Nourishing Don’ts: What Not To Eat Before & After
From Make Me Heal
Just as there are foods, drinks, and nutrients that are considered to be healing-friendly and may be taken before and after your procedure (as discussed in other tabs in this room), there are some that can have negative effects on the healing process and thus should be avoided. While these products may be fine to consume in your normal everyday diet, during certain periods before and/or after surgery these foods, beverages, and nutrients may interfere with your body’s ability to heal itself at a maximum rate. Some nutrients may actually worsen the intensity of certain symptoms (such as bruising swelling, bruising, constipation, etc.) and unnecessarily prolong your recovery. There are also certain products that can have harmful interactions with anesthesia and medications that you may be prescribed after your surgery. Our discussion in this tab will highlight the primary "nourishing don’ts" associated with the journey and will explain when and why you will need to stay away from each of the named nourishing items before and/or after your surgery. It should be noted that the products that we discuss in this tab represent the more common types of nutrients that the general public includes in a daily diet. Clearly, there may be other products that you may be considering taking that are not listed and which can be just as negative for your pre- and post-op journey. For this reason, it is important that you follow your doctor’s specific instructions as far as products they wish you to avoid. As we discuss shortly, it is also a good idea to create a list of all the nutrients, homeopathic remedies, supplements, medications, and any other products that you are considering using in the weeks before and after your surgery that are not listed here and then share this list with your doctor or staff during a pre-op appointment. Your doctor should be able to tell you conclusively whether or not any product should be excluded from this list. This is a recommended safety precaution to take in preparing for your surgery.
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Read The Product Labels
Before we discuss nutrients to avoid before and after the procedure, there are a few tips that will make the task of avoiding them easier. It is important to read the product labels of the foods and drinks that you are thinking of consuming during the weeks before and after surgery so that you will have no surprise items that contain the healing-unfriendly ingredients that we discuss in this tab. As many products may contain "hidden" ingredients that should be avoided, it will be important to carefully inspect the labels. Many products that you could be taking are mixtures of various ingredients and surely not most of them are labeled in the headline name of the product. Once you start paying attention to your product labels, you may find that certain products that you thought were safe for your surgery actually contain ingredients that are to be avoided. For instance, many sodas and colas contain unwanted sodium that can worse your swelling during post-op; a salad dressing or pasta sauce that you use may contain garlic which has anti-coagulant properties and can cause bleeding during surgery and worsen your postoperative bruising; the Snapple product "Moon" Tea Drink contains kava kava, which can be dangerous to mix with your anesthesia at certain levels; Arizona's "Rx Memory Elixer" contains the anticoagulant Ginkgo Biloba; and Procter & Gamble's "spire Energy with VitaLift Green Tea and Juice Beverage" has guarana in it and is a source of unwanted caffeine. Reading the labels will educate you as to exactly what is in the product and can help you stay clear of products that are not recommended for use before or after your surgery. The product label and list of ingredients are a sure-fire way to get the information on the product and decide whether or not it is safe to take. When reading a product label, pay particular attention to the serving size. When checking the sodium content of a product, for instance, the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) label might say that the sodium content is 15%. That means that the serving size gives you 15% of all the sodium that you will need for that day. However, sometimes the serving size that the label suggest isn’t big enough to feed a small mouse! You might need to have 3 serving sizes just to equal a meal; and that means that now you are up to 45% of your daily sodium intake with just that one meal. If you happen to ingest a product before you read the label and discover that you have taken a product from the list that you should stay away from, don’t panic. If you slip with one or two products, or realize that you have ingested something after it is too late, it is not the end of the world. Most of these nutrients only become harmful if taken in decent amounts. Even though most of these products are not overly harmful in small amounts, any accidental ingestion of a product may affect your recovery by making it last a bit longer than if you hadn’t taken the product. However, you may want to contact your doctor if you are concerned.
