Best Foods to Eat Before and After Your Surgery
When you’re preparing your home for optimal recovery after a plastic surgery procedure, what you should be stocking in your fridge may not be the first thing on your mind. However, having the right foods on hand pre and post-surgery is very important for your own personal comfort during the recovery process as well as ruling out any diet-related harm to the areas affected by your procedure. Additionally, focusing on proper nourishment in the weeks leading up to your surgery can aid in the surgery’s success and prevent a lengthy recovery period.
Make sure you’re eating a well-rounded balance of macro and micronutrients. Macronutrients are the three primary energy sources in food: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Micronutrients make up everything else that makes food nutritious, like vitamins and minerals. In the weeks leading up to your surgery, make sure your meals consist of a healthy balance of fats, carbs, and proteins as well as plenty of vitamins and minerals.
The easiest way to ensure that you’re getting all of the nutrients you need is to incorporate a wider variety of nutritious foods into your diet. This could include foods like:
- Berries
- Bananas
- Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens
- Lean beef or turkey
- Beans and lentils
- Sweet potatoes
- Quinoa
- Oats
- Whole grain bread
- And many more
Since your surgery will put stress on your body and require a lot of internal healing, it will need those macro and micronutrients more than ever to properly repair damaged tissue. A nutrient-rich diet will ensure that your body is at its healthiest and strongest for your surgery, making your body more receptive to the surgery as well as better able to smoothly recover post-op.
Keep soft foods on hand after surgery. Maintaining a well-balanced diet after surgery is still important, but now you’ll have the added factor of potential eating difficulty (depending on your procedure). For example, rhinoplasty or facelift patients generally experience some decreased mouth mobility immediately after surgery; if you are having one of these or a similar procedure, you’ll want to stock up on soup, mashed potatoes, pudding snacks, protein shakes, and other foods that don’t require chewing.
Prepare for nausea with some light snacks. After your surgery, you will likely experience some nausea or an upset stomach. This could be caused by the surgery itself if it took place in your stomach region, or by the anesthesia used. To combat post-surgery nausea, make sure to keep light, bland, easily digestible foods nearby such as toast, crackers, bananas, or rice.
In addition to nausea, you may experience some constipation during the recovery process due to a decrease in daily activity. This can be very uncomfortable, not to mention unhealthy for your digestive system. If you find yourself in this situation, try incorporating a wider variety of fruits into your diet. Many types of fruit are naturally high in fiber, particularly prunes, pears, and peaches. The fact that these fruits are typically very soft and easy to eat is an added bonus!
Avoid inflammation, and don’t forget to hydrate. Leading up to a plastic surgery procedure and during the recovery process, the last thing you want to do is consume inflammatory foods that could weaken your body. Excessive salt and sugar, alcohol, and caffeine are prime examples of inflammatory foods to avoid in the weeks before and after your surgery. Also, drinking enough water is key to a successful surgery both pre and post-op. Even if you are eating all the right foods, your body won’t be completely primed for successful surgery and recovery without proper hydration. About 64 ounces of water a day is recommended as the baseline for women.
Working with the right surgeon is the best way to ensure that your procedure and recovery will be an absolute success. Ready to get started on your dream procedure? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Beverly Fischer today at 410-308-4700, or online.
