Can I drink a "detox tea" like Ballerine 3 to help with bowel movements after liposuction?

We have our patients use miralax and colace if taking pain killers after liposuction.  I suggest seeing an expert or following your doctors protocol. Best, Dr. Emer.

Thank you for your question. There are many treatments available to you to help your bowels recover after surgery. Much of this is the result of the anesthesia used during surgery, as well as prescription pain medication. I would start with drinking plenty of water and eating a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables. There are over the counter adjuncts that you can try including fiber supplements, prune juice, Senna, and Colace. If these do not help, I recommend patients Miralax or magnesium citrate. Be sure to voice your issues with your surgeon. They can monitor you closely to ensure your full recovery.

Thank your for your questionTo help with your constipation, I recommend drinking plenty of water and fluids, walking, and taking stool softeners. If that doesn't work, laxatives are also a good option. I would contact your surgeon's office before taking the tea you are describing and to ask for their advice. Good luck!

Don’t fall for the miracles that over-the-counter products always fail to deliver. I doubt very much whether a so-called "detox tea" can detoxify a single thing. Post-operative constipation is not uncommon after liposuction (or any surgery, really), and is usually caused by the remaining anesthesia in the body and narcotic pain medication taken during the recovery period. The best way to resolve this issue is to wean yourself from the pain medications as soon as you feel you no longer need it, and there are other things you can do to ease the discomfort of constipation and promote bowel regularity. Drinking plenty of fluid and including an appropriate amount of fiber in your diet will help constipation problems much more than an overpriced herbal tea.