Does your body burn more calories trying to heal after a mommy makeover surgery?

It’s not unusual for Mommy Makeover patients to require
additional calories in the immediate post-operative period.In most cases, this is related to the wound
healing process.It’s
essential that patients have good nutrition so wounds can heal properly.This means that their diet should have
adequate calories, protein, vitamins and trace elements.In the post-operative period, these
requirements increase significant over the baseline needs of the patient.It’s
essential that your body obtain these building blocks so wound healing can
continue.It’s therefore, important to
have a healthy balanced diet in the post-operative period.

All other things being equal, you do burn more calories when you are healing from surgery, such as a mommy makeover.  If you are exercising less in the weeks following surgery, however, you could still gain some weight if you consume excess calories.  Good luck!

Yes - with any major surgery, the metabolic rate of the body goes up significantly for about 2 weeks or so after surgery.  As a result, you may lose weight.  Additionally, as the "water weight" caused by fluid retention after surgery goes away, your weight can drop.Make sure you are getting enough nutrition, with extra proteins and enough calories.  Your body needs those building-blocks to heal properly, so this is not the time to try to diet.

Recovery after any surgery involves a period of inflammation and healing in which the body's resources (calories) are utilized for the recuperation. Since the Mommy Makeover typically involves a combination of surgeries (tummy tuck, breast lift with augmentation and liposuction, for instance), it is not surprising that more resources are going to be needed for healing. Protein intake is very important during the healing phase (which typically lasts 6-8 weeks).  It is not uncommon to lose a bit of weight in the healing phase. Let's examine this closer: You are restricted from eating after midnight the night before surgery, you have a long day of surgery in which you are not eating and which some tissue has been removed (tummy tuck for instance), and then you recover at home on a bunch of pain meds. These meds make you sleepy and so you don't eat like normal for another few days. You will have some fluid mobilization and loss over the next few weeks. Your body is devoting it's resources towards healing the incisions, fight off the pain, prevent infection and get back to normalcy. All this takes calories. It is like you are in a long race (not quite a marathon, but close). I always encourage my patients to increase their protein intake in the initial post operative period in preparation for this healing phase.  Your weight should normalize after an initial adjusting period. If you continue to lose weight or are concerned, you should visit your primary care physician or your plastic surgeon.  Good luck with your recovery.

Thank you for an interesting question.  After any type of surgery, including a mommy make over, there is a healing response that involves inflammation.  In an effort to heal, the body does burn more calories for a duration after surgery.  This time period can vary, but is usually limited to a couple of weeks after the procedure.As for your weight loss, there are many possible factors.  Your body will mobilize and lose fluid for 2-3 weeks after your surgery.  This can account for some of the weight loss in that time period.  Afterwards, your body continues to heal and evolve for a duration after your procedure.  The look will continue to improve, and your weight can fluctuate during this time.  If you have any ongoing concerns, I would suggest discussing this with your plastic surgeon.Best of luck with your continued recovery.Jeff Rockmore

After a mommy makeover, it takes time for the implants to settle (if you got implants) and it takes time for the swelling to resolve.  This can take up to 6 months so I don't usually recommend any revisions for that time. Specific questions about problems with the surgery are usually best directed to the plastic surgeon who performed your surgery.  Thanks for your question!

Yes, the body typically burns more calories during the healing process after surgery, including a mommy makeover, because it requires energy to repair tissues and support the healing process. However, the increase in calorie expenditure may not be substantial and should not be a primary factor in considering such surgery. It’s important to follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions for a safe and healthy recovery.