Dietary Preparation & Recovery Diet

Eating the right foods before and after tummy tuck surgery is essential. Though there’s no hard and fast tummy tuck recovery diet that every patient must follow, there are a few foods that are more beneficial than the rest. Sticking to a plan will help speed up the healing process.

Pre-Operative Dietary
In-Take Schedule

Days 1-7 Before Surgery

High Protein Snack
Protein Shake

Days 1-4 Before Surgery

Probiotic: activated yogurts (Activa, et al.), drinks (Kombuch, Kefir, et al.), and supplements (M1 Probiotics Platinum, et al.)

Days 1-2 Before Surgery

Fluids (Water, Ginger Ale, Powerade)

Day of Surgery

NOTHING before surgery

Post-Operative Dietary
In-Take Schedule

Day of Surgery

Fluids (Water, Ginger Ale, Powerade)
Crackers (Saltines, BelVita)

Days 1 After Surgery

Fluids (Water, Ginger Ale, Powerade)
Crackers (Saltines, BelVita)
Probiotic: activated yogurts (Activa, et al.), drinks (Kombuch, Kefir, et al.), and supplements (M1 Probiotics Platinum, et al.)

Days 2 After Surgery

Fluids (Water, Powerade)
Probiotic: activated yogurts (Activa, et al.), drinks (Kombuch, Kefir, et al.), and supplements (M1 Probiotics Platinum, et al.)

Days 3 After Surgery

Fluids (Water, Powerade)
Probiotic: activated yogurts (Activa, et al.), drinks (Kombuch, Kefir, et al.), and supplements (M1 Probiotics Platinum, et al.)
Protein Snack
Protein Shake

Days 4-6 After Surgery

Fluids (Water)
Probiotic: activated yogurts (Activa, et al.), drinks (Kombuch, Kefir, et al.), and supplements (M1 Probiotics Platinum, et al.)
Protein Snack
Protein Shake

Eat High-Protein Dishes

The key to a successful tummy tuck diet lies in eating high-protein meals every day during recovery. This gives the body the nutrients it needs to recover faster and more thoroughly.
Foods like chicken breast, fish, turkey, protein powders, and vegetarian proteins like tofu are all great options to incorporate into a tummy tuck diet plan.
Immediately after surgery, it is normal for patients not to feel terribly hungry or have enough energy to cook a full meal. In this case, they should consume protein shakes until they feel better. Patients are encouraged to choose options that are low in sugar and high in nutrients to help their body heal.

Stay Hydrated

While recovering from surgery, patients must prioritize drinking plenty of fluids. It is important to stay hydrated at all times.
Sipping on water throughout the day, even if thirst is not present, can help prevent dehydration. If water is too bland, Powerade and ginger ale are great alternatives. However, one must be mindful of the amount of sugar these products contain.
As the patient progresses through recovery, she should avoid drinking alcohol and should consume caffeine in moderation.

Tummy Tuck Recovery Diet

Eating the right foods after recovering from tummy tuck surgery is essential to speed up the healing process. Though there’s no hard and fast tummy tuck recovery diet that every patient must follow, there are a few foods that are more beneficial than the rest.

Immediately After Surgery

Immediately after tummy tuck surgery, patients may want to take things slowly. Typically, most patients will want to eat something light. Low-sodium soups are ideal and won’t leave them feeling uncomfortably full.
If light soups aren’t enough, Saltines and Belvita biscuits can help create feelings of fullness. Still, patients must take care to eat them sparingly with sips of water to aid digestion. The following day, patients can start to eat a heavier tummy tuck recovery diet with denser foods.

Foods to Avoid

Tummy tuck recovery diets are most successful when they prioritize eating clean, unprocessed, and healthy foods. Junk foods and dishes with processed ingredients should be avoided as they have minimal nutritional value and won’t help with recovery.
If possible, the patient should also try to avoid dishes that are high in fat and simple carbs like white rice, bread, pasta, and potatoes. These can increase inflammation and contribute to discomfort during recovery.

Use Supplements as Directed

Though a healthy tummy tuck recovery diet will provide plenty of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, the patient may still want to take some supplements to further boost the body’s natural healing abilities. Vitamin C and omega-3 supplements can help reduce inflammation and speed up healing. Taking probiotics can make it easier for the body to digest foods immediately after surgery.
If a patent is not sure which supplements will help her best, she should speak to her plastic surgery team before the surgery. They’ll be able to provide recommendations.