Preparing for swimsuit season for some men and women is a year-long process. Spending hours at the gym, eating a healthy diet that only consists of lean protein, veggies and fruit. Though there is no replacement for diet and exercise, a tummy tuck can help you achieve the body you have been reaching for. Tummy tuck, abdominoplasty, removes the sagging skin and excess fat from your belly and tightens the core muscles for a flatter and smoother appearance. Though summer is over, there is no time to waste on rebuilding your stomach. The breezy and chilly months of fall and winter is the perfect time to start preparing your body for next year.

Big sweaters, bulky overcoats and jackets will do more than keep tummy tuck patients warm, they will also be the most comfortable clothing during the recovery period. Just as any other surgery, abdominoplasty can leave patients with swelling, bruising and incision lines that need time to heal. Everyone’s body reacts differently to surgery and may require more time to recover. The holiday season is the best time to get a tummy tuck, it allows patients to treat wounds comfortably indoors and avoids damage to healing skin.

Surgeons Prefer Patients Recover in Cooler Seasons

The calories that are stored up during the cold months also make it easier for surgeons to determine how much work is needed for the abdomen. Locating problem areas are no longer an issue and it will enhance results for every tummy tuck patient.

Everyones body stores fat during winter and just like any other living thing we try to reduce our activity outdoors and stay inside more often to keep warm. This helps promote tummy tuck recovery without straining the body in the sun or in heat. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, tummy tuck recovery may need months for swelling to subside and observe final results. Numbness may occur, but the effects will subside. Incisions may appear red or pink, but will fade over the next few months. Sun damage can occur to incision lines if exposed too early, which is why surgeons do not recommend sunlight for the first few weeks.

Holiday Eats and Treats

Going under the knife during the holiday season is the best season to help the recovery process, but it can be challenging for a patient to abstain from the abundance of food. Thanksgiving is the biggest eating day of the year, 3,000 calories are consumed by the average person at Thanksgiving dinner and 675 million pounds of turkey are consumed each year. On Christmas, ham, alcohol and dessert keep us flowing with temptation. The worst part is that the body is still recovering and maintaining diet may be difficult, but here are some tips for healthy choices:

Consume turkey in small portions, 3 to 4 ounces (white meat and no skin)

Cranberry dishes are good for cholesterol, do not add sugar, Splenda okay

Pomegranate juice to drink and seeds can be added to salad

Pumpkin pie made with skim milk and egg substitutes are the best option for dessert

Avoid unhealthy desserts and indulge on pecans

Wine, 5 ounces is about 100 calories (Reduced if made as a spritzer – half wine and half calorie free seltzer water)

If you are considering to shape a flatter stomach over winter it is the best time to get ahead for next year’s bikini season. Big heavy coats and loose clothing provide comfort and reduce tightness over swelling areas. Surgery over the cold months will also make it simpler for the surgeon to locate problem fat areas. Diet over the holidays is manageable just as long as the patient does not indulge and maintain calorie levels. Tummy tuck over the winter is simple, find out how to reshape your tummy and be ready to peel the layers off next summer.