Beauty Doc Blog

December 16.2008

Liposuction will eliminate the extra fat in areas of your body, but how you take care of yourself after the procedure will determine how long you will get to enjoy that slim silhouette. Many people fear gaining weight after surgery, especially since they cannot work out during the recovery stages.  But looking at it logically – why go through the surgery if you haven’t thought how to keep the fat from creeping back into your now svelte form?

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) stated in a 2004 publication that liposuction patients are three times as likely to gain weight, even after a weight or fat loss procedure,  if they do not stick with a healthy diet.  And they are four times more likely to gain weight if they do not maintain a regular exercise routine.   Both eating right and exercise are vital to keeping the fat and weight away from your body.

A high-protein diet during the recovery phase of your weight or fat loss surgery will help you stay strong and keep your muscles in great shape.  A protein supplement may be used, but always ask your doctor first.  A well thought out menu for the time period after surgery can help maintain results, but knowing which foods you can – and cannot eat – during this critical time may be the key to long-term weight management.

Since the liposuction procedure will be taxing on your body, you will need to make wise food choice.  Muscles and skin, and your nerves, need to heal during the recovery period. The body needs protein to generate new cells and eating high protein foods can help you maintain your strength and recover quickly. As you might not be able to resume normal and vigorous workouts for a while, staying lean and mean is crucial.

Good for you foods to eat during your recovery period are:  Protein shakes (soy or whey protein is available), yogurt, smoothies made with fruit and or the addition of yogurt or protein, apple sauce, rice, oatmeal and softened veggies. You can buy bulk protein powder at a health food store or club type of store.  It goes a long way.  This may sound a lot like baby or toddler food, but this kind of dietary intake works.  Using a protein shake made with coffee and bananas for breakfast is tasty and an excellent start to the day.

After the healing process is over, keep up the healthy diet and exercise routine and it will definitely help prevent weight gain, and so reduce the need for any more surgery. Most patients can return to a normal diet but do watch those portion sizes.  Even healthy food can be unhealthy in large quantities.