Is there anything I should avoid eating after eyelid surgery?

Question

I just had eyelid surgery about 2weeks ago.my mom and friends told me not to eat ong Choy(the green veggie in the picture),beef n soy sauce (we're Chinese Vietnamese).they believe that when you have surgeries or open cuts you should not eat those things because they will make the scars turn really dark. And eatting ong choy will grow extra skin,makes the scars become bumpy. Is that true??

Timothy R. Miller, MD · Answer

Excellent question.Before surgery certain medications (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, etc) and herbal supplements should be avoided, your surgeon will typically discuss these with you and/or provide a list of item not to consume. Some of these should not be taken for a period of time (as determined by your surgeon) after the surgery as well.Additionally, consuming a low sodium diet is also helpful to reduce swelling, even weeks after the surgery. I typically recommend that my patients consume 1500 mg (or less) of sodium per day.I hope this helps.

John J. Martin, Jr., MD · Answer

You can eat whatever you want after surgery.  It will not affect your scar pigmentation.  However would certainly recommend  a healthy diet  to promote maximal healing.

Bryson G. Richards, MD · Answer

It is safe to eat ong choy. It will not impair wound healing, worsen scars, or cause discoloration of the scar. Enjoy and bon-a-petit.- Dr. Bryson Richards

Chad Robbins, MD · Answer

The only diet i recommend after eye surgery is a low sodium diet.  This would obviously keep swelling down and reduce pressure on your incisions.

Suzanne Kim Doud Galli, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

at two weeks postop, you can consume your regular diet without restriction. What you eat will not affect your scar. It is more important to stay out of the sun to avoid excessive pigmentation in the scar line.

Is there anything I should avoid eating after eyelid surgery?

Answers (5)