Maintaining a balanced diet is important to help your body have the essential vitamins and nutrients it needs during the healing process of liposuction surgery. Although liposuction removes excess fat from specific areas of the body, a common misconception is that the removed fat will never come back.
Unfortunately, you can still gain weight — including new fat to the treated areas — if you are not committed to a healthy lifestyle after surgery. Our team at Memorial Plastic Surgery will discuss the importance of proper diet and exercise to maintain your results.
Below is a general guideline of what to eat and what to avoid after liposuction:
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Food to Avoid After Liposuction
Alcoholic beverages, processed foods, salty foods, sugary foods, and those with high amounts of saturated fat should be eliminated from your diet for an extended period of time after surgery.
Some examples include:
- Beer
- Soda
- Fried Food
- Animal Fats
- Animal By-products
These foods can contribute to prolonged symptoms, such as swelling, which is known to increase when a high amount of sodium is consumed.
Even when your recovery period is over, eating bad foods should be extremely limited to avoid unwanted weight gain and properly manage your weight into the future.
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Recommended Food To Eat
Incorporating more nutritious foods into your diet will help aid your body in the recovery process and help avoid gaining unhealthy weight.
Some examples of nutritional foods are below:
- Lean Protein – White meat chicken, turkey, salmon, and other freshwater fish
- Fresh Fruits & Vegetables – Leafy greens, strawberries, bananas, pineapples
- Whole grains – Brown rice, oatmeal
- Tofu – contains protein, iron, and many other essential minerals.
Here’s a good recipe that you can do at your home: Grilled Chicken and Quinoa with Matcha Dressing
INGREDIENTS
- Quinoa and chicken:
1/2 cup quinoa - 2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 18 oz.)
- 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- Freshly ground black pepper
Dressing and assembly:
- 1 cup vegan or regular mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 2 tsp. culinary-grade matcha
- 1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp. agave nectar
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
- 1/2 cup basil leaves
- 1/4 cup parsley leaves with tender stems
- 12 cups baby greens (such as kale, spinach, or arugula)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 Persian cucumbers, cut into 1″ pieces (about 2 cups)
- 2 avocado, cut into 3/4″ pieces
- 1 1/3 cups crumbled feta
Other Important Tips
- Stay Hydrated – Drinking a sufficient amount of water helps maintain a healthy metabolism, aids in digestion, and helps control hunger.
- Eat smaller meals – Proportioning your meals, and eating several smaller meals throughout the day can help maintain your energy level and boost your metabolism.
- Grilled or Baked options – Choosing healthier methods of preparing your food, avoid consuming extra calories and fat.
Suggested Places to Eat in Houston
If you are from out-of-town or find yourself wanting to explore healthy options in Houston, check out these recommended places that serve diet-friendly options:
Dish Society – Dedicated to using the highest quality and freshest ingredients to create healthy dishes. Great selection of juices and salads.
HS Green – Known as a fresh food kitchen, dishes are made 100% from scratch, without any preservatives, and are customizable to fit healthy needs.
Flower Child – offers a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and organic dishes.
True Food Kitchen – Boasts a wide selection of gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian dishes.
Salata – The local salad enthusiast’s favorite place. With over 50 ingredients to choose from, you can make the salad of their dreams while keeping a balanced diet, as well as helping along your liposuction recovery process.
Hobbit Café – Continues to expand its menu while becoming one of Houston’s most favorite eating places. Their most popular offering is the Protein Platter, a tuna or chicken salad served on a bed of baby greens and tomatoes. They also offer the Mithril Mix Smoothie, a fiber-rich fruit drink that helps relieve constipation.
Pepper Tree Veggie Cuisine – A local favorite for those looking for an Asian twist. They offer vegan-style dumplings such as the Mushu Vegetable Wrap and Crispy Vegan Chicken, both excellent for helping along the healing process of someone after a liposuction procedure.
Liposuction is not a substitute for losing weight or being healthy. Continuing poor eating habits will alter the results that you invested your time and money in. Protect your investment by making healthy lifestyle changes and enjoying your new body for many years to come!
