Are you thinking about body contouring after weight loss surgery? Are you wondering what you can do to better prepare for that next step in shaping your body? First of all, congratulations on your great achievement. Losing a lot of weight is a milestone worth celebrating!
After weight loss, body contouring may help not only maintain weight loss in the long run, but also improve quality of life after weight loss through the removal of excess skin and tissue.
But, like any other surgery, post-weight loss body contouring has risks and you may experience complications.
Healing after Post-Weight Loss Plastic Surgery
There are several post-op complications you may encounter following body contouring after weight loss, including wound infection, wound breakdown or seroma. If the complications are severe, you may need to have revision surgery.
If you’ve lost a lot of weight from weight loss surgery, you may have a higher risk of developing wound healing complications. This is because your body changes after weight loss surgery. It may become more difficult for your body to absorb certain nutrients, such as iron, vitamin B12, folate, calcium and vitamin D.
Studies show that nutritional imbalance may exist months and years after weight loss surgery. The most common problem is protein deficiency, followed by deficiencies in trace elements and minerals.
How to Improve Your Post-Op Nutritional Intake
Your body needs a variety of nutrients to properly heal any wounds, especially after surgery. It needs glucose as a source of energy to form new blood vessels and tissues. It also needs protein to form collagen that makes up your new tissues and to replace the loss of protein-rich fluid that occurs during surgery. Lastly, it needs vitamins and fatty acids to strengthen these new tissues.
If your body lacks some of these components, you may have problems with wound healing. One easy thing you can do to promote healing and reduce post-op complication risks is to improve your nutritional intake:
- Eat a balanced diet with enough calories. Remember that your body needs the energy to recover from surgery, so it’s important to make sure you have enough calorie supply. You also need to have enough protein, fruits, vegetables, dairy and grain to balance your diet.
- Have the optimal amount of protein, around 60 to 80 grams per day. Common sources of protein include meats, eggs, dairy products, tofu, beans and lentils. You can also get protein supplements made out of whey and soy.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. You can also drink other unsweetened beverages, such as tea and coffee. Avoid alcoholic beverages as they usually have high calories and can work against your weight loss goals.
- Talk to a dietitian to make sure you get the optimal calorie and minerals that you need. Your dietitian can tell you how much protein, minerals and vitamins you should have and where to get them.
If you are interested in body contouring after weight loss surgery, there are things you can do to better prepare for this next step in your journey. Having proper nutrition before and after the procedure can help your wound healing process. Talk to your plastic surgeon as well as your dietitian to get optimal results and to lower the risks of body contouring.
Ida Darmawan is a freelance health and science writer for hire, specializing in immune-related diseases, cancer and surgery. She helps healthcare professionals grow their practice through customized contents that educate, engage and convert. When she is not writing, she likes to play with her two dogs and eat chocolate and ice cream.
