What Are the Best Foods to Eat After Liposuction?

Liposuction is a plastic surgery in which stubborn fat pockets are extracted from different body parts to improve the body shape. This method is suitable for the ones who cannot get rid of fat deposits by exercising or going on a diet. It is noteworthy that liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure, and if you don’t change your diet and lifestyle, the fat cells will come back.

This article mentions the importance of having a healthy diet after liposuction and provides tips on what to eat after liposuction recovery and what to avoid after the surgery. 

Read more: Liposuction Surgery Types: What is the Safest Lipo Method?

Why Have a Healthy Post-Liposuction Diet?

One of the main requirements for getting liposuction is having a stable BMI, which can only be achieved by having a balanced diet before the surgery. However, eating healthy should not be limited to the pre-lipo period; instead, it must be continued forever.

The major advantage of having a healthy post-liposuction diet is that liposuction results will last much longer, and you can enjoy your fit and slim body for years. Also, after liposuction, the blood fat level reduces, and the body’s metabolism increases; therefore, you should have a proper diet after the surgery to maintain good health. The other benefits of having a healthy diet after lipo include the following:

• Speeding up the wound healing process;
• Preventing nausea, vomiting, and constipation caused by anesthesia;
• Boosting the immune system;
• Increasing energy and strength, especially in the first days following the operation;
• Preventing infection and inflammation;
• Preventing the formation of blood clots by regulating the blood flow.

Read more: What Are the Do's and Don'ts After Liposuction?

Foods to Eat after Liposuction

After liposuction, your three daily meals should be divided into five small meals spread throughout the day because your stomach cannot hold much food at once. Also, you must be more careful about what to eat and when to eat to prevent digestive problems. If you wonder what are the best foods to eat after liposuction, read the following. 

Stay hydrated after liposuction. 

After lipo surgery, drinking at least six glasses of water daily is important to flush out toxins, prevent infection, improve digestion, reduce swelling, prevent scarring, and regulate blood flow. Also, water helps your skin to be more elastic; therefore, your skin will adapt to the new contour sooner and better.

Get enough protein to reduce swelling.

Lean protein found in white meats, egg white, beans, nuts, and whole grains can speed up your natural healing process and reduce swelling. In addition to protein-based foods, you can have protein drinks to make your skin and muscle tissues regenerate faster. Remember that you need your doctor’s approval for protein drinks and supplements to your diet after liposuction. 

Do not forget fiber-containing foods. 

After liposuction, whether done under general or local anesthesia, you will experience mild to severe constipation. As straining during the bowel movement can rupture your stitches and cause pain, adding more fiber-rich foods to your diet is essential to regulate your bowel movements.

Beans and legumes, leafy vegetables, and fresh fruits such as apples and bananas are rich in fiber and antioxidants; therefore, they can improve your digestive function and help your body to burn more fat. 

Take as many as vitamins. 

Add more vitamins C, A, E, B12, and K to your post-liposuction diet to have elastic skin, fewer scars, and a healthier body. Fruits such as oranges, apples, berries, kiwi, cantaloupe, and papaya are rich in vitamins C and A and must be eaten the first week after the operation.

Taking vitamins after liposuction is so important that some surgeons ask the patients to administer them intravenously or take daily supplements and other medications.

Take necessary minerals supplements.

As you can’t eat much food for weeks after liposuction, you should take dietary supplements of iron, magnesium, and zinc to compensate for nutritional deficiencies. Taking mineral supplements can also reduce inflammation, promote the immune system, increase collagen production, prevent the formation of blood clots in the arteries, and facilitate wound healing. 

Foods to Avoid after Liposuction

After liposuction, your body is more vulnerable, so you should avoid foods that irritate your digestive system and prolong your recovery. In the following, some of the main foods that should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks after lipo surgery are mentioned:

• Saturated and trans fats;
• Foods rich in sodium and sugar;
• Processed meats such as bacon and sausages;
• Sodas and bubble water;
• Fried and fast foods;
• Refined grains such as pasta and rice;
• Raw dairy products; 
• Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages for 14 days;
• Salad dressings;
• Allergen foods;
• Red meat; and
• Spicy foods.

Read more: What Not to Do After Liposuction for a Better Result?

What to Eat after VASER Lipo?

Although the method of VASER lipo is different from traditional liposuction, their recovery and post-op diet is quite the same. Just like other liposuction techniques, you need to add lean protein (fish, chicken, turkey), whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, soy-based foods, food supplements, healthy fats, and legumes to your diet and avoid having saturated fats, processed foods, and too much red meat.

How Long Should I Stick to a Post-liposuction Diet?

Most surgeons recommend following a post-liposuction diet for at least four weeks after the surgery because it takes almost four to eight weeks for the body to recover from liposuction surgery. By sticking to a healthy and balanced diet, your new contour will be preserved, and you will get used to a specific eating habit. When your body is recovered, and your digestive system returns to its normal state, you can resume your typical food schedule.

Bottom Line

Liposuction is becoming more popular every day in Iran. The most important reason people select Iran to perform liposuction is that Iran presents the most reasonable, well-qualified treatment procedures by well-experienced plastic surgeons.

Liposuction in Iran

To arrange a medical trip to Iran, you can trust our team at Raadina Health. We at Raadina Health understand your concerns and will be with you from when you arrive until you leave Iran. Please get in touch with us for a free consultation.

FAQs about Diet after Liposuction

1) What is the best diet after liposuction?

Each body reacts differently to liposuction, so there is no definite diet for the post-liposuction period. You can use the general tips in this article and ask your surgeon about what to eat after liposuction and what foods you should eat and avoid after your operation.  

2) How long after liposuction can I eat?

You can have water, juice, or broth an hour after the surgery. You can start having solid foods if your stomach can tolerate these fluids without abdominal pain and vomiting. However, it is suggested not to have heavy and raw foods -such as raw fruits and vegetables- for the first 12 hours after liposuction.

3) How long should I follow a post-liposuction diet?

You must maintain a healthy diet for the rest of your life; otherwise, the results of lipo surgery will go away, and the local fats will return.

4) Can I have carbohydrates after liposuction?

Carbohydrates should be avoided for six weeks after the liposuction surgery. Also, you should change your lifestyle and reduce the intake of carbs for the rest of your life.