Proper nutrition after rhinoplasty

What foods to eat and what not to eat is very useful for shortening the recovery period. If you want to have rhinoplasty, it is best to be fully aware of the surgical procedure and healing process before anything else.

Otherwise, you are more likely to be dissatisfied with the outcome of the surgery. Proper nutrition is one of the crucial things that you should be fully aware of before the operation. The diet after rhinoplasty will have a direct impact on your recovery process.

 

 

The importance of proper nutrition after rhinoplasty

 

As mentioned, diet is an essential concern after rhinoplasty; Because it can make your recovery period easy and pave the way for a speedy recovery; Therefore, diet can have a significant effect on both the result and the reduction of postoperative complications.

Usually, after any surgery, especially those performed under local or complete anesthesia, it will be difficult for the body to digest some foods due to the anesthetic entering the body. That is why constipation after rhinoplasty and other operations is a common problem for many patients that can be easily treated by the right diet.

For more information about rhinoplasty, we highly recommend reading Is it safe to get a Nose job in Turkey? blog post.

For more information about medical tourism in Turkey, we highly recommend reading medical tourism in Turkey? blog post.

 

What is proper nutrition after rhinoplasty?

It is essential to know what to eat after rhinoplasty; Therefore, be sure to ask your doctor, the best rhinoplasty surgeon, to prescribe a specific diet for your postoperative period. That is appropriate for your surgery and your condition. However, if you have not received enough information from your surgeon, here is a list of the best foods for quick recovery after rhinoplasty.

 

Eat soft foods

 

To help your body and digestive system, and because chewing hard foods after rhinoplasty is difficult and dangerous, it is better to use soft foods after rhinoplasty in the recovery period, for example, chopped eggs, mashed potatoes, chicken soup, and so on.

 

Foods rich in fiber

 

Eating high-fiber foods is helpful during the recovery period after rhinoplasty. This type of food helps prevent constipation by strengthening the natural movements of the intestines. These foods include:

Cereals such as pasta, wheat, cooked brown rice, wheat bread, and popcorn.

Fresh fruits such as apples, oranges, strawberries, pears could be in your diet.

Fresh vegetables such as cooked carrots, boiled potatoes, cooked green peas,  broccoli, and boiled spinach can be an integral part of your diet.

 

Anti-inflammatory foods

 

One of the most important things you should include in your diet is anti-inflammatory foods. As the name implies, consuming them reduces postoperative inflammation. As a result, the healing time is shorter, and the wounds heal faster.

These types of foods include:

Foods are high in unsaturated fats such as avocados, oily fish, and olive oil, some vegetables such as strawberries, blueberries, broccoli, mushrooms, grapes and tomatoes, dark chocolate, and green tea.

 

Wound healing foods

 

 

Another significant type of food that you should consider is food, which can help with wound healing. These foods are high in protein, for example, meat, fish, eggs, yogurt. Also, foods rich in vitamin A, such as carrots, oranges. Dark leafy vegetables, such as spinach, and foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, can be in your diet.

 

Good foods to reduce anxiety

It is interesting to know that pain and inflammation are not the only things you should expect after surgery. Some people struggle with anxiety. But fortunately, different types of food can relieve anxiety, some of which are nuts, dark chocolate, green tea, and chamomile.

 

Fresh fruits and vegetables

 

Fresh fruits and vegetables are mentioned many times because of their many benefits in proper nutrition after rhinoplasty. Because fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals that you should consume after rhinoplasty. Pineapple, for example, is an ideal fruit for this period. Therefore, preparing or drinking pineapple juice is a significant way to get all the essential nutrients and keep the body hydrated, which will help your recovery.

In general, all the foods we have mentioned so far are considered proper nutrition after rhinoplasty. But the important thing is how these foods are prepared and consumed. For example, potatoes are high in fiber. If you eat mashed potatoes, you will have both a nutritious and a soft meal. That means you have shown two with one arrow!

 

What should not be in the diet after rhinoplasty?

In the previous section, we talked about foods that can affect shortening the recovery time. But on the other hand, some foods harm the outcome of surgery and should not be consumed in the recovery period after rhinoplasty.

