March 2023
What Role Does Collagen Play After Weight Loss Surgery?
Collagen was found for years as an ingredient in topical skincare products. It gained traction as a nutritional supplement once it realised that it works better from the inside than the outside.
Collagen supplements are everywhere, touting firmer skin and a more youthful appearance, and it has the science behind them to back them up. But did you know that collagen supplements after surgery can also be beneficial, along with your other bariatric-specific multivitamins?
In this article, we will talk about the benefits of taking collagen after surgery; plus, we have sorted through the hundreds available to find which collagen supplement is the best!
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is in your tendons, skin, muscles, and cartilage, and you can have collagen type I, II, and III. Collagen comprises various amino acids, mainly glycine, proline, arginine, and hydroxyproline.
Collagen is an important protein and structural component of the human body. It helps to make up connective tissue, giving our skin strength, elasticity, and structure. It also aids joint mobility, bone health, and cardiovascular health.
But why do we need collagen after Weight Loss Surgery? Because it plays a vital role in muscle recovery and healing post-surgery by speeding up wound and tissue healing.
Why Is Collagen Important Post-Surgery?
Fun fact, collagen makes up around 25-30% of total protein in the body. If you didn't think it was important before, you probably do now! If you have had any kind of invasive surgery, for lack of a better term, it will have caused trauma to your body and the proteins that make up your skin and muscles, including collagen.
Think about all the hard work it has to do to heal itself and how much easier it would be able to do that if it had the right tools in the right amounts to rebuild.
This is where collagen protein comes in. Your body will utilise a collagen protein supplement to repair your connective tissue and mend the skin, tendons, and cartilage that have been damaged. The body doesn't immediately absorb whole collagen; it is first broken down into peptides and amino acids, which are then absorbed by the body.
This means that collagen protein is great for speeding up healing time and helping to reduce inflammation in your body. Still, a good quality bariatric protein powder can be helpful, too, as it contains many of the same amino acids.
Benefits of Collagen Protein After Weight Loss Surgery
You may want to continue supplementing with collagen to improve tissue health overall, whether you have had Gastric Sleeve or Gastric Bypass Surgery, as protein is a key part of your long-term success. It will aid in keeping your hair, skin, nails, joints and gut in top condition now that your food intake is a little on the smaller side!
Collagen can also help boost your immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells. It can aid in joint flexibility while reducing joint pain and inflammation, a common complaint many patients have in both pre-and post-weight loss.
And, of course, collagen can promote healthy, hydrated, youthful skin and hair growth. You have a new body, so why not aim for a fresh look to go along with it?
Collagen Protein Can Strengthen and Improve Joint Health
The amino acids found in a collagen protein supplement like BN Collagen Protein aid in collagen production and applying that collagen to your joints. Collagen can help repair joint connective tissue while preventing further degradation and damage.
An unfortunate side effect of obesity is joint problems and pain that persist even after losing weight. If this is an issue you face, collagen might be a long-term supplement you want to commit to.
Bariatric Protein and Collagen Supplements for Hair, Skin and Nails
Following Weight Loss Surgery, brittle nails, skin disorders, and temporary hair loss are frequent. After all, if all of the protein and collagen peptides in your body are focused on healing your surgical wounds, there just isn't enough leftover to send to places considered less important, like your hair, skin and nails.
Supplementing with collagen has been helpful for minimising hair loss and boosting growth in people suffering from hair thinning and may also help with nail growth and strength, as well as skin elasticity and overall health.
A range of other nutrients is critical for healthy hair growth, and your bariatric multivitamin will play a huge role.
Any gaps in your nutrition, now that are left by the restriction or malabsorption will be easily filled with a tailored bariatric multivitamin daily.
Collagen Can Help Maintain Healthy Collagen Synthesis
As we age, our production and synthesis of collagen do slow down (hello, wrinkles! So that's how you got there!).
This happens earlier than we like to think; the process begins in our mid-twenties. Depending on your age when you undertake Bariatric Surgery, your level of collagen may affect how fast you heal. The older you are, the less likely you are to have an ample supply for optimal wound healing.
This is where a supplement might come in handy. As usual with Bariatric Surgery patients, you must go for easily absorbed one, like BN Collagen, so your new stomach isn't over-exerting.
Collagen Improves Gut Health
Collagen has been shown to enhance healthy gut processes too! (Is there anything it can't do?!). Collagen is an essential component of the intestinal barrier. This barrier lies on the surface of our intestines and allows nutrients through but blocks toxins from getting into the bloodstream.
Or at least that is how it is supposed to work, but sometimes this barrier is compromised, and things that shouldn't get through do, leading to inflammation and other issues. Collagen peptides protect this barrier by preserving the barrier membrane's tight connection.
Choosing the Best Collagen After Bariatric Surgery
You can add your BN Collagen to your healthy diet to nourish your hair, skin, and nails post-weight loss surgery and on an ongoing basis.
This particular collagen protein is made using the best collagen available. The body quickly absorbs hydrolysed collagen (collagen peptides), does this absorbable protein powder is tasteless in both hot and cold drinks. It can be mixed with various foods, making it easy to take daily.
- No taste or smell
- Each serving contains 15g of collagen protein powder
- There are no fats, sugars, or carbs (making it one of the best collagen supplements for weight loss)
- Gluten and dairy-free
- Excellent blend-ability with zero graininess