The Best Foods For Breast Augmentation Recovery6 min read
Dr. Phillip Chang
Board Certified By The American Board of Plastic Surgeons.
Voted Top Plastic Surgeon in Loudoun, Virginia
Offices in Leesburg, Virginia.
Managing your post-cosmetic surgery care is as important as the surgery itself, if not more so. While experienced surgeons are able to create and deliver desired results, maintaining a comprehensive post-surgery game-plan ensures that the work done by your doctor won’t be hindered by post-op complications. Everyone will differ in their recovery time and experience, but certain foods and diets will help encourage healing after your procedure. To help jumpstart the building of healthy tissue, prevent post-op complications, and keep your immune system boosted, here are some foods to start implementing in your recovery diet.
What To Expect For Breast Augmentation Recovery
As with any major surgery, recovery time differs among patients as well as how they manage their post-op routines. Most patients are able to return to work 7-14 days after surgery, but vigorous movements and work should be avoided. Swelling, bruising, tenderness, swelling, and some numbness around the areola and nipple area are expected, but usually go away within a month of surgery. Most patients report that they are able to return to their usual level of activity after about a month, but it is recommended that patients still exercise caution, as healing is still taking place. Most patients are completely cleared to resume normal activities after 2 months.
Since breast augmentation is a bit more of an involved surgery, certain foods are recommended to help with the side effects associated with this procedure. Imagine that your body is recovering from a nasty virus: upping your dose of immune-boosting nutrients will stimulate the overall healing and health of the breasts. Even the avoidance of certain foods will ensure your recovery time is as smooth and painless as possible.
What To Eat For Breast Augmentation Surgery Recovery
For the next few weeks of recovery, it might be time to reassess your current diet. As we know, food is used as fuel for your body’s processes, and putting in the right stuff will output the best recovery results. Focus on eating “whole foods” (that is, foods where the only ingredient is the food itself, like an orange or nuts). In addition, look for foods that are high in proteins, healthy fats, and vitamins that help restore and supplement your hard-working immune system.
Omega-3 Rich Foods
Omega-3’s are the wunderkind of healing and health, and will be a delicious addition to your post-op diet. Omega-3 proteins have been linked to reducing inflammation, promoting heart health, and improving skin health and recovery. Because the tissue surrounding the area of operation will be tender and swollen, eating some seafood or an avocado will work from the inside-out to help alleviate some of these side effects.
Vitamin C
While laying in bed during your first few days of recovery, drink something tropical to help transport you to your island fantasy land… and to help with your recovery! Fruits rich in Vitamin C will promote collagen growth and help to repair skin tissue. Vitamin C is also a well-known immune booster, and will help you fight off infections and boost your metabolism while you’re nursing yourself back to tip-top shape. In addition, studies have shown that Vitamin C can actually reduce nerve sensitivity– so consider swapping an “apple a day” to “an orange a day” for your recovery time.
Nuts And Seeds
Understandably, eating a whole meal seems like a big effort when recovering from a major surgery, but you can still get important nutrients and vitamins from snacking too. Nuts – especially almonds – and seeds are quick and accessible sources of Vitamin A, which helps with healing wounds, skin tissue repair, and infection prevention. In addition to helping with skin health, almonds are known for their immune-supportive qualities too, which can help bolster your fatigued immune system after major surgery.
Fiber-Rich Foods
Your doctor will likely prescribe you pain medication to take during your recovery. While this will help manage any discomfort, pain medication (opioids especially) are known to cause constipation in patients. Eating a fiber-rich diet after your surgery will help mitigate constipation and the symptoms of discomfort that come with it. In fact, maintaining regular bowel movements is part of a healthy post-surgery routine; constipation can limit the nutrients being absorbed in your intestines, and an actually increase pain levels. Leafy greens-like spinach and broccoli-and oatmeal are some excellent sources of fiber to keep you regular.
Brightly-Colored Vegetables
If remembering exactly what foods to eat after surgery is tricky, go for color! Foods like bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, and dark, leafy greens are usually the foods packed with the most nutrients vital for your body’s recovery. These foods contain beta carotene, which combat free radicals in your body that might inhibit proper healing or cause illnesses. These foods are also full of antioxidants, which will be an important addition to supporting your immune system through your recovery time.
What To Avoid Eating After Surgery
There are a few things you’ll want to steer clear of after your surgery. Foods that are highly processed or refined will put an extra burden on your recovery. Carbohydrates – especially the “empty calories” in things like cake – will cause constipation, a problem you might already be dealing with from any prescribed pain medication. Processed foods, or foods high in sugar and trans fats, are tougher on your digestive tract, and can dehydrate your body faster.
There are plenty of fun and yummy ways to incorporate the foods right for your recovery, without including any of the bad stuff. Above anything else, it’s important not to rush your recovery; every patient will respond and react differently to surgery. Feeding yourself a nutrient-rich diet post-procedure is the insurance for the investment you’ve just made with your cosmetic enhancements. Ensure you’re doing the best for your body by supplying it with the best fuel!
Questions about breast augmentation at Aesthetica?
Are you considering breast augmentation? We invite you to simply come in for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Chang or one of the cosmetic laser and injection nurses to explore whether you would make a good candidate. To find out more whether Aesthetica can help you, contact us online or at 703-729-5553 to arrange an appointment. Dr. Phillip Chang is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Northern Virginia near Leesburg, Virginia and an expert in a wide variety of cosmetic treatments.
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