“How do I prepare my body for plastic surgery?”
I will have breast plastic surgery. How do I prepare my body for plastic surgery?
2 Answers
The short answer is to STAY HEALTHY. With a lot of respiratory illnesses going around this season, ranging from flu to respiratory syncytial virus to COVID-19, I counsel my patients to "lay low" and stay away from crowds and parties for those 1-2 weeks leading up to a surgery. You wouldn't want to get sick and have your surgery cancelled/rescheduled, and neither would you want your surgeon to get sick, leading to the same setback. If I were you, make sure you are up-to-date on the relevant vaccines to help shore up your immune system, such as your regular annual flu shot as well as the full series of COVID-19 vaccines (including the latest boosters).
[To put this into a personal perspective, my own mother's 2nd cataract surgery had to be canceled when she came down with COVID last year, and she had to wait at least two (2) weeks before she could get her 2nd eye done! Imagine have annoying blurry/double vision for that long because you weren't careful or vaccinated.]
Make sure to continue getting sufficient sleep and regular exercise. Everyone's sleep needs differ, but try to be on a regular sleep schedule. Surgeries often start as early as 7:30 AM, and the hospital staff will have you report to the hospital even earlier, at 6 AM, to get checked in by the nurses, start your IV, and be seen by the Anesthesia team. Exercise does not have to be high impact or intense, but regular walking at least three times a day—it does not have to be far—will keep blood circulating in your body and help prevent blood clots (venous thromboemboli, or VTE) postoperatively.
Protein is needed to heal surgical incisions and wounds, so I generally counsel my patients to be on a high, lean-protein diet. Patients ask me what kind of proteins are good, and I try to steer them toward the kinds that would constitute a Mediterranean diet, i.e., fish, limited poultry, sparing red meat, complemented by legumes, eggs, and dairy/cheese (careful about saturated fat). For vegetarians, you might have to avail of peas, lentils, and the like to meet your nutritional needs. My older patients often taken oral supplements such as Ensure or Boost to get enough protein to heal wounds.
Continue to take care of yourself should you have any baseline medical conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes. These conditions are commonly ones I have to negotiate in partnership with my patients to ensure their surgeries go smoothly and with minimal intraoperative or postoperative complications.
A low or no-added salt diet will limit postoperative swelling called edema and hasten recovery toward your expected/desired postoperative result, particularly with breast surgery. Adhering to this kind of diet leading up to surgery can't hurt, either, particularly if you are prone to high blood pressure or have other cardiac conditions.
Similarly, a low carbohydrate diet free of unnecessary empty calories (alcohol) and sugar will prevent blood sugar spikes common with diabetic patients. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is known to hamper incision and wound healing, especially in diabetic patients. After surgery, you will likely have pain and nausea medications to take, so do NOT take those with alcohol. Having your breasts surgically altered does NOT give you a license to suddenly live unhealthier after surgery!
[Finally: in my practice, I have found that Arnica montana and Bromelain are very helpful adjuncts to minimize bruising (ecchymosis) and swelling (edema) from breast surgery. I have my patients take both of these homeopathic medications starting four (4) days preoperatively, and they finish a two-week course of these meds, which greatly reduces bruising and swelling with my breast reduction and post-mastectomy patients. These meds are generally safe and do not interact adversely with any existing medications. Bromelain is actually pineapple extract; patients ask me why they can't simply eat a lot of pineapples. The concentration of Bromelain in the pill form is very strong and more effective than what you can eat in your diet. So long as you do not have a dangerous allergy to pineapple, almost everyone can tolerate these medications. Should you opt to supplement your medications with either of these options, TALK TO YOUR SURGEON to get formal approval. You don't want your surgery canceled because your surgeon or the hospital found you were taking herbals, vitamins, or supplements with which they are not familiar!]
[To put this into a personal perspective, my own mother's 2nd cataract surgery had to be canceled when she came down with COVID last year, and she had to wait at least two (2) weeks before she could get her 2nd eye done! Imagine have annoying blurry/double vision for that long because you weren't careful or vaccinated.]
Make sure to continue getting sufficient sleep and regular exercise. Everyone's sleep needs differ, but try to be on a regular sleep schedule. Surgeries often start as early as 7:30 AM, and the hospital staff will have you report to the hospital even earlier, at 6 AM, to get checked in by the nurses, start your IV, and be seen by the Anesthesia team. Exercise does not have to be high impact or intense, but regular walking at least three times a day—it does not have to be far—will keep blood circulating in your body and help prevent blood clots (venous thromboemboli, or VTE) postoperatively.
Protein is needed to heal surgical incisions and wounds, so I generally counsel my patients to be on a high, lean-protein diet. Patients ask me what kind of proteins are good, and I try to steer them toward the kinds that would constitute a Mediterranean diet, i.e., fish, limited poultry, sparing red meat, complemented by legumes, eggs, and dairy/cheese (careful about saturated fat). For vegetarians, you might have to avail of peas, lentils, and the like to meet your nutritional needs. My older patients often taken oral supplements such as Ensure or Boost to get enough protein to heal wounds.
Continue to take care of yourself should you have any baseline medical conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes. These conditions are commonly ones I have to negotiate in partnership with my patients to ensure their surgeries go smoothly and with minimal intraoperative or postoperative complications.
A low or no-added salt diet will limit postoperative swelling called edema and hasten recovery toward your expected/desired postoperative result, particularly with breast surgery. Adhering to this kind of diet leading up to surgery can't hurt, either, particularly if you are prone to high blood pressure or have other cardiac conditions.
Similarly, a low carbohydrate diet free of unnecessary empty calories (alcohol) and sugar will prevent blood sugar spikes common with diabetic patients. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is known to hamper incision and wound healing, especially in diabetic patients. After surgery, you will likely have pain and nausea medications to take, so do NOT take those with alcohol. Having your breasts surgically altered does NOT give you a license to suddenly live unhealthier after surgery!
[Finally: in my practice, I have found that Arnica montana and Bromelain are very helpful adjuncts to minimize bruising (ecchymosis) and swelling (edema) from breast surgery. I have my patients take both of these homeopathic medications starting four (4) days preoperatively, and they finish a two-week course of these meds, which greatly reduces bruising and swelling with my breast reduction and post-mastectomy patients. These meds are generally safe and do not interact adversely with any existing medications. Bromelain is actually pineapple extract; patients ask me why they can't simply eat a lot of pineapples. The concentration of Bromelain in the pill form is very strong and more effective than what you can eat in your diet. So long as you do not have a dangerous allergy to pineapple, almost everyone can tolerate these medications. Should you opt to supplement your medications with either of these options, TALK TO YOUR SURGEON to get formal approval. You don't want your surgery canceled because your surgeon or the hospital found you were taking herbals, vitamins, or supplements with which they are not familiar!]
Optimize your overall health, exercise, diet and nutrition are the basics,but, that all depends on you, uniquely- what procedure you are preparing for and the advice of your Board Certified PS, good luck
