If you’re gearing up for a tummy tuck, you’re likely getting excited by the prospect of having a leaner, more sculpted abdomen. A tummy tuck is an ideal cosmetic procedure for eliminating excess abdominal skin and repairing diastasis recti, but did you know that the slimmer you can get your stomach before your surgery, the better your results will be? If you need a few tips on belly fat fixes to prepare for your tummy tuck, read on, because we’ve got you covered.

The Right Foods Can Help Fight Belly Fat

Focus on fixing yourself meals that are packed with fiber and lean proteins, while minimizing your sugar and carbohydrate intake. What’s the secret? Protein helps you to feel full, keeping your appetite in check. Fiber can also fight against fat gathering in the abdomen and minimizes fat absorption from other less healthy foods.

Move It to Lose It

We know you’ve heard this one before: exercise can help you lose weight. If you’re dubious about activity being a fix for belly fat, hear us out. Being sedentary means you burn fewer calories, and over time they can show up as belly fat. No one’s asking you to run a marathon, but if you add activity throughout your normal day, you can help carve away belly fat. Take the stairs instead of the elevator ot take a walk on your lunch break.

Lipo Away Your Belly Bulges

If proper diet and exercise aren’t enough to fix your belly fat, liposuction can help. Liposuction is the go-to body contouring procedure that can target diet and exercise resistant fat, sculpting your contours for a leaner abdomen, so you can get the best tummy tuck results.

Recovering from tummy tuck surgery requires time and careful planning. Immediately after your abdominoplasty, you’ll be prescribed bed rest, and it may take several weeks for you to fully recover. Laying out a plan before your procedure will ensure a speedy and safe healing period, especially if you follow these 3 tummy tuck recovery tips.

Tip 1: Gather Help, Food & Supplies

Since you will be unable to move around or leave your house after surgery for at least a few days, seek help from family or friends to stay with you and assist with watching your children or pets. Also, stock your refrigerator with plenty of juice or water (not carbonated beverages) and nutritious foods. Staying hydrated and eating healthy will help prevent bloating and keep your digestion regulated. Also, make sure to stock up on other items to help with healing, like ice packs.

Tip 2: Wear a Compression Garment

After your tummy tuck, your cosmetic surgeon will recommend using a compression garment that fits securely around your abdomen. This garment assists in helping the skin conform to your new contours as well as control swelling and help you feel supported and comfortable. It’s recommended you purchase at least two of these garments so that you can wear one while the other is being washed.

Tip 3: Get Moving

Movement is a vital part of healthy recovery after any surgical procedure. While you will be very sore and swollen, it’s important that you move around to help prevent blood clot formation and reduce swelling. Don’t overdo it with your activity levels, but take small walks around your home during the first week. You can increase your walking distance with each passing week. Movement and light exercise during your tummy tuck recovery period will help heal your body and mind.

As summer approaches, more people are asking the same thing of their cosmetic surgeons: When can I swim after my tummy tuck? Here are a few things to know as you look to schedule a surgery date that also works with your vacation plans.

Wading In

Although there are steps you can take to speed up your tummy tuck recovery, your body will need time to heal. Most people can return to work within a couple weeks, and light walking is recommended during the initial recovery period. You’ll be able to gradually ramp up your activity level as you heal. However, your cosmetic surgeon may restrict you from strenuous exercise for around 6 weeks.

Immediately following your tummy tuck, you may also need to wear a compression garment to promote blood flow and encourage healing.

Going for a Dip

There isn’t a hard and fast rule about when you can swim after a tummy tuck. It may be 4 to 8 weeks, depending on your body and your cosmetic surgeon’s assessment. To avoid risking infection, you need to wait until the drains have been removed and your incision and drain sites are completely sealed. You’ll also want to protect your incisions from sun exposure to prevent the scars from darkening.

Your skin forms an important barrier against any bacteria that may be in the water. A cut or wound can compromise your skin’s defense, allowing potentially harmful things into your body.

Testing the Waters

Depending on how quickly your body heals, you may be ready for light, short swims 4 to 6 weeks after your tummy tuck. People who’ve had muscle repair will need to avoid any strenuous swimming that puts strain on their abdominal muscles. Consult with your cosmetic surgeon and follow their recommendations in order to avoid complications.

Many women are eager to get back to their pre-pregnancy shape after giving birth. A tummy tuck removes excess stomach skin and can tighten loose abdominal muscles, making this the perfect post-baby procedure. However, the months immediately following a pregnancy may not be the ideal time to get cosmetic surgery. Here’s why new mothers should wait at least six months after pregnancy before scheduling a tummy tuck.

Take Time to Get Back to Target Weight

Candidates for a tummy tuck are encouraged to achieve their target weight prior to surgery. This is because a tummy tuck cannot remove excess pounds to give you the waistline of your dreams. Waiting at least six months after giving birth gives a woman enough time to resume a fitness routine and adopt a healthy diet in order to shed pregnancy pounds. If you still have stubborn abdominal bulges after reaching a stable weight, a tummy tuck with liposuction can reveal a fitter look.

Newborns Need Lots of Care

Infants require a lot of lifting, which means new moms are constantly engaging their midsection to care for their babies. After a tummy tuck, it’s important to minimize stress on the abdominal region, as frequent movement can disturb the healing process or undo results. Waiting at least six months after pregnancy gives mothers the chance to develop an efficient routine and adapt to their baby’s needs so that their tummy tuck doesn’t interfere with the need to care for their baby.

Hormonal Shifts

Hormones secreted during pregnancy allow abdominal muscles to stretch and soften to accommodate the growing baby. Many pregnancy hormones remain at higher levels throughout nursing. By waiting until you’ve finished nursing and pregnancy hormones have returned to normal levels, you can ensure the best possible tummy tuck results.

An abdominoplasty, more commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure designed to improve the stomach contours. Tummy tucks come in all sizes to meet your individual needs. Here is a closer look at four types of tummy tucks and what they can do for you.

1. Mini Tummy Tuck

The mini tummy tuck focuses on the lower abdomen and is suitable for patients with minor contouring needs. A mini tummy tuck can tighten the skin below the belly button and remove small amounts of excess tissue stored just above the pelvic region.

2. Traditional Tummy Tuck

A traditional tummy tuck treats both the upper and lower abdomen. In addition to tightening and smoothening the stomach skin both above and below the belly button, a traditional tummy tuck can remove excess fatty tissue as well as repair loose or broken abdominal muscles through an incision normally hidden below the bikini line.

3. Fleur de Lis

The fleur de lis tummy tuck is for patients with extremely redundant abdominal skin after massive weight loss or bariatric surgery. Often, candidates for the fleur de lis have an abdominal region that is wider than the hips. In a fleur de lis, excess skin and fatty tissue is removed and abdominal muscles can be repaired through a standard tummy tuck incision as well as a vertical incision in the center of the abdomen.

4. Belt Lipectomy

A belt lipectomy, also referred to as a lower body lift, uses an incision that circles the entire body below the belt line to lift the outer thighs and buttocks, improving lower body contours in addition to the benefits of a standard abdominoplasty. This procedure is most suitable for patients with generalized skin laxity or who have undergone significant weight loss.

Tummy tuck patients are often anxious to know when they can resume their exercise routine after undergoing surgery, and men and women are encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle following any type of body contouring to maximize the chance of life-long results. So when does recovery time end and an active lifestyle begin?

Days 1-10 after Tummy Tuck

This is most critical recovery period. As tempted as you may be to try some light exercises, you should remain relaxed most of the time. You can gradually practice walking around the house, first with and then without assistance.

Two Weeks Post-Surgery

Two weeks after surgery is typically the earliest possible time that patients can begin some very easy activity. Try light walking, up to a mile twice a day, but continue to avoid strenuous activities, and also avoid prolonged standing of two hours or more.

Four Weeks Post-Surgery

By this time, you should feel comfortable enough to do some brisk walking. You can also ride a stationary bike and lift some light weights, but avoid aggravating your tummy muscles, which may cause incisions to tear.

Six to Twelve Weeks Post-Surgery

Many patients are tempted to fully resume a comprehensive workout regimen by a month or two after surgery. However, while you may feel well enough for strenuous activity, to maintain the  best tummy tuck results, you should continue to avoid strenuous ab workouts or heavier lifting until at least the 12-week mark. Prior to this, you can gradually incorporate more gentle activities, such as yoga, Pilates, swimming, aerobics and jogging.

While tummy tuck recovery is gradual, the results can make the wait well worthwhile. Follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions, and if you feel unsure of any particular exercise, contact your surgeon before trying it on your own.