A faja is a high-compression garment worn to apply continuous pressure to the torso. These garments are used following cosmetic procedures like liposuction or abdominoplasty, or for postpartum support, to reduce swelling and improve contouring. While you can eat while wearing one, you must make significant adjustments to your eating habits due to the physical constraint placed on your abdomen. Always follow the specific post-operative dietary guidelines provided by your surgeon.
How Compression Affects Stomach Capacity
The intense pressure a faja applies to the abdominal area physically limits the space available for internal organs, including the stomach. Wearing a tight garment increases the intra-abdominal pressure, which in turn elevates the pressure inside the stomach. This mechanical squeeze directly restricts the stomach’s ability to expand as it fills with food.
If a person attempts to consume a large volume of food or liquid, the confined stomach volume can lead to discomfort. The elevated internal pressure can also force the stomach contents upward, aggravating gastroesophageal reflux, commonly known as heartburn. This upward pressure impairs the esophagus’s ability to clear refluxed acid. The sensation of fullness arrives much faster than usual, serving as a physical mechanism for appetite control and portion reduction.
Eating Habits and Meal Timing Adjustments
To accommodate the physical restriction imposed by the garment, adopting a “grazing” pattern of eating is beneficial. Consuming five or six small meals throughout the day, rather than the traditional three large meals, prevents overfilling the stomach and minimizes discomfort. Each meal should be small enough to avoid straining the abdominal area and the compression garment itself.
The speed and manner of consumption are important behavioral adjustments to prevent discomfort. Eating slowly and chewing food thoroughly aids initial digestion by breaking down solids before they reach the compressed stomach. Limit consuming liquids simultaneously with meals. Swallowing a large volume of liquid along with solid food can rapidly increase stomach volume, leading to immediate pressure and discomfort. Liquids should be consumed primarily between meals, allowing the stomach to process solids.
Maintaining good posture while eating and afterward is an effective strategy. Sitting fully upright during a meal helps to keep the torso elongated, which can reduce external pressure on the stomach. Remaining upright for at least 30 minutes after eating helps gravity keep stomach contents down, reducing the likelihood of acid reflux.
Managing Bloating Through Dietary Choices
The issue of internal gas and bloating is amplified when wearing a faja, as any abdominal distension is met with the garment’s pressure. Reducing high-sodium foods is an important dietary modification because excess sodium encourages water retention, which contributes to swelling throughout the body. Limiting salt intake helps manage post-operative swelling and general fluid retention, which can otherwise increase abdominal tightness.
Certain food groups are known to produce excessive gas during digestion, and temporarily limiting these can improve comfort. Carbonated beverages and chewing gum should be avoided, as they introduce air directly into the digestive tract, leading to internal expansion. Foods that are highly fermentable, such as beans, lentils, and certain cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, may need to be limited, particularly in the initial weeks, as they increase gas production in the gut.
Focusing on easily digestible, nutrient-dense foods, such as lean proteins and cooked vegetables, supports the body’s healing process without causing digestive stress. Proper hydration remains necessary for healing and overall health, but water intake should be spaced out and steady throughout the day, not consumed rapidly or in large quantities during a meal.