Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure to improve nose structure, facial aesthetics, and breathing. Rhinoplasty is often referred to as a ‘nose job’ and has many benefits. Many factors contribute to the success of a Rhinoplasty including care before the procedure, the quality of surgery and surgeon, and Rhinoplasty aftercare.
This article will extensively focus on and discuss Rhinoplasty aftercare, which can help reduce recovery time, especially the Rhinoplasty recovery diet. Rhinoplasty aftercare is not only necessary to reduce the recovery time and boost the healing process but is integral to achieving the desired results.
Taking proper rest is an essential component of Rhinoplasty aftercare. However, one more key component that’s often overlooked is having a proper diet. The person must make conscious meal choices post-Rhinoplasty surgery and have a proper Rhinoplasty recovery diet to accelerate healing.
Here we will discuss some of the foods to include, and the foods to avoid after Rhinoplasty. Following the Rhinoplasty recovery diet would help with boosting recovery while minimizing any discomfort post-nose surgery.
What To Eat After Rhinoplasty?
Let us go through the step-by-step Rhinoplasty recovery diet for your better understanding.
First 24 Hours Post Nose Surgery
The first 24 hours post-Rhinoplasty surgery are crucial to the recovery process. Make sure you pick the right food to eat after Rhinoplasty surgery to avoid the side effects from anesthesia. Bland foods with balanced protein and carbohydrates that are like a Mediterranean diet are felt to be helpful to reduce inflammation. The key is to stay hydrated with water and avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption.
For the first 24 hours, it is important to have bland food to avoid any major side effects or feeling nauseated. Ideally, the food you eat when you have stomach ache or pain is what you should eat post-Rhinoplasty, at least for the first 24 hours.
You can carefully expand your Rhinoplasty recovery diet once the medications from anesthesia are out of your system.
First Week Post Rhinoplasty – What To Eat?
For the first-week post Rhinoplasty surgery, stick to foods that are soft and easy to chew. For example: yogurt, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and porridge.
Such foods are nutritious and easy to chew, making them the perfect addition to your list of what to eat after Rhinoplasty.
It is also vital to stay hydrated during the first-week post Rhinoplasty. Increase your water consumption, and you may want to add freshly squeezed fruit juices to the mix.
You may also want to add fruits to your Rhinoplasty recovery diet having high water and nutritional content, such as strawberries and watermelon.
Second Week Post Rhinoplasty Surgery
Most patients get back to a regular life and diet during this period. However, everyone reacts differently to Rhinoplasty surgery, so it is important to stay alert. In general, avoid crunchy or hard foods.
If you feel even a bit of discomfort, you might want to shift back to softer foods.
What Foods To Avoid After Rhinoplasty
One of the most common questions doctors are asked is what can I eat after Rhinoplasty? It is important to understand what you can and cannot eat after Rhinoplasty holds equal importance.
Sticking to healthy foods for the first few weeks post-Rhinoplasty is recommended. However, even some healthy foods are known to cause problems.
Some of the common foods to avoid after Rhinoplasty include:
Alcohol
During the first couple of days, alcohol consumption can interfere with the anesthesia and cause serious and unpleasant side effects.
Consuming alcohol must be strictly avoided post-Rhinoplasty. It would greatly increase the Rhinoplasty recovery time and may even cause swelling.
While it is technically possible in most cases to have alcohol post the first week of surgery, it is
best to avoid it till the swelling has receded entirely.
Spicy Foods
There’s no doubt that spicy foods offer plenty of benefits, including reducing body inflammation. But, it is best to avoid spicy foods for the first week after Rhinoplasty to avoid nausea, interference with anesthesia, and other side effects.
High Sodium Foods
Salt and high-sodium foods cause swelling and greatly increase Rhinoplasty recovery time. As a precautionary measure, it is best to plan a Rhinoplasty recovery diet that’s low on sodium.
It would help you recover faster and ensure you get back to normal life much earlier than anticipated.
Hard Foods
Hard to chew, sticky, and crunchy foods are on top of the list of foods to avoid after Rhinoplasty. It can contribute to your swelling, cause discomfort or even pain, and add to Rhinoplasty recovery time.
Don’t chomp on those bags of crunchy potato chips during the Rhinoplasty aftercare period, which usually is around 3-4 weeks, depending on how your body responds to Rhinoplasty surgery. Wait for at least a couple of weeks before you can have these foods without thinking twice.
Conclusion
Don’t worry if you find this list of foods to avoid after Rhinoplasty extensive, as it’s just a matter of a couple of weeks. It’s important to take the Rhinoplasty aftercare period seriously and not binge eat even especially the foods that aren’t allowed. Once your doctor gives the green light after a post-surgery check-up in a few weeks, you can get back to your regular diet cycle.
Once the swelling is gone and there’s absolutely no feeling of discomfort from the surgery, you can enjoy your favorite foods and beverages without the fear of it causing any side effects. However, if consuming the foods to avoid after Rhinoplasty, even after a few weeks, causes discomfort or swelling, extending the aftercare period is recommended.
Also, monitor your body for elevated temperatures, re-injury, unusual bleeding, or elevated pain. Consult your surgeon immediately if you feel any of these symptoms after a few weeks of Rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty recovery time depends a lot on the amount and quality of care you take postsurgery. If you’re not careful, don’t take proper rest, indulge in alcohol or other foods and beverages you’re asked to avoid, the recovery process will be extended and painful. And you certainly don’t want that!
