What Diet prior to Rhinoplasty Will Help with Swelling?

As mentioned before it's always recommended to discountinue any blood thinning products including vitamin and mineral supplements. We also recommend using Arnica and Bromelain for two weeks before and after your procedure. Health food stores and some offices carry specific multivitamins for surgical procedures. We recommend the surgical care package from Vitamedica that offers pre and post surgical supplements to promote healing and recovery. Also remember to avoid alcohol and tobacco whenever having any procedure.

In general, as long as there are no contra-indications, I recommend that patients take Arnica and Bromelain in preparation for surgery. I also request patients discontinue use of any blood thinners (as long as it is safe for them to do so), alcohol and nicotine products in advance of surgery. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Dr. Sarmela Sunder

In general following a basic healthy diet before and after surgery will help promote healing. I definitely find that following a low sodium diet after surgery (1500 mg or less a day) helps the postoperative tissue swelling improve faster. Some people find that taking arnica and bromelin supplements a few weeks before and after surgery helps with bruising as well.

Drinking pineapple juice before surgery may help decrease bruising and a low-salt diet may help with swelling. Try for less than 2000mg of sodium a day for 2-3 days before surgery. Good luck!

I really wouldnt recommend significantly altering your diet.  In general patients should discontinue herbal remedies, NSAIDS including aspirin and ibuprofen, and any supplements that might interfere with normal blood clotting at least two weeks before surgery.

 

All the best,

 

Rian A. Maercks M.D.

A normal balanced diet is all that is needed to recover from a rhinoplasty surgery.  A low salt diet is recommended to help minimize fluid retention in the nasal tip.  This type of diet should begin starting the day before surgery. 

There are many things you can take but none are proven to help.  Some of the things you can do are mentioned below.  I also like Arnica before and after surgery.  Also, no NSAIDS before or after surgery.

 

Of course, you want to reduce the likelihood of swelling and bruising around the eyes after rhinoplasty; every patient and surgeon wants as little of that as possible.

The most important things are:


•    Take no medications with aspirin. 
•    Ask your surgeon for a list of medications to be avoided starting 10 days before rhinoplasty

Some believe that arnica, begun one day before rhinoplasty, may help reduce bruising or swelling, but no science supports that yet.

My recommendations:


•    Have a calm first 48 hours after rhinoplasty surgery
•    No telephone conversations or visitors
•    Relax in bed with your head elevated 30 degrees to help drain blood from the face
•    Use ice packs if that is what your doctor recommends

The best thing is to ask your doctor what you can and cannot do and what has worked best for his patients, and hopefully you will have a prompt recovery. 


Robert Kotler, MD, FACS
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Author, SECRETS OF A BEVERLY HILLS COSMETIC SURGEON

 

If you have a normal diet, it will not affect your rhinoplasty.  If you are malnourished, it could theoretically have and effect, but I've never seen it.  It is possible that if you have too much salt before, the swelling could be more.  Check with your doctor about supplement and herbal meds.   Many of these can cause bleeding.  Also, Arnica and Bromelin are often useful to take preoperatively.  

 

Best luck.