What Foods Should One Eat After Rhinoplasty?

Good question! Every surgeon should have their own post-rhinoplasty protocol that would typically include information regarding what to eat after surgery. I recommend that patients drink as much as possible after surgery. Water and gatorade are great choices, however I suggest that my patients stay away from carbonated and caffeinated beverages. For the first 24 hours I suggest that my patients stay away from major protein or complex foods.Clear liquids like Sprite or ginger ale are great, and crackers can help to prevent postop nausea until the anesthetic has left your system.  Eating good nutritious food in the 2-3 days after surgery is extremely important and will make you start to feel stronger after having surgery. I usually recommend starting with soft foods like mashed potatoes, warm (not too hot) soups, oatmeal, or even fruit smoothies. These are all things that your body would be able to tolerate well after surgery and help to regain your strength.

Rhinoplasty surgery shouldn’t restrict your diet significantly. Following your surgery you should drink fluids on the first day and stick to a light and soft diet for the first few days. You can slowly then return to a normal diet however keep in mind to help reduce swelling it is often best to keep salt intake and water restricted for the first 2 months. Adding salt to foods and eating salty foods (eg. take away, Asian and Italian foods) are best avoided.
Vitamins and supplements can assist with healing and help maintain optimal health.

In my practice, we provide a list of recommended foods, beverages and supplements that will help ensure a safe recovery. From surgeon to surgeon the protocol can vary, but the most important thing to remember is to keep yourself sufficiently hydrated and minimize facial movement for the first 24-48 hours. We recommend eating soft, easy-to-digest foods following your procedure, and avoiding all foods or beverages that are of a hot temperature.  Room-temperature or cold foods are helpful such as smoothies, juices, yoghurt, applesauce  Avoid foods that are hard and can increase facial movement such as apples, carrots, or foods that require you to open your mouth wide like large sandwiches or hamburgers. As always, please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience.  

I do not tell my patients to avoid anything in particular. Generally, for the first day or two after surgery it is best to eat bland foods that are soft. This is mostly to avoid an upset stomach from anesthesia. Additionally, if you mostly mouth breathing, it is not uncommon to have a sore throat for a few days after surgery. Once that passes, eating a normal diet is fine. Some people are very sensitive to salt or alcohol when it comes to edema, so in those patients I advise to avoid if they experience swelling after consumption. Stay hydrated with plenty of water!

After your rhinoplasty, its best to avoid hot and spicy foods and big bits that lead to excess stretch of your upper lip. This is most important the first week or two after surgery. In terms of straining with bowel movements, consider an over the counter stool softener especially if you are also on narcotics for pain management.

It’s best to stay away from inflammatory foods and drinks, at least during the earlier stages of healing. This can help prevent extra edema.
Unless you have problems passing stools and put yourself in a lot of strain during the process, solid foods should not be a problem. Of course drinking a lot of water and keeping hydrated is very beneficial. Feeding on shakes for weeks is not a good idea.
There are also foods and drinks with anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce swelling. You can research them online.Hope this helps,Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey