What To Eat And Drink Post Plastic Surgery In NJ

Diet has a significant role in determining our overall health at any point in our lives. But during the recovery process, it is extremely important to stick to a balanced diet in order to get the best results after surgery. After putting your body through such a significant transformation, it is essential to provide it with the nourishment it needs in order for it to recuperate and become well.

Healing time frames may vary significantly from one treatment to the next; however, if you maintain a healthy diet, you can lower your risk of infection, speed up the healing process, and potentially even reduce the likelihood of scarring. In order to facilitate a rapid recuperation for your body, be sure to discuss your post-operative goals with a reputable plastic surgeon such as Dr. Gartner in New Jersey.

Before and after your planned operation, you may want to think about modifying the way you normally eat in order to accommodate any dietary restrictions that may have been imposed by your doctor or other medical professional. That said, in this blog we will go over what to eat and drink post plastic surgery in order for you to have a smooth recovery.

PROTEIN-DENSE FOODS AND BEVERAGES

After surgery, proteins play a significant part in the process of creating, renewing, and mending damaged cells. They contribute to the generation of new blood cells as well as collagen in the body. The production of new blood cells and collagen both play an important role in the healing process of scars as well.

There are a variety of options available, including quinoa, fish, lentils, tofu, lean meats, eggs, seeds, and nuts.

FOODS THAT ARE RICH IN THE ANTIOXIDANT VITAMINS A, C, AND E

Our bodies are capable of producing substances known as free radicals which are unstable atoms that can cause damage to our cells, causing illness and aging. The stress that comes with having surgery might encourage the formation of free radicals. This may make the healing process more drawn out and may even cause some tissue damage. Antioxidants serve to neutralize free radicals, which is necessary for optimal cell function, and vitamins A, C, and E are rich sources of antioxidants. Your body’s natural healing process may speed up as a result of this.

There are a variety of options available, including sweet potatoes, fruits of the citrus family, carrots, berries, spinach, broccoli, and kale, as well as red peppers.

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Kefir and yogurt are two examples of fermented dairy products that may help restore good bacteria to your body. Antibiotics are often prescribed by medical professionals in order to combat infections; however, these medications lower our levels of beneficial bacteria, which are essential for proper digestion and a robust immune system. Supplementing with probiotics is another option to consider if you don’t consume dairy products.

FIBER

Because surgery messes with the body’s natural rhythm, it’s possible that your bowel motions may suffer as a result. It is important to have a diet high in fiber and to drink a lot of water if you want to avoid experiencing constipation. Prunes are an excellent source of fiber, but there are many other foods that are also very good sources of fiber, including:

DRINK A LOT OF WATER

We are often reminded to “drink more water,” and although we are all aware that water has positive effects on our bodies, we may not know precisely what those effects are. Some of the most essential advantages include helping with digestion, maintaining a normal body temperature, controlling blood pressure, transporting oxygen to all parts of the body, lubricating joints, and providing a cushion for critical structures such as the brain and spinal cord. Maintaining a healthy level of hydration both before and after cosmetic surgery is beneficial to the skin’s health and may speed the process of wound healing. It is more difficult for the incision to heal correctly when the skin is dry and tight.

FRUITS WITH VIBRANT COLORS

As we’ve previously mentioned, after surgery, your body is more susceptible to an increase in the creation of free radicals, and as a result, it requires larger doses of antioxidants. Fruits with darker hues include higher concentrations of antioxidants, which gives your body the capacity to lower oxidation levels. The vast majority of berry varieties, including blueberries, strawberries, cherries, blackberries, pomegranates, and raspberries, are included in this category of fruit.

SWEET POTATOES

The digestion process turns beta-carotene, which is found in sweet potatoes, into vitamin A. Therefore, sweet potatoes are a good source of beta-carotene. Vitamin A is put to use in the body to assist in the restoration of skin, mucous membranes, and tissues, all of which are common areas of the body that are compromised during medical procedures. Carrots, cantaloupe, mango, and dark leafy greens are a few other examples of foods that are rich in beta-carotene.

CITRUS

The high concentration of vitamin C that can be found in bell peppers and citrus fruits is necessary for the cross-linking of collagen, which is required to knit together human tissues and repair wounds. Guava, kiwi, and broccoli are three other foods that are rich in collagen that can also be beneficial.

CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES

These veggies have a high content of indoles, which are known to strengthen the immune system. After surgery, having a healthy immune system is very necessary in order to avoid getting an infection. Vegetables like cabbage, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are examples of cruciferous vegetables.

MUSHROOMS

By inhibiting the production of inflammatory proteins and enhancing the performance of gamma delta T cells, mushrooms contribute to the maintenance of a robust immune system. There are several varieties of mushrooms, such as the shiitake, maitake, and reishi mushrooms.

SEEDS, NUTS, AND PUMPKIN OR WINTER SQUASH

Zinc is an essential mineral for maintaining a strong immune system and is found in high concentrations in seeds, pumpkin, and squash. Zinc is also required for the production of proteins, which implies that it has a role in the healing process of wounds and incisions.

HEALTHY FATS

Consuming fat in a healthy form is beneficial to your health in general and is essential when you are in the process of recovering from an injury or a surgical wound. Healthy fats help your body absorb all of the vitamins you are receiving from the fruits and vegetables you are eating and offer you with a source of energy that lasts for a longer period of time, which is very helpful after surgery. Fat is crucial for boosting the immune system, lowering the risk of infection, assisting in the speedy healing of wounds, and minimizing the appearance of scars. Olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds, and coconut oil are just a few examples of well-known beneficial fats.

CONSUME THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CALORIES

Patients often experience a loss of appetite in the days after surgical procedures. During the time that your body is recovering, it may be difficult for you to consume meals in their natural state; nonetheless, it is essential that you ensure that you are taking in a sufficient amount of calories. After surgery, if you don’t eat enough, it might delay the closure of your wound and slow down the healing process. If you are not constipated but are still experiencing difficulties with your appetite, you may want to think about ingesting meals that are high in calories, such as a smoothie, which may include dairy products, fruit, and even protein powder if it is required.

If, after surgery, you find that you are unable to ingest a sufficient amount of calories, you should make every effort to consume meals that are high in calories. Consuming foods that have a higher calorie content per bite than other meals is required for this. One cup of green salad, on the other hand, has a very low number of calories per cup, whereas one cup of avocado has an extremely high number of calories per cup.

FOODS THAT ARE LOW IN SODIUM CONTENT

Last but not least, individuals recovering after surgery should stay away from meals that contain a lot of sodium, sometimes known as salt. Because salt keeps water in the body and might make a patient more swollen after surgery, consuming it will make it take longer for the results of your procedure to become apparent.

Patients should consider eating whole foods rather than prepackaged foods and should limit the amount of salt they put on their food in order to prevent themselves from taking in an excessive amount of sodium. Additionally, in the first few days following surgery, you should restrict your consumption of electrolyte-infused beverages since these beverages may have the unintended consequence of making you feel more bloated.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RECOVERY PROCESS IN NJ

Take into account that everyone of us is unique, and that our bodies respond differently to the same external stimuli and sources of nutrition. It’s possible that a treatment that helps one patient won’t have the same effect on another. In a similar vein, the amount of time required for recovery might vary based on the person, the procedure, and their general state of health. Because of this, it is essential to see a competent plastic surgeon in NJ, such as Dr. Gartner at Gartner Plastic Surgery, in order to have a conversation about the ideal postoperative recovery process that is appropriate for you. You may have a private one-on-one session by calling us or scheduling an appointment directly on our website!