Typically after an abdominoplasty or “Tummy Tuck” operation, I tell my patients to ensure that their diet is high in protein. The abdominoplasty operation requires a significant amount of protein and nutritional calories to heal all the wounds well and without complications. Patients are instructed to eat 1mg/kg of body weight of protein per day.
If a patient is 135 lbs. in weight, then 135 / 2.2 equals 61.3 kg. Therefore, I would like the patient to eat at least 60 grams of protein per day.
1 can of tuna fish contains approximately 25 grams of protein.
1 chicken breast contains approximately 25 grams of protein.
3 egg whites contains approximately 23 grams of protein.
Whey protein shakes typically contain 20-30 grams of protein per serving.
After abdominoplasty operations, the tight rectus muscle plication restricts the distensibility of the stomach and patients typically get full sooner. I instruct patients to eat proteins prior to eating their carbohydrates in this initial two week period post-operatively.
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