Chin liposuction can be a life-changing procedure for men and women frustrated by a double chin or neckline fullness. Fat is quickly and effectively removed via liposuction, and the patient is left with a sculpted jaw and an attractive neck contour.

Though the process is quick and relatively painless, it will take a few weeks to see your full results. During this time, it is imperative that patients follow a healthy diet. Doing so will facilitate a faster recovery and lower your chances of complications.

Ensure you follow the tips ahead to see optimal results from your surgery as soon as possible.

What to Eat After Chin Liposuction

Post Lipo Diet

Of course, you should always follow your plastic surgeon’s specific instructions regarding the best diet after liposuction. But in general, right after your surgery, your after liposuction diet should consist of liquids only. This will last for the first three or four days. But again, always check with your doctor.

The purpose of consuming a liquids-only diet is to limit the need for chewing and to allow your body to recover overall. Less chewing and digestion means less work for your body, allowing it to focus more on healing and recovery.

A liquids-only diet means avoiding all foods that require chewing. We also recommend focusing on liquids that are bland and easily-digestible. A Bloody Mary is a liquid, but this isn’t what we’re talking about!

First of all, you must avoid alcohol during your recovery. But you’ll also want to limit spicy foods at this time — as well as dairy-based liquids and those with caffeine.

Can you drink coffee after liposuction?

Again, while coffee is a liquid, you should avoid any drinks with caffeine during the first few days after your surgery.

We’ll discuss more about what to avoid later.

Eat Lots of Protein

Protein is an essential macronutrient for everyone, but it’s particularly beneficial for those who are healing from surgery. Think of it as the fuel your body needs for the healing process.

Protein will aid in the reduction of swelling (common after liposuction). It will also help your incision sites heal and will regenerate damaged skin and muscle tissue.

When making your chin liposuction shopping list, be sure to focus on lean proteins when possible. Once you’ve gone through a few days of an all-liquids diet and advanced to a solid foods diet, here’s a list of protein-rich food to select from:

Fish and seafood
Eggs
Chicken breast
Turkey breast
Ground turkey
Lean ground beef
Tofu
Nuts and seeds
Natural nut butters
Beans and lentils
Plain Greek yogurt
Cottage cheese
Hard cheeses and other dairy products

Probiotics

After liposuction, the majority of surgeons will prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection. While antibiotics are important to help along the healing process and keep complications at bay, they can also wreak havoc on your digestive system — in particular, your gut bacteria.

To counteract these effects, we recommend taking a probiotic and/or consuming probiotic foods.

Probiotics are the good bacteria that live in your body, and they provide multiple health benefits. Not only can they improve your immune system and reduce inflammation overall, but they can also treat digestive issues such as diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.

Everyone has a natural population of gut bacteria, but this “microbiome” can become depleted by things like antibiotics. When this happens, you can repopulate your microbiome with probiotic pills and probiotic (fermented) foods.

If you’d like to try incorporating more probiotics into your diet, here’s a list of foods to eat after liposuction:

Sauerkraut and pickles
Kimchi
Kefir and yogurt
Kombucha
Tempeh
Miso
Sourdough bread and other baked goods

* You’ll find some versions of these foods that are actually not fermented and, therefore, do not contain probiotic benefits. With pickles, for example, avoid those made with vinegar. Instead, look for words like “fermented”, “probiotic”, and “unpasteurized”.

Multivitamins

It can be tough to get all the nutrients you need in a day from food alone. For this reason, we recommend adding a multivitamin to your liposuction diet menu. This will help keep your diet as balanced as possible, no matter what.

A good multivitamin should include a range of vitamins and nutrients. In particular, look for one that includes magnesium, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin C, and EPA and DHA (omega-3 fatty acids).

Hydration

Finally, while following the diet guidelines above, it is vital to keep your body hydrated. This means carrying a water bottle with you wherever you go.

Hydration will help reduce the swelling from your procedure and keep your body healthy and strong. If you are drinking enough water, you will see the results of your surgery more quickly than if you allow yourself to get dehydrated.

Aside from water, other beverages like natural juice and milk can count toward your daily hydration as well. Sports drinks and electrolyte beverages are okay, but drink these in moderation as they can be high in sugar.

What to Avoid After Chin Liposuction

Foods to Avoid After Chin Liposuction

Now that we’ve spoken about what to eat after chin liposuction, let’s discuss what not to eat.

Stay away from salty foods that will accentuate your swelling
Avoid inflammation-causing foods that are high in sugar and saturated fats
Avoid fried, fatty foods
Avoid spicy foods that may cause stomach upset

This means you should not be eating:

Salty chips and crackers
Cakes, cookies, and donuts
Fast food burgers, sandwiches, and fries
Pizza (unless healthy and homemade)
Candy, chocolate, and ice cream
Pre-packaged frozen entrées

Other Things to Avoid

Last but not least, think carefully about other foods in your standard diet. Though they may be okay for normal consumption when you are not healing from surgery, some foods and ingredients should be avoided while in recovery.

Foods to avoid after liposuction, include:

Alcohol. Your liver and immune system should be focused on the healing process, but alcohol will make this difficult. Alcohol can also impair your judgment, which can be dangerous when healing.
Caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant, which can compound irritability and tummy troubles when you’re not feeling your best. Furthermore, it can lead to dehydration.

You should also avoid smoking. Smoking is dangerous when recovering from surgery. It can constrict your blood vessels, delaying wound healing and possibly even leading to infection.

Lastly, speak to your surgeon before taking any non-prescribed meds — even OTC meds. Generally, it is recommended that patients avoid any medications that will thin the blood, such as Aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, etc.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

Remember: While your surgeon will be taking care of you during your chin liposuction and for the immediate hours after surgery, you are in charge of your extended recovery! Therefore, it’s up to you to know what to eat and what not to eat after liposuction.

Use this article to create a responsible menu and do what shopping you can before your surgery date. Once you’ve had your procedure, use delivery services or enlist help from friends and relatives to continue shopping and preparing healthy meals until you are healed.

Considering chin liposuction Houston? Contact us today to schedule a one-on-one appointment with Dr. Ashley Steinberg.