for the best recovery and maintenance of results.
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Why Does Diet Matter After Liposuction?
Diet is highly personal, and even the most nuanced nutrition studies cannot draw absolute conclusions that are applicable to the general population. That said, it is still helpful to understand what nutrients are present in which foods and how unhealthy foods affect your body so you can make more informed choices about your diet.
Liposuction surgery is a cosmetic procedure that removes unwanted fat from the body. Many patients understandably don’t want to gain weight after liposuction and are curious about how to maintain a healthy weight. While our bodies all have distinct nutritional needs and are unique in how they process energy and store fat, some basic principles about food and body fat can be used as a starting point.
Even when we are at rest, our bodies burn a certain number of calories, known as our basal metabolic rate. If you consume more calories than your baseline, the extra energy is stored as fat. Therefore, if you do not exceed your baseline, in theory, you should maintain your weight and body fat composition or even lose weight. While nutrition and weight gain are complex topics, these foundational principles provide a good starting point for understanding diet’s role in maintaining liposuction results.
What Foods Are Best to Eat After Liposuction?
It follows that lower-calorie foods are better choices for maintaining weight. Coincidentally, many of the healthiest foods are low in calories but rich in essential nutrients that benefit the body for proper cell function, glowing skin, tissue repair, immune support, smoother digestion, and mor
Supplements can help you boost your nutrient profile, but a balanced diet is the best way to get your daily supply of essential vitamins and minerals. Of course, always consult with your doctor before making changes to your diet.
Hydration
The most important substance you can supply the body with is water. Drinking half your body weight in ounces of water each day helps flush out toxins, reduce swelling, and maintain skin elasticity. In addition to drinking water, you can stay hydrated by consuming foods that are high in water content, such as cucumbers, celery, lettuce, and watermelon. Adequate hydration during your liposuction recovery can greatly contribute to the minimization of scarring.
Protein
Protein helps with tissue repair, making it vital for your liposuction recovery. Lean meats like chicken breast, turkey, and fish are excellent sources of protein. Other protein-rich foods include tofu, lentils, beans, eggs, and low-fat dairy. Incorporating a protein source into each meal will provide your body with a consistent supply of protein during your recovery period.
Antioxidants
Eating foods rich in antioxidants supports the immune system, combats free radicals, and reduces swelling and inflammation. Food sources include berries, leafy greens, bell peppers, tomatoes, and carrots. A colorful variety of frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables gives your body its daily supply of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Healthy fats help reduce inflammation, support cardiovascular health, and promote healthy skin, among other benefits. Fatty fish, chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, avocado, and olive oil are all excellent sources of healthy fats.
Fiber-Rich Foods
A diet rich in fiber keeps the digestive system healthy. Choose whole grains like oats and quinoa, vegetables like broccoli and carrots, fruits with skin like apples and pears, and legumes like lentils and beans to maintain a good fiber intake. Drink plenty of water to avoid constipation.
Additionally, choose whole grains over processed grains like white bread and pastries, which can spike your blood sugar and worsen inflammation.
Zinc-Rich Foods
Zinc is a mineral known for immune support and wound healing properties. Lean beef and pork, shellfish like oysters and shrimp, nuts and seeds, and legumes like chickpeas and lentils are all good sources of zinc.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is essential for collagen production, which is responsible for repairing skin and connective tissues. This vitamin is also a powerful antioxidant that helps control inflammation. Excellent courses of vitamin C include citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, papaya, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and bell peppers. Eating these foods can help your body rebuild collagen and heal incisions.
Foods to Avoid After Liposuction
The foods you exclude are just as important as those you include in your diet. The following foods are okay in moderation but should generally be limited, both for your health and for optimal liposuction results:
- Sugary foods: Excess sugar can contribute to weight gain, increase inflammation, slow healing, and much more.
- Salty foods: Excess sodium contributes to swelling and high blood pressure.
- Fried and fatty foods: Fried foods are low in healthy fats and high in saturated fats and trans fats. Aside from being more calorie-dense, these are associated with cardiovascular issues and other health concerns.
- Processed foods: These are often stripped of nutritional value and are high in salt, sugar, calories, saturated fat, and preservatives.
- Fast food: These foods are often processed and tend to be high in sugar, salt, fat, and calories.
Maintaining Liposuction Results
Eating a diet rich in nutrient-dense whole foods can enhance your recovery from liposuction and help you maintain your results in the long term. Avoiding unhealthy foods and focusing on hydration and a healthy diet with protein, healthy fats, and antioxidants will ensure your body has all the nutrients it needs to function optimally. Furthermore, when our bodies are well-nourished, we heal more efficiently, have more energy, and glow from within.
Want to Learn More About Liposuction in Los Angeles?
If you want to learn more about liposuction, we are here to help. Dr. Chia Chi Kao is a board-certified plastic surgeon with a talent for stunning results and a history of helping patients achieve beautiful results and radiant confidence.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kao today to discuss your goals, questions, and options about liposuction or other aesthetic treatments we offer. Fill out our online contact form or call (310) 315-9211.
