Health Continuum

Nutrition

What you eat is truly what you are. Many research studies have shown the importance of eating a healthy diet in maintaining longevity. The risks of heart disease, strokes, diabetes and various cancers are all decreased when you eat a healthy diet. Not only are you healthier, but you also look better during the longer life you are expected to live on your new diet.

In preparation for your plastic surgery procedure, Dr. Sayah emphasizes beginning with diet modification. This does not mean that you should starve yourself or deprive yourself of the foods you enjoy. In fact, the term “diet” has earned a negative reputation by being associated with eating less or even starving to lose weight. Many scientific researchers have shown that weight loss from starvation dieting alone is short-term and the dieters typically regain the weight. Diet is defined as what you eat on a daily basis. We don't encourage starving, but rather changing the daily routine of what you eat.

Our dietitians highly recommend eating a high-protein diet that is low in carbohydrates and fat. The Atkins diet, which dictates your diet should only consist of fat and proteins, will lead to weight loss through a process known as “ketosis.” A diet high in fat, however, will have devastating effects on all of your organs over time. Indeed, the effects of the Atkins diet have been studied decades later, and will likely demonstrate that people who change their diet so dramatically will have a higher rate of heart disease and cancer. Moderation is recommended in your approach towards a healthier diet.

A healthy diet involves changing what you eat as well as the frequency of your meals. The overall amount of food you enjoy may not have to be changed based on the total number of calories you are taking in per day. So, your diet is typically individualized by our staff dietitian to your body’s needs and its current metabolic rate. Your current weight, height, percentage body fat and metabolic rate are considered in determining your new diet. Keep in mind that as you exercise more in the overall approach to healthier and more beautiful living, you will be able to consume more food because your metabolic rate is expected to increase. Please refer to the section on exercise for further information on exercise regimens.

Exercise

If you are considering any plastic surgery to improve a certain part of your appearance, Dr. Sayah recommends that you begin with exercise. It is through a team approach that excellent results can be achieved in plastic surgery, and that team includes you, Dr. Sayah, a certified dietitian, and a fitness trainer.

Exercise will not only improve your appearance, but it will also benefit your general health. The risks for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity are all reduced by exercise. It also serves to reduce stress, helps with depression and improves overall well being. In preparation for exercising, it is best to set short- and long-term goals. Your short-term goals should focus on what you hope to gain or lose in preparation for your surgery. If you are considering liposuction, you may even find that you have surpassed your expectations and lost more weight than could ever be removed with the procedure!

Our staff will guide you through your exercise routine based on your current level of fitness, and they will motivate you to safely achieve your goal before surgery. A few weeks after your surgery you can gradually resume your exercise program and work toward achieving your beautiful look. They will also assist you in setting safe and practical long-term goals that will keep your exercise routine interesting and varied while you get your entire body into shape. Exercise should be nothing but an enjoyable experience. The key is to start slowly and safely. Patients over 30 years of age should consult with their primary physicians before undertaking a new workout routine.

Pre-Surgery Plan

Stretching is imperative before and after training. Your goal should include aerobic exercise that strengthens the heart and improves overall fitness by increasing the body’s ability to use oxygen. Aerobic workouts can include bicycling, running, using the elliptical machine, climbing stairs or power walking. For those who are resuming exercise after several years, we recommend beginning with “power walking” for 40 minutes at least three times per week. The best method to power walk is walking as fast as possible without sprinting into a jog. Your heart rate should remain elevated in the range of 120 – 140 beats per minute depending on your age. Of course, it is imperative to check with your primary care physician before undertaking any strenuous activities which you are not accustomed to.

Weight training, or anaerobic exercise, is the next integral part of a complete exercise regimen. This type of training focuses on muscular strength and endurance. Many people are concerned that their body will become too "bulky" if they weight train, but in fact, the opposite is true. Weight training will help your body become more compact and less bulky while it improves your definition. Your strengthened and developed muscles will replace the "saggy look" at your arms, legs, and buttocks. We also pay proper attention to your posture, which is often underemphasized in daily routines.

If you are doing cardiovascular and strength training, you should integrate proper stretching into your routine. Yoga can be the perfect simultaneous form of stretching and strength training for all levels of physical fitness.

Rest, the last element of training, ensures your safety and success. Resting every third to fourth day allows your body to recuperate while it builds even stronger muscles. Proper amounts of sleep also play a role in resting patterns. You should sleep for 6-8 hours per night to rest your mind as well as your body. With an active exercise regimen established, you will find that your sleep is deeper and more restful. All of the above routines will not only improve how you look and feel before surgery, but they will also improve your surgical results by increasing your metabolic rate and preparing your body for the physical changes it will undergo after plastic surgery.

Post-Surgery Plan

Most surgeries require at least a 2-6-week healing period before you start exercising. We will be coaching you through your recovery and will make sure that you are physically ready to resume exercise safely. It is strongly recommended that you discuss with our staff any independent plans to initiate exercise.

Based on your type of surgery and the appropriate recovery period, a few weeks after surgery you will begin walking for 30-40 minutes. Your trainer will gradually begin weight training and more intensive cardiovascular exercises based on your progress and the limitations of your surgery. In 4-6 months after surgery, most patients resume an active exercise regimen similar to their routine before surgery. Until then, you are just warming-up!

Once you have resumed your fully intensive workout routine, your trainer will slowly vary the exercises such that you remain interested in the regimen. Our staff will help you accomplish your long-term goals of a healthy body and beautiful face and figure.

Clothing

To accentuate your surgical results, you should consider a few additions to your wardrobe. Clothing is the most effective way to display the work of art that is your body. Whether it is a more youthful dress to go with your much younger face after a facelift, a smaller clothing size to accentuate your new figure after liposculpture, or a less conservative blouse that no longer hides your nearly perfect reconstructed breasts after breast cancer, articles of clothing will emphasize your new body. You may even choose to purchase a hat and a pair of sunglasses to remain discreet during your visit to Beverly Hills! Our concierge will be glad to introduce you to one of the personal shoppers at the following local stores with which we have affiliations: