Plastic Surgery Articles

We tend to treat aesthetic plastic surgery as a one-time, wholesale fix of some part of our body that has aged or developed bulges from the aging process.  What we often lose sight of is that often, those liposuction treatments, tummy tucks and body lifts are also treating the result of lifestyle choices.  Moreover, we don’t leave the surgeon’s office and go home with a bright shiny new and sculpted form that will be there in perpetuity.  Diet and exercise are important considerations both prior to aesthetic plastic surgery and once the surgery has been completed, both for medical and for general health reasons.

Prior to surgery, it is critical that your surgeon know as much as possible about your diet and any medications you are taking.  These things are basic but it is important to catch anything that you consume regularly which might adversely impact surgery.  Medication for cholesterol control or for high blood pressure can sometimes cause thinning of the blood.  That, in turn, can have an adverse impact during or after plastic surgery when it comes to controlling bleeding.  In the case of a breast augmentation, post-operative bleeding can cause encapsulation of the implant.

There are certain dietary items that can also cause thinning of the blood.  Vitamin E supplements are known to have this effect.  Foods and spices known to have some impact on coagulation include:

Dried Fruits   
Nuts
Curry powder    
Cayenne pepper
Ginger    
Paprika
Thyme    
Cinnamon
Dill     
Oregano
Turmeric    
Licorice
Peppermint

If fruit is a daily part of your diet, let your surgeon know.  Most aesthetic plastic surgeons will recommend a simple, quality diet that is heavier on the vegetables and lighter on carbohydrates such as bread and pasta.  Water is the beverage of choice.

Changing your dietary habits is always difficult, but it may be a little easier if you look on your aesthetic plastic surgery as an important change in your personal look and one that you would like to maintain and perhaps supplement.  There are certain dietary choices that are important immediately after surgery to help with the healing.  Some surgeons will recommend that you minimize sugar intake because it helps minimize scarring.  Salt-rich foods after surgery will lead to water retention, which can cause complications after certain procedures. 

Bromelain is an anti-inflammatory found to dramatically reduce postoperative swelling.  Some surgeons are now recommending its use along with other standard tools for minimizing swelling such as ice.  Low-fat proteins are a good contribution both before and after surgery.

A diet program based on personal body chemistry is important to those who have undergone liposuction because the body has been altered by the elimination of body fat.  A quality diet following liposuction or a tummy tuck is critical because new weight gain will manifest itself in areas that were not part of the surgical focus.  The correct balance of fat, protein and carbohydrates are important to maintaining your new and slimmer look – and exercise will help you improve on it.

Don’t let aesthetic surgery be the only resource for a youthful, slimmer and more agile body.  Let that surgery be a starting point for lifestyle changes that will maximize and improve on your physical changes.  You don’t have to do it all at once: that’s a recipe for failure.  But a walking regimen for daily exercise and gradual changes in dietary patterns will bring results you can see and feel in a short period of time.  Spend some time with your surgeon and talk about post-operative steps you can take beyond the healing process and change your lifestyle choices along with your look.