Your post-surgery diet plays a significant role in the ease of your tummy tuck recovery as well as how fast you recover. Tummy tuck surgery puts stress on your body, and a nutritious diet will help repair and restore your cells. Unfortunately, while a nutritious diet can help you, an unhealthy diet can lengthen your recovery and disrupt the quality of your results.
High protein food – fish, meat, poultry, nuts, eggs. While many of the elements you require can be found in vitamins and supplements, you should always aim to get your nutrients from your meals whenever feasible.
Nutrients are absorbed through food easier than they are through vitamins. Sticking to a healthy diet after your surgery will also put you on the right path to maintaining your tummy tuck results.
This article will discuss collagen supplements and keloids and best vitamins to take after liposuction.
Taking Collagen After Tummy Tuck
Your diet will be limited to clear liquids on the night of your surgery.
After your procedure, focus on broths, decaffeinated tea and coffee, and water. This will start to stimulate your stomach and ease it back into full use.
You can then progress to more solid foods, adding items back in slowly to ensure that your body can tolerate them.
You will then be able to structure your diet around the nutrients you require for recovery.
Protein
Protein is an essential element in your post-tummy tuck diet. Protein helps protect and strengthen your immune system, allowing your body to fight infection and forcing your muscles and tissues to develop new cells.
Protein synthesizes collagen, creates antibodies, and repairs damage. Tummy tuck patients should strive to take in 60 grams of protein each day.
Poultry, fish, meat, nuts, yogurt, soy, dairy, and eggs are among the foods high in protein.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that repairs damage and strengthens the connective tissue in your skin and muscles.
This vitamin aids in wound healing, fights infection, and increases the creation of collagen, which is vital for the strength and flexibility of tissues. It is crucial for a body that can mend itself.
Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, berries, tomatoes, leafy greens, kiwis, and Brussels sprouts are some examples of foods high in vitamin C.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A increases collagen to strengthen the healing incision while fighting infection.
Foods high in vitamin A include eggs, dairy, and cod liver oil.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D ensures that you absorb the calcium and other nutrients from the food you eat so you can be sure that you are maximizing their potential.
Orange juice, cheese, fatty fish like salmon or tuna, egg yolks, and almond milk are a few examples of foods high in vitamin D.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential element in building new cells that will aid in the tummy tuck recovery process. This nutrient supports the skin and mucosal membranes.
Shellfish, meat, seeds, nuts, legumes, eggs, dairy, and grains are examples of foods that contain zinc.
Bromelain
Bromelain is often thought to reduce swelling and inflammation after surgery. While there is no definitive proof of this, there is also no danger in incorporating bromelain into your diet.
Bromelain is a nutrient found in pineapple.
Water
Dehydration is common and can be severe after tummy tuck surgery. By drinking adequate amounts of water, you are not only keeping yourself from the adverse side effects of dehydration but may also help decrease swelling and prevent constipation.
Patients should drink as much water as needed to feel content; however, they should not overdo it. Drinking too much water may lead to swelling and water weight. Most patients find that five to eight glasses a day is enough to keep their body hydrated.
Fiber
Constipation is another complication that patients experience after tummy tuck surgery. This uncomfortable situation places unnecessary strain on the abdomen and can lengthen recovery if it is severe enough. Fiber helps to prevent constipation by speeding digestion and keeping stool soft.
Fruits, vegetables, and legumes contain plant-based fiber.
What Foods Should Avoid?
Just as whole foods help your recovery by repairing the damage, building cells, and reducing inflammation, processed foods harm your body by slowing the healing process.
Avoid foods that are heavy in sugar, salt, coffee, or alcohol because they deprive the body of the nutrients it needs.
Best Collagen Supplement for Wound Healing
Many treatments for keloid scars focus on reducing the collagen in the area. So, what kills collagen in keloid scars?
Topical silicone gels and sheets. Topical silicone treatments to prevent keloids or stop them from growing are available over the counter. Experts theorize that silicone bonds with skin molecules and creates higher surface tension, encouraging the body to reduce collagen production in the area. These products may also help to repair broken blood vessels, reducing redness in scars.
Steroids. An injection of a corticosteroid can reduce the size of a keloid scar. In general, steroids reduce inflammation and redness. However, they are helpful for keloids because they break up the connections between collagen molecules.
You can receive a steroid injection on an already existing scar. If you are getting surgery and are prone to keloid scars, your doctor may give you a steroid injection before or during the surgery as a preventative treatment.
To treat a previously existing keloid scar with steroid injections, experts recommend a series of five shots given four to six weeks apart to reduce the size and improve the appearance.
Low-dose radiation. Some keloid scars can be treated with a low-dose radiation therapy known as superficial external beam therapy. This beam uses highly directed x-rays on the scar. It only penetrates the topmost layers of skin. It destroys the cells in your skin that produce collagen and causes fewer new scars to form. This treatment causes no pain and only takes about ten minutes. Superficial external beam therapy is only recommended if over-the-counter gels or steroid injections do not work.
Your doctor might also advise this procedure if you’ve had a keloid scar surgically removed to stop the scar from returning.
Cryotherapy. Smaller keloids can sometimes be frozen off using liquid nitrogen. Blisters, discomfort, and a change in the color of the affected skin are just a few of the potential adverse effects of this treatment.
Surgery. If nothing else works, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove your keloid scar. However, up to 100% of keloid scars come back after surgery. In order to lower the chance of additional scarring, your doctor will probably advise another procedure in addition to the surgery, such as steroid injections.
Following your doctor’s instructions after surgery will reduce the risk of the scar returning. To lessen the chance of a new scar forming, your doctor could advise you to wear a pressure garment for up to 20 hours each day for at least a few months.
Vitamins to Take Before Plastic Surgery
When undergoing cosmetic surgery, it is important to follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions to ensure proper healing and optimal results. One common recommendation from Dr. Brown is to take a daily vitamin C supplement while you are healing. In general, there is no danger or risk associated with taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C daily in addition to your prescribed medications.Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in wound healing. It is thought to promote collagen synthesis, which is essential for proper wound healing and tissue repair. By taking a vitamin C supplement, you can support your body’s natural healing processes and potentially speed up the recovery time after cosmetic surgery.It is important to note that vitamin C is not a substitute for any prescribed medications or post-operative care instructions provided by your surgeon. It should be used as a supplement to support your overall healing process. If you have any concerns or questions about taking vitamin C during your recovery, be sure to consult with Dr. Brown or your healthcare provider.
Benefits of Vitamin C Supplement During Cosmetic Surgery Recovery
Dr. Brown typically recommends taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C daily during your cosmetic surgery recovery. This dosage is considered safe and should not pose any risk of adverse effects when taken in addition to your prescribed medications. However, it is always important to follow your surgeon’s recommendations and consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplements.In conclusion, incorporating a daily vitamin C supplement into your post-operative care routine can be beneficial for promoting proper wound healing and supporting your overall recovery after cosmetic surgery. By following Dr. Brown’s recommendation and taking the recommended dosage of vitamin C, you can potentially enhance your healing process and achieve the best possible results from your surgery.
