Have you had cosmetic work done recently and need to focus on recovering? Perhaps you’re wondering what diets and exercises to follow to boost your post-surgery recovery.
At Elite Practitioner, we’ll take you through a proper diet and post-op exercise process so you can begin your health recovery journey immediately.
Why Is Recovery Important After Cosmetic Surgery?
Cosmetic surgeries are designed to enhance or change someone’s appearance in some way. For example, they could involve changing the size of a body part or altering its shape, as when extra skin is removed from the stomach area.
For instance, one such service is provided right here at Elite Practitioner. This laser lipo service helps eliminate stubborn fat in particular body areas.
Just as with other surgeries, your physique changes. The surgery causes swelling, increased sensitivity, minor bruising, pain, or aches.
It takes time to recover. But you can still be doing something useful during post-op.
You’ll need to fulfill your body’s needs with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Let’s talk about both.
What Should My Diet Look Like?
Typically, your diet and lifestyle should already be good pre-op, as this will best support your post-op recovery. Your diet is particularly significant here.
Your diet varies according to your current body composition and nutritional needs. Gaining advice from a macronutrient coach or joining a meal-planning service can help you understand the diet that fits you best.
Should I Feed the Fat?
‘Feeding the fat’ means having enough caloric intake to sustain newly injected fat grafts from lift surgery, such as a Brazillian butt lift (BBL), for example.
Such surgeries start with liposuction, which involves sucking fat from areas around the body, which is then reprocessed and reinjected into the buttocks and hips. The locations of these fat grafts will depend on what kind of body shape you want.
As a result, your body needs to integrate the new fat cells into the surrounding tissues, which requires a lot of energy. You may also lose fat cells in the process. These reasons are why you should feed the fat.
To successfully do this, consume foods that are high in healthy fats, such as avocados, salmon, walnuts, and almonds.
What Should I Avoid Consuming?
Post-operation, it is commonly advised to avoid salt, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol for at least a month.
Your body will benefit from high levels of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals at this time. A nutrient-rich diet will help you heal properly and fast.
Consuming food with high levels of salt or sodium can lead to your body retaining fluids. This prolongs swelling and puffiness, especially around the healing area.
It is advisable to lower sodium consumption for at least two months pre- and post-op.
How Do I Manage Daily Portion Control?
If you already control your eating portions on a daily basis, then continuing this habit will be of huge benefit to you.
Here are some tips to remember to keep focus during recovery:
- Use a small plate to prevent serving too much food.
- Use a food scale or measuring cup to determine the food you need.
- Check food labels for nutritional information. Remember to limit sodium during recovery.
- Try meal prepping and putting your food into containers, such as a lunch box with compartments.
How Do I Control Portions During Holidays?
With the holidays right around the corner, the temptation to sidetrack your diet will be strong.
It’s tempting to let loose, especially with loved ones around. Still, it’s important to maintain portion control so you can recover post-op as quickly as possible.
Here are some tips to try during your recovery journey when the holidays arrive:
- Wait twenty minutes after your meal to see if you’re still hungry and whether you need that second helping.
- Be careful with what you eat after you’ve finished your meal– go for a healthy option, like fruit, rather than a processed one, like chips.
- Split the food with a family member or friend if you’re eating out.
- Only linger where there’s food around if you’re hungry– people tend to consume more when they have easy access to food.
- Share your predicament with friends and family. Letting them know about your post-op dietary needs can help build understanding and support.
- Practice discipline. This can include making a conscious effort not to overeat and physically distancing yourself from tables of food.
What Exercises Should I Do?
Asides from controlling what you put into your body, you’ll also need to manage your activity.
It’s quite easy to lie around post-op, especially if you feel achy or uncomfortable from the surgical procedure.
You’ll need to follow your doctor’s advice on this. Depending on your surgery, it is usually advised to avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting within the first month of post-op.
For example, if you underwent abdominoplasty, which is a type of cosmetic surgery that reconstructs areas within the abdomen, it is safer not to lift heavy objects for a while.
This is because it engages the muscles in your abdomen when they should be resting. Therefore, exertion can prolong recovery and could potentially damage your muscles.
Once you’re allowed to exercise again, you can begin with light cardio workouts, like walking or cycling. These are great for plastic surgeries such as liposuction.
After that, gradually increase the intensity of other forms of exercise, such as running or weightlifting.
Bear in mind that you shouldn’t force yourself to keep going once you start feeling discomfort in the area where cosmetic surgery was performed. We don’t want you accidentally causing tears or bruises.
After all, exercising aims to maintain your health and fitness so that you experience an effective and speedy recovery. If you start feeling unwell or exhausted, you may be overdoing it. Take time to rest and recover.
What’s Next?
If you’re curious about what else you need to know about postoperative recovery, Elite Practitioner has you covered.
Not only that, but you can also learn more about the types of services provided. These range from non-surgical aesthetic treatments and revitalizing massages.
Our goal is to help you attain optimal health and confidence.
For more information on all things cosmetic surgery and to book an appointment with us, check out what we offer and where to find us today!
