Eating After a Tummy Tuck Could Speed Up Recovery

July 13, 2007
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently reported that preventing patients, who have just undergone abdominoplasty from eating might not be necessary or beneficial.

In an article from the May issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal, researchers claim the risks for those who eat immediately after surgery are minimal.

Patient Care

There are risks involved with most surgeries; this is why it’s important for patients and doctors to have open communication before and after operations.

Since a common side effect of abdominoplasty is postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) health care professionals often regulate the patients food intake following the operation and forbid them to eat immediately after.

PONV often causes severe dehydration and retching and can slow down the healing process, which causes complications for the wounds that are attempting to heal.

Until recently, doctors kept patients in the hospital after the operation to ensure the patient are being properly hydrated.

However, researchers concluded in their study that eating after surgery does not have a negative impact on the patient or their recovery time.

Myth Dispelled by Study

Doctors studied 22 participants who were undergoing abdominoplasty and divided them into two groups.

In the first group, the patients followed the traditional rules of eating for this type of operation and were prevented from consuming any food after the surgery.

On the other hand, the second group was given something to eat immediately following the operation.

In conclusion, researchers found that neither group endured any additional pain or complications in comparison to the other group.

(Source: The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery)

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