 

Hard and chewy foods

 

Since the swelling of the nasal tissues is so close to the mouth, you should avoid eating hard and chewy foods that may cause severe stretching of your upper lip, such as chips, cereals, olives, cucumbers, noodles, etc.

 

Spicy and acidic foods

Another significant type of food that you should avoid after rhinoplasty is spicy and hot foods. Because these foods increase blood pressure and result in bleeding. These foods irritate the nasal mucosa and slow down or impair wound healing, which may make you sneeze. Also, these foods irritate the stomach and cause digestive problems. That can negatively affect the healing process. Instead, it is highly essential to eat cool foods such as smoothies, yogurt, etc.

 

 

 

Processed foods

 

One of the best ways to help your body recover from rhinoplasty is to avoid eating processed foods; Because these foods are high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fats.

Instead, divert your thinking to good things in life, such as whole grains and green vegetables; But it is essential to eat only completely soft foods.

 

 

Very hot/cold foods

It is necessary to know the temperature of the food you want after rhinoplasty surgery; Because eating too hot or too cold immediately after surgery is not recommended. These foods increase the amount of pain and discomfort during the recovery period; Because they are likely to cause pain in the jaw and teeth and the whole face.

 

 

Salty foods

 

 

Salt increases swelling and inflammation. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid salt and salty foods during the recovery period (and even for a few months after the operation).

 

 

What should I drink after rhinoplasty?

Water: After rhinoplasty, the body becomes dehydrated. For this reason, you should drink plenty of water during the recovery period.

Nutritious Drinks. It is essential to drink fresh non-acidic fruit juices after rhinoplasty, especially celery juice, pineapple juice, and peach juice. Pineapple contains an enzyme called Bermelline that helps reduce swelling and bruising. Acidic beverages such as orange juice may irritate your stomach, which is why you must avoid these juices after rhinoplasty.

 

 

What not to drink after rhinoplasty !!!

Alcohol: Alcohol can increase the risk of bleeding after surgery and may cause more swelling and bruising. Also, drinking alcohol while taking painkillers is very dangerous and can cause serious health problems. For this reason, you must wait six weeks after the operation before drinking alcohol again.

Caffeinated beverage. It is essential to avoid caffeine consumption after surgery; Because caffeine may delay wound healing. While it may be difficult for patients accustomed to consuming coffee or tea daily, it is crucial to avoid caffeinated beverages during the recovery period.

 

 

How long after rhinoplasty can I drink and eat ?!

Now that you are familiar with proper nutrition after rhinoplasty, you are probably wondering how long you can eat after surgery.

They may want you to refrain from drinking water for a few minutes (at least half an hour after recovery) after surgery. After that, you can drink plenty of water or juice, and your surgeon will advise you to start eating soft foods.

 

 

What to eat on the day of rhinoplasty? (Immediately after surgery)

 

As mentioned above, following a strict diet during the recovery period is very important, and it is much more important to do this from day one. Therefore, we recommend that you take fruit juices such as celery juice and pineapple juice seriously. We recommend eating liquid foods such as chicken soup and broth. To prevent constipation, we recommend eating high-fiber foods to boost your bowel movements.

 

What to eat in the first week after rhinoplasty?

As has been said several times before, it is essential to have proper nutrition after rhinoplasty in the early days; Therefore, it is necessary to follow a diet after rhinoplasty. During the first week, it is crucial to avoid hard and chewy foods in addition to hot and spicy foods. That’s why you should eat soft and nutritious foods with all the information mentioned above to achieve full recovery. Also, during this week, the body is dehydrated, and you have to drink a lot of water.

Feeling nauseous and vomiting is useful during the first week. But this feeling should not prevent you from consuming proper nutrition after rhinoplasty. Therefore, it is better that you eat the said foods in small amounts and several meals.

 

 

Conclusion

Proper nutrition after rhinoplasty has a significant effect on the final result and a shorter recovery period. The diet after rhinoplasty includes foods that are easy to chew, rich in nutrients. It is best to ask your doctor after surgery to make a list of suitable and forbidden foods.