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Preparing for Tummy Tuck Surgery
Are you considering an abdominoplasty, popularly known as a tummy tuck? This can be a great way to get rid of stubborn loose skin or localized fat around the abdomen, but you will want to prepare properly of the surgery in order to maximize your safety, decrease the risk of complications and get the best possible results. There are several factors you should consider in preparing for a tummy tuck, and adjust your behavior accordingly. These factors in include your diet, whether or not you smoke, how often you exercise, any other medical problems you might have, whether or not you use medications, and whether you need to arrange for someone to take you home following surgery.
Tummy Tuck Diet
A well-balanced diet is essential in preparing for any surgery. Giving your body the proper nutrients to help to fortify your immune system will speed your recovery. Consult with your doctor well in advance about what you should and shouldn’t eat, and whether vitamin supplements would be helpful. Bear in mind that vitamin supplements can backfire—vitamin E, for example, can interfere with blood clotting.
It is important for many reasons that you are as close to your ideal weight as possible before your tummy tuck. Obese candidates are poor candidates; a tummy tuck is not a short cut to weight loss.
Tummy Tucks and Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of complications from surgery. It decreases the oxygen that reaches your cells by constricting your blood vessels. If you smoke, your surgeon will most likely recommend you stop at least two weeks before your surgery. Even then, your risks will be greater than for a non-smoker, so you should stop further in advance, if possible. Nicotine gum or patches still have similar effects on your system; you need to eliminate nicotine before surgery, not replace your method of absorbing it.
Exercise After Tummy Tuck
Regular exercise will increase your metabolism and build muscle mass, which will help you avoid weight gain while you’re recovering from your surgery. A strong heart provides better circulation and a faster immune response, thus speeding your tummy tuck recovery.
Other Tummy Tuck Medical Problems
Discuss your plan to have a tummy tuck with your general practitioner, and make sure he or she shares your medical records with the surgeon performing the operation. You should also have a thorough physical. If you develop a cold or flu before surgery, however minor you might think it is, postpone your surgery.
