Facial Plastic Surgery ~ Nutrition for Optimal Health and Healing By Nimit D on April 19, 2017

When you are planning to undergo facial plastic surgery, one of the things to consider should be your nutrition. It can play an important element in your healing process. Nutrition is also a key component when it comes to your overall health and well being. When you include the right ingredients and eat conscientiously, not only will it help your body to stay healthy, it will allow it to perform optimally and efficiently. Or if you choose alternatively, your body knows and it will influence it to perform at a lower quality of functioning. It is especially important when it comes to preparing for your surgery or any healing afterwards that you take health and nutrition into consideration. Your regular eating habits may influence whether or not you will heal rapidly and with side effects being at a minimal. Although everyone heals differently, if you consider the quality of the foods you are putting into your body, it can at least encourage your body to perform at its absolute best!

There are a variety of superfoods out there and great nutritional options for you to choose from. Including certain foods throughout the day, will help boost your immune system so that infection is less likely and inflammation is minimal. Of course sometimes there are also more radical diets out there, that are not always in your bodies best interest. It is always best to do your research and to speak with your family practitioner before deciding to jump into anything or start any new fad diets.

Water is extremely important and should be a huge part of your day. Make sure you meet your daily requirements and always stay hydrated. Vitamin C is another nutrient that is critical to wound healing. It’s responsible for making connective tissue. It also acts as a powerful antioxidant. The increase of the body’s metabolic rate during surgical trauma can cause vitamin C levels to drop. Including Vitamin C following your surgery can help expedite tissue repair. Prune juice, stewed prunes or dates can be an excellent addition to your diet. Since prunes are high in vitamin C they can help relieve constipation that can be a common side effect associated with the drug therapy. Dates on the other hand contain vitamin K that promotes blood clotting, which in turn promotes healing of incisions after surgery and also helps reduce bruising and swelling. Some other vitamins that may be beneficial after surgery are vitamins A and D. Vitamin A supports collagen strength that is necessary for bone development. As well studies show that vitamin D has been linked to shorter recovery times. Your immune system is responsible for supporting wound healing, so it’s definitely important for you to make your health considerations a priority. Especially since supporting your immune system prior to your surgery can help your recovery go much smoother.

Eating foods that are a good source of protein is another option to consider, as  protein plays a key role in aiding faster healing. Peanut or almond butter are great choices. Fish, chicken, eggs, nuts, legumes and tofu, are some other wonderful options of proteins you might wish to add to your diet. Something else to also think about when making food decisions is incorporating foods that contain antioxidants. The job of antioxidants is to remove harmful free radicals from within your bloodstream. Free radicals can damage DNA and impair your immune system. There are some excellent sources of antioxidants, and most fruits and vegetables are rich in these. They can often be identified by their bright red, yellow, green or orange colours. Some of them are as follows; carrots, tomatoes, berries, cranberries, apples, spinach, broccoli, and red grapes. Another suggestion is pineapple, as it has bromelain in it. Bromelain is an anti-inflammatory enzyme found in the stem of this fruit. It reduces muscle and tissue swelling.

It is best to avoid foods with high sugar contents. Also consider avoiding refined carbohydrates, trans fats, saturated fats and alcohol. As all of these can be harmful to your bodies healing abilities and increase the inflammatory response. Theres no set rule that you can’t indulge once in a while, but within moderation is often a good rule of thumb. Also it’s a good idea to stay in compliance with whatever your bodies individual health needs and requirements are. Or whatever guidelines your doctor has set out for you. Once you are ready and are considering a cosmetic facial procedure or surgery with Dr. Brownrigg, we want your process to be as comfortable possible.

 We hope that some of our suggested tips will benefit you. Perhaps you will apply them to your daily habits so as to contribute positively to your overall health and outcome. Any steps towards a healthier life style will not only make you feel great, but will keep your body in prime condition, helping you to recover faster after surgery. Not only will you be overjoyed with your exciting new look. Once you are able to return to your normal activities, you can immediately begin showing off the healthy and newly refreshed you.

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