Make A List & Disclose Everything In Your Diet
It is a good idea to make a list of all the products that you would like to include in your diet in the weeks before and after surgery. This list should include all the foods, beverages, herbs, and spices. Then check this list against the products to avoid that we have highlight in this tab and make the proper adjustments to your planned diet. The final step should include disclosing the items left on this list that you are unsure of to your doctor (and anesthesiologist if possible) or staff during a pre-op visit. In this disclosure, you should also let your doctor know about any homeopathic/natural remedy, supplement (vitamin or mineral), and medication that you’d like to take in the weeks before and after your surgery. Disclosing this information will enable your doctor to determine if anything that you are thinking of taking may be healing-unfriendly and should not be taken before, during, or after your procedure.
Chewy & Spicy Foods
During the initial phase of post-op, patients can experience difficulty and discomfort when opening their mouth and chewing because their mouth, jaws, and underlying muscles may be sore, tight, and injured from the trauma of the surgery. Moreover, you may feel nauseous and have a delicate stomach after surgery. For this reason, it is recommended to stick to bland, liquid and soft foods on the first few days and then slowly progress to solids. On the other hand, it is important to avoid foods that require chewing or opening your mouth widely. Not only will chewy and crunchy foods make it uncomfortable and potentially painful to eat, but the excessive facial movements that may be needed can worsen your bruising and also unnecessarily stretch out your healing skin. Examples of chewy foods that should be avoided include tough meat, chicken breast, thick deli sandwiches, uncooked carrots and celery, apples, nuts, bagels, chips, pretzels, popcorn, chewy cookies, and dry toast. Of course, there are plenty of other foods that can make you have to chew. In addition to staying away from chewy foods, you should stay away from foods that are highly seasoned, spicy/hot, exotic, or any foods that are likely to unsettle your stomach. As bland foods are recommended, you should hold off on putting your favorite spices like black pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin, and garlic salt on your dishes until the first week post-op has come and gone. A good number of patients are able to return to eating chewy and crunchy foods by the end of the first week of post-op, provided that their mouth and jaws are not sore and overly tight. However, it’s entirely possible and normal for ladies to continue being somewhat sore around the mouth and jaws by the end of the week. As everyone heals at their own individual rate, you will need to test foods and see how well you are able to handle them. You will most likely find yourself returning to your normal eating routine sometime during days 4-10. However, if you still experience problems beyond this timeframe don’t worry because this is still completely normal. Sooner or later, you will be able to eat all the foods that you normally enjoy.
Sodium
Excess sodium (salt) in your diet can make you retain water, and retaining water can worsen the swelling that you may already be experiencing. It is recommended to stick to a low sodium diet during the 3 weeks before surgery and the 3 weeks following surgery until the major swelling has disappeared. By paying attention to the level of your sodium intake, you can help create a bodily environment that will reduce the possibility of swelling. Your body is made up of 70% water, and there is normally balance between the water inside and outside of the cells in your body. When you have higher levels of sodium in your body, the water rushes out of your cells and into the spaces between. Those spaces between get filled up with excess fluids, which manifests as swelling. At small levels you may feel "bloated" or feel general water retention, but in the aftermath of your surgery, the areas of your face that are already swollen may get even more swollen and take longer to heal. There isn’t a patient around who wants to swell anymore than they have to or have to spend more time in recovery. Be sure to check the labels of your foods for sodium content. Because sodium is product that is required to be on the RDA label, you should be able to easily find out the sodium levels in each food or drink product that you want to consume. Pay special attention to canned soups, prepared foods and frozen dinners. Because these products typically have a much higher sodium content than fresh foods, you’ll want to stay away from such brands. Usually the can or box will advertise if it is sodium free or low sodium. Even so, you should check the RDA label just to make sure and select the lowest sodium brands.
Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners)
During surgery, your surgeon will be making incisions that will create open wounds that will result in bleeding. When you have a cut or an open wound and you start to bleed, your body will try to thicken your blood in that area and form a clot to stop the bleeding. This process is called coagulation. Coagulation is an important healing function when you have cuts or open wounds and it is especially important in the aftermath of your surgery. Anticoagulants are blood thinners that interfere with the coagulation process and can cause excessive bleeding during the surgery itself (we shortly provide some popular forms of anticoagulants). Because anticoagulants can cause you to take longer to form blood clots, they can worsen your postoperative bruising. If your blood is thinned from an anticoagulant, your body will have a tendency to bruise a lot more easily. As you may know from about bruising, this symptom is one of the most bothersome issues for patients after their procedure because of how noticeable it is to the eye. No one wants to bruise anymore than they have to. You may still be able to form clots even if you are taking an anticoagulant, but it will take a longer time to do so. In time, your body tissues will break up the collections of blood under the skin surface (bruises) and reabsorb them into the blood stream. Finally, taking anticoagulants in certain amounts can also potentially expose you to complications such as bleeding and hematomas. For the above reasons, it is recommended that you eliminate all anticoagulant products from your dietary and supplemental regimen 2-3 weeks before surgery and not return to using such products until 2-3 weeks after surgery. The longer you wait to resume consumption of anticoagulant products, the better. The following discussion highlights various products that are either direct anticoagulants or have anticoagulants somewhere in their ingredients. Be sure to read your labels and watch out for these hidden ingredients that are anticoagulants. As a general rule of thumb, eliminate all of the products below 2–3 weeks before your surgery and continue to avoid them for at least 2-3 weeks afterwards. In light of the differences in opinions, approaches, and philosophies for healing among doctors, it is important that you consult your doctor regarding anticoagulants that they specifically wish you to avoid.
Vitamin E
You will need to stay away from all products containing vitamin E (also listed as tochopherol) for at least 2-3 weeks post-op (and stop using vitamin E products for 2-3 weeks before surgery) because it is a Vitamin E is a powerful anticoagulant, for which reason you should avoid all product that contain it for at least 2-3 weeks before surgery and 2-3 weeks after surgery. Some foods and drinks that are high in vitamin E include fortified cereals, energy bars, soybeans, almonds, sunflower seeds, and peanut butter. You should start eliminating vitamin E as early as possible because it is a fat-soluble vitamin. This means that vitamin E is stored in your body’s fat cells and it takes a while for it to be processed and excreted. The more time that you give your body to eliminate vitamin E from its system, the better you can prepare yourself for optimum healing. If you are taking a multivitamin, pay attention to the vitamin E level as you want to use a product that contains either no vitamin E or very low levels of it. It should be noted that because vitamin E is found in many types of products, you should also avoid any and all beauty and hygiene products (i.e. cleansers, moisturizers, shampoos, etc.) that have vitamin E in it.
Garlic
It’s almost a shame that you can’t take garlic before and after your surgery. Garlic has so many healing powers that it is a good nutrient to use under normal circumstances. However, garlic is a blood thinner that will hamper your ability to form the clots necessary to heal in a timely fashion. Moreover, garlic can increase your post-op bruising. For this reason, you should hold off on garlic, spices containing garlic, and garlic pills for 2-3 weeks before and 2-3 weeks after surgery.
Ginger
Ginger is an herb that improves the circulatory system. But like all other anticoagulants, this will have a negative impact when it comes to surgery time. You should stay away from any products containing ginger for the 2-3 weeks before and after surgery.
Ginseng
All forms of the ginseng herb (Chinese, Korean, American, Panax, Red, etc.) are strong anticoagulants that should be avoided during the 2-3 weeks before and 2-3 weeks after surgery.
Green Tea
Green tea, whether in caffeinated or decaffeinated form, improves micro-circulation. This means that all the tiny capillaries in your body become dilated and the blood flows more easily through them. If you have a lot of green tea in your system going into surgery, you may have a higher level of bruising. Eliminate this product from your diet from 1 week before your surgery and then 2 weeks after. Green tea is excreted more quickly than some other anticoagulants, so stopping its use 1 week before surgery is fine for this one.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is a powerful anticoagulant. This product is normally used to enhance memory function and increase energy, but your anesthesia, pain medications and general fatigue from surgery will make no amount of Ginkgo Biloba safe to use around surgery time. Please avoid using this product for 2-3 weeks before and 2-3 weeks after your surgery date.
St. John’s Wort
When it comes to your circulatory system, this natural remedy for depression works in the same way as green tea. Micro-circulation is improved with St. John’s Wort, and like other anti-coagulants this product can potentially increase bruising and make it harder for your body to form the necessary clots. In addition, St. John's Wort can also increase the effects of the anesthesia. As with other products, do not use this remedy for 2-3 weeks before and 2-3 after surgery.
Other Anticoagulants
There are other anticoagulants that you may want to avoid taking in the weeks before and after surgery. These include: Selenium, alfalfa, bilberry, cayenne pepper, chamomile tea, Chinese mushrooms, onions, cloves, cumin, Dong Quai root, feverfew, fish oil, goldenseal, guarana, Ma Huang, certain hormones (the birth control pill is OK), horse chestnut, licorice root, MSG, omega 3 fatty acids, omega 6 oils, papaya, primrose oil, red chili peppers and willow bark. It should be noted that while some doctors advise patients not to take the anticoagulants that we list below, other doctors have said that it is ok to take them. It is normal for doctors to have differing opinions and approaches to healing. There are some doctors who will consider a certain product as fine to use, while others will want you to avoid that same product like the plague. The products that we’ve highlighted are the most common anticoagulants taken by the general public. There may be some other products that you may be taking that include anticoagulants that are not listed here but can be just as harmful. For this reason, it is important that you follow your doctor’s specific instructions as far as products they wish you to avoid and also share your list of products you intend to take with them during a pre-op visit. Finally, it should be noted that all products containing ibuprofen and aspirin are powerful anticoagulants that should be avoided during the first 2-3 weeks before surgery and the 2-3 weeks following surgery.
Alcohol
A drink a day keeps the doctor away? Maybe, but this time alcohol may keep your doctor away from performing surgery on you. Drinking alcohol is to be discontinued for at least 2-3 weeks before surgery and for 2-3 weeks after surgery. The longer you stay off the alcohol, the better. This is because alcohol is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) that can interfere with your body’s ability to form clots and heal your wounds. Moreover, alcohol will dehydrate you if taken post-op. As you know, keeping hydrated by drinking lots of water is important during your post-op recovery (8-10 glasses of water are needed a day). If you drink alcohol, it will make the task of hydrating yourself that much more difficult. Further, the double effect of taking both alcohol and being administered anesthesia can be very dangerous as this can depress the central nervous system and your breathing. In turn, this exposes you to some serious health risks, including death. Need we say more? Taken during your recovery, alcohol may also cause harmful effects if taken while you are on painkillers and antibiotics. Combining alcohol with these medications can lead to a variety of complications including increased nausea, vomiting, possibility of an ulcer, reduced alertness, dizziness, and migraine headaches. When alcohol interacts with other drugs in your body, it can either increase or decrease the availability of those other medications within your blood stream, which means that alcohol can make them weaker or stronger. In the case of antibiotics, alcohol can reduce their effectiveness and ability to prevent bacterial infections. If mixed with other anticoagulants, alcohol will make those products stronger (since alcohol works like a blood thinner and too) and possibly lead to fatal bleeding. As a result, please do yourself a huge favor and don’t drink alcohol for the 2-3 weeks before and after surgery. The champagne cork can be popped after that. Of course, if you can wait even longer to resume alcohol consumption, that’s all the better. Finally, it should be mentioned that if you are nervous or anxious about your surgery beforehand and want to enjoy the calming effects of small amounts of alcohol, talk to your doctor about it. Your doctor can prescribe you an anti-anxiety medication to calm your nerves. A good number of patients have taken Valium or other minor anxiety pills to help them get through the pre-op jitters or post-op sleeplessness. These pills are safe to take under a doctor’s supervision. Trust us, your doctor understands that you may be apprehensive about the surgery, especially during the final countdown. Don’t hesitate to talk to him or her about it, as they can help you. A good number of patients were prescribed a little something to take the edge off, and it was a much safer and better decision than drinking alcohol.
Caffeine
It is recommended that you keep caffeine totally out of your system for about the first 1-2 weeks of post-op. Caffeine comes in many different forms, all of which have negative effects on your healing journey. Whether in coffee, tea, soda, energy drink, or pill form, caffeine is a strong diuretic that causes your kidneys to quickly process it and make you urinate more often. This will have negative effects on your recovery in that you will become dehydrated. As you know, keeping hydrated by drinking lots of water (10 or more glasses of water a day) is important for the healing process and alleviating some post-op symptoms like constipation (it may help tightness and skin dryness too). Caffeine is entirely undesirable during the initial phase of recovery as your stomach can be more fragile after surgery and you may experience nausea. The consumption of caffeine can further upset your already vulnerable stomach and make you feel sicker. Moreover, caffeine is a stimulant that can increase your blood pressure, which is an effect that does not mix well with surgery. Overly stimulating your circulatory system can lead to complications during surgery so it is best to stay away from caffeine all together before surgery as well. If caffeine is a regular part of your daily diet, stopping its consumption can lead to some side effects such as fatigue, irritability, headaches, restlessness, and tiredness. This normally lasts for a few days, but it will subside. For this reason, it is recommended that you decrease your caffeine intake and gradually cut it out of your daily routine during the pre-op journey before surgery. You may want to try to decrease your consumption starting 2-3 weeks before surgery and then stop taking it entirely as you get into the last week of pre-op. That way you will have some time to make the adjustment without going bonkers and craving that dose of caffeine! If you do this, you can avoid the above potential side effects. Because caffeine is contained in many types of products, you should check the labels of products you are considering using during your recovery to see if caffeine is among the ingredients. In addition to coffee, teas, colas, chocolate, energy drinks, and diet pills, even products such as decaffeinated coffee have some level of caffeine. Check the ingredient list of the supplements you are taking as well. If you see products like Ma Huang, Ephedra, Guarana or Matè, understand that these herbs have significant levels of caffeine as well.
Carbohydrates
Certain types of carbohydrates (carbs) should be eaten in lesser quantities or better yet avoided altogether during the early phase of post-op and particularly during the first 3-4 weeks of post-op when you are not going to be able to engage in exercise or vigorous activities. But carbohydrates represent a long list of different types of foods, some of which are not healing-friendly and some that are beneficial to your healing process. There is a rating system that has been developed called the glycemic index (a scale from 1-100), which rates carbs and how quickly the body is able to use them for energy. During the first few weeks of post-op, complex carbs (which rate high on the glycemic index) are less desirable because they are not as easily converted into energy. Unless you are engaging in activity and converting complex carbs to energy, they will be stored as fat. Additionally, complex carbs can make you retain more water. Since you should not engage in exercise, sports, and athletic and vigorous activities until 3-4 weeks post-op, eating complex carbs during this period will not be as nutritious and beneficial to you as other foods. Because you will not be able to partake in activities or exercise during the first month of post-op, you’re more likely to gain weight if you eat complex carbs during the post-op period. Some examples of complex carbs include breads, bagels, rice, pasta, cereals, grains, starchy vegetables (i.e. potatoes), muffins and donuts. You will not be able to eat some of these foods above like bread and pasta anyway during the initial days of post-op because they are too chewy and will be too hard on your potentially achy and tight jaws and mouth. As a result, you should definitely keep these chewy complex carbs out of your system during the initial 4-7 days when chewy foods are to be avoided. Additionally, it is advised to eat smaller amounts of complex carbs than you normally consume during the first 3-4 weeks of post-op when you will not be able to engage in exercise, sports, and athletic activities. Another category of carbohydrates that you should cut down on -- and preferably avoid altogether -- during the early phase of post-op include processed and refined sugars found in products such as candy, pastries, cookies, regular carbonated drinks, and artificial syrups. These processed and refined sugars do not contain any nutrients (vitamins, minerals or fiber) and will not be of any benefit to the healing process. If anything, the consumption of processed and refined sugars can actually deplete your body of several key vitamins and minerals. Further, you should also know that sugar predisposes your body to infections as it encourages the growth of some bacteria (we discuss the category of sugars in greater detail shortly below). While it is recommended to lower (and preferably eliminate) your intake of complex carbohydrates and refined and processed sugars during the first few weeks of post-op, this does not at all mean that you should avoid carbohydrates altogether. You need carbohydrates in your diet and you can get "good" carbs from natural sources. The carbs that are better for you to eat are found in foods like green vegetