Nutrition Before and After Plastic Surgery
Any time you opt for surgery – even if it’s elective – it’s still important to consider what to put into your body and what to avoid. Getting the proper nutrition before and after plastic surgery is going to make a difference in how quickly you heal. That’s why you should always discuss any dietary restrictions you may have with your board-certified plastic surgeon. It’s possible that certain diets could deplete you of key nutrients that will lend to optimal healing. Preparing Your Body There are certain foods, drinks, and supplements you may need to avoid the days or week before you prepare for your plastic surgery. Many of these have to do with how they impact blood clotting, but there are other factors. For example, if you regularly eat a lot of omega-3 foods or take a supplement, you’ll probably need to refrain before surgery because they can increase bleeding and thin the blood. Vitamins B, D, E, and K can all interfere with anesthesia. And herbal supplements sometimes have anti-coagulant or other qualities that can cause bleeding, and kidney or liver malfunction. They can also affect how patients process anesthesia. Finally, you’ll be discouraged from two of the biggest offenders – alcohol and caffeine. Along with dehydrating your system, alcohol can thin the blood. Caffeine, meanwhile, can increase bleeding and elevates the heart rate. If you can’t imagine a day a week without your cup of joe, take heart. You likely will only need to abstain a day or two before the procedure. Keeping Clean for Better Recovery Going into the surgery clean is also going to assist with recovery. The mistake some patients make is going right back to poor eating habits post-op. When they get bored while waiting for the body to heal, they may be prone to sugary or salty snacks. This is a mistake. Sugar creates inflammation and suppresses the immune system – neither of which is optimal for healing. Furthermore, salt will zap you of the hydration that’s critical for recovery. It causes you to hold water and can prolong any puffiness of swelling you might experience. And set the beer/wine/cocktail aside too. Like salt, alcohol also causes fluid retention which can prolong swelling. What’s worse though, it may interact in negative or even dangerous ways with pain medications. Good news? You can have your coffee again. The Best Nutrition Before and After Surgery… and Beyond So now that you know all the things you should avoid, what’s on the approved list of beneficial nutrition before and after surgery? We’ll take a look at the non-offenders:- Protein
- Zinc & Iron
- Vitamins A & C
- Water
