Losing a lot of weight is a major achievement. Unfortunately, many people don’t experience the results they desire after reaching their target weight because their skin is loose, and their muscles have separated. At Kadz Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA, we offer weight loss surgery to help people shed the last few pounds and finally achieve their perfect body shape.
How Long Is Recovery After Weight Loss Surgery?
Because each person’s treatment is tailored to their individual needs, it’s hard to come up with a definitive timeline. Some people only have small amounts of loose skin in their abdominal area, and they need a mini tummy tuck. Others want us to tighten the whole stomach area, the thighs, the buttocks, and even the arms. This type of operation is more complicated, so it takes longer to recover from.
Generally, you can expect to spend at least six to eight weeks recovering after your procedure. If you have a desk job, you might be able to return to work after a week or two. However, people whose job involves strenuous physical activity need to take one to two months off. During the recovery period, patients have to stick to gentle exercise and follow the surgeon’s orders.
What To Do During Recovery
It’s important not to rush the recovery period because this could lead to inferior results. Before you schedule your surgery, make sure you can take off enough time afterward. Speak to your boss or supervisor about the time you’ll need, arrange childcare for at least a week, and complete any strenuous tasks like cleaning and DIY before the operation.
Your surgeon will let you know how long to rest after your operation. You might have to visit the clinic several times, so we can check how well you’re recovering. In the beginning, you have to sleep in a raised position and wear a compression garment. Maintaining a healthy diet speeds up the recovery process and helps you to stay in great shape.
Avoid Strenuous Exercise
During your weight loss journey, you might have exercised many hours a week. Unfortunately, you can’t keep up with your routine for several weeks after surgery. Most patients have to rest for at least six weeks because their bodies need time to heal and adjust to the new shape. During this time, patients can do stretching exercises and gentle movements, but nothing that makes them sweat or puts pressure on the treatment areas.
Circulation is very important in the first few days because it speeds up the healing process. That’s why we almost always recommend that patients take slow walks around their rooms or homes. Over time, the speed and duration of these walks can be increased, and other forms of exercise can be reintroduced.
Wear Your Compression Garment
After your surgery, we’ll give you a compression garment. Wear this every day for at least six weeks, especially if you’ve had a tummy tuck. The garment supports your treatment area, prevents a buildup of fluids, and keeps the blood moving through your body. It also helps you to achieve the best results possible. If you fail to wear your compression garment, your tissues might shift and sag, so you have to come back for another treatment.
Sleep in a Raised Position
The optimal sleeping position depends on the kind of surgery you’ve had and where your treatment area is located. The first few nights, you might need to sleep on an incline, with bent knees because this position reduces pressure and keeps your blood moving through your body. Before surgery, we’ll discuss your sleeping position and make sure you have the necessary tools. You might need special cushions or a reclining chair.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Your diet affects the success of the surgery and the speed of the healing process. Eat healthy foods that provide your body with the nutrients it needs. Vitamins A and C are particularly important because they help with cell division, protect the cells against free radicals and other dangerous substances, and boost the immune system. Some great foods that include these nutrients are strawberries, tomatoes, bell peppers, leafy green vegetables, and eggs.
If you have trouble eating a healthy diet, consider using supplements. A multivitamin is always a good choice, but you might need something more specific if you have a deficiency. We recommend that you take probiotics to help with your digestion during the recovery process. Phosphorus is another vital substance for tissue repair, and it is abundant in leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds, and dairy products.
Are the Results Permanent?
As you can see, it takes some time for patients to recover from weight loss surgery. However, the six-week recovery period is worth it for many people because the results of the operation are considered permanent. Once the excess tissue has been removed and the muscles have been reshaped, it’s unlikely that the patient will experience more issues unless they gain back the weight they’ve lost.
Keeping the Results Fresh
There’s a lot you can do to maintain your results. After the surgery, follow all our guidelines, and lead a healthy lifestyle that involves providing your body with vital nutrients, exercising regularly, and minimizing your stress levels. If you’ve already worked hard to lose a lot of weight, you understand how to live healthily and prevent weight gain.
What Happens During Surgery?
When you first come to the clinic, we speak to you about your weight loss journey and how it has affected your body. We have a look at your tissues to determine which of our surgeries are most appropriate. Some people get a total body makeover, while others simply need a tummy tuck or a breast lift to achieve their desired post-weight loss shape.
Most operations take around two to five hours, and the patient has to stay in the clinic for a few hours or even overnight. The surgeon anesthetizes the tissues, then cuts away any excess fat and skin. They might reshape the muscles if they aren’t in the right place. Then, they carefully close the incision sites. Only around four pounds of tissue can safely be removed at a time.
Preparing for the Operation
Make sure you’ve carefully planned the days after your surgery. Determine who will drive you home from the clinic and stay with you for two days afterward. Discuss access to meals with your family or friends. It might be easiest to order food from restaurants and grocery delivery services in your area. However, you can also prepare and freeze meals ahead of time.
We’ll give you a list of drugs, supplements, and foods you can’t eat in the week leading up to your surgery. Anything that thins the blood needs to be avoided. You’ll also have to stop smoking and drinking large quantities of alcohol because these substances can make the recovery process more difficult. If you take medication for another condition, we’ll determine whether it’s safe for you to keep doing so or whether your drugs need to be adjusted.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Our surgical interventions aren’t meant to replace a comprehensive weight loss program. During the operation, only small amounts of fat can be removed from the body. Patients still have to use holistic methods like dietary changes and regular exercise to achieve their weight loss goals. Once their BMI is in the normal range and they are happy with their weight, they can come to the clinic and get surgery.
We always check the person’s medical records, list of allergies, and list of medications to determine whether a body makeover is safe. We also ask patients about their experiences and whether they’ve ever had plastic surgery before.
Willingness To Maintain Weight
One of the most important criteria is whether someone is willing and able to maintain their current weight. Before booking you in for surgery, we speak to you about your weight loss journey and your current habits to make sure you’re dedicated to the process. If necessary, we recommend working with personal trainers or nutritionists.
Achieve Your Perfect Shape Now
Weight loss surgery is the perfect treatment for people who have achieved or are close to their target weight, but aren’t seeing the excellent results they expected due to loose skin and separated muscles. It takes about six to eight weeks to recover from the procedure, but the results are considered permanent. Send us a message or give us a call at Kadz Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA to find out whether you can take part in weight loss treatment.
