Zinc is one of the five supplements every post-weight-loss patient in my practice starts at their first consultation, before we even have blood results back. It is essential for wound healing, collagen production and immune function. After significant weight loss, most patients have nutritional gaps in zinc that developed during
Reference Summary What vitamin D is: A fat-soluble vitamin that functions more like a hormone. It is produced in the skin in response to sunlight and activated through two steps in the liver and kidneys. Why it matters before body contouring surgery: Vitamin D plays a direct role in wound
Reference Summary: Thiamine (B1) and Vitamin B6 for Body Contouring Surgery What they are: Thiamine (vitamin B1) and vitamin B6 are two water-soluble B vitamins that do very different jobs, but both matter to me before I operate on a post-weight-loss patient. Thiamine drives energy metabolism and nerve function. Vitamin
Reference summary Calcium is a Tier 2 supplement in my pre-operative protocol. That means I do not start every patient on it at the first consultation. I check blood results first, then decide. This is a deliberate position. It differs from a lot of general post-bariatric advice that tells patients
Reference Summary Iron deficiency is the single most common nutritional issue I identify among my post-weight-loss body-contouring patients. Up to half of long-term post-bariatric patients are affected. Iron is required for oxygen transport, wound healing, and immune function. Low iron levels increase the risk of poor healing, infection, and postoperative
Most of the patients I see for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) have worked hard to lose a significant amount of weight. Some have had bariatric surgery. Some have used weight loss medications. Others have done it through diet and exercise over years. What they have in common, once they reach my
REFERENCE SUMMARY The issue is that patients who have lost significant weight, whether through bariatric surgery, GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, or structured dietary changes, frequently present for body-contouring procedures with subclinical or clinical nutritional deficiencies. These deficiencies directly affect wound healing, immune function, and the risk of post-operative complications, including DVT.
Most patients who come to see me for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery after significant weight loss have already done the hard work. They have lost the weight. They have kept it off. They are ready for the next step. The question they arrive with is usually a simple one. What
If you have lost a significant amount of weight and are now considering abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery) to treat excess skin, you have likely already done the hard work. But one area that catches many patients off guard is nutrition. Not because they are not eating well, but because eating
Most patients who come to me after significant weight loss have worked hard to get there. Bariatric surgery, strict dietary changes, and years of consistent effort. By the time they reach my clinic asking about body contouring surgery, they are focused on what comes next. The loose skin. The surgery