Best Practices to Reduce Post Surgery Swelling
Recovering from a surgical procedure involves some degree of patience. But that doesn’t mean your best bet is to sit in front of the TV, binge watching your favorite series while snacking all day long.
Especially if you want to reduce post surgery swelling and expedite healing.
There are certain things you can do that will help you more effectively move through recovery.
- Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
We all know by now that drinking plenty of water each day is essential to good health. It’s also essential to keeping post-surgical swelling at bay.
But you don’t necessarily have to get all of your hydration from water. Herbal teas and decaf coffee with minimal or no sweeteners also count. And if plain water doesn’t do it for you, you can drink water with natural fruit essences or even add a small amount of juice to your water.
You can also get hydration from produce. There are plenty of high water content fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, grapefruit, strawberries, zucchini, and celery. Speaking of eating…
- Eat With Recovery In Mind
Enemy number one when trying to reduce swelling is salt. So while you’re hydrating, stay away from Gatorade or other sports drinks that contain sodium. And keep the salty snacks at a bare minimum.
Another thing you want to decrease is your sugar intake. Too much sugar can suppress your immune system and throw off your body’s ability to heal.
One thing you can increase though is protein. It is essential for muscle and skin regrowth as well as wound healing. And adding a quality probiotic to your diet will go the distance in countering the effects of any antibiotics or other prescription drugs you’ve been prescribed.
- Dress Responsibly
Whatever notions you have of high fashion during surgical recovery, you’ll likely need to ditch them.
If you need to wear a compression garment during recovery, you may want to purchase some basic tank tops to wear underneath to reduce itching. You can cut them to size. And don’t even think about getting rid of the compression garment until your doctor gives you the go-ahead. (Some patients continue to wear them though for comfort and support.)
Plus, if you had any sort of liposuction to the midsection, you’ll need to steer clear of anything with tight waistbands.
- Keep on Moving to Increase Circulation
When you first come out of surgery, you’ll need to rest for the first 24 hours. But after that, you can start to get back to your normal daily activities – slowly.
Your physician may request that you don’t elevate your heart rate right after surgery. Slow walking is one of the best ways to keep the body in motion without raising the heart rate. Then once you get the okay, you can increase the pace of your walking.
Stretching is also a great way to add gentle motion while breaking up adhesions after lipo procedures. Depending on your surgery, you may find it helpful to lay on your side, back, and/or stomach on an exercise ball.
- Trust Your Body When It Wants to Rest
Finally, although we’re recommending all of these actions, it’s equally important to honor your body when it needs a break. As eager as you are to reduce swelling and get back to life, your body is healing from trauma. So in those six weeks following surgery, really pay attention to what your body is telling you and heed it.
You Have the Tools to Reduce Post Surgery Swelling
Now that you know the best ways to reduce post surgery swelling and understand the ins and outs of healing from surgery, you may be ready to try plastic surgery for yourself.
Contact us today. During your free and comprehensive consultation, you’ll be able to share your vision with a board-certified plastic surgeon who will advise you of next steps.
They could just be life-changing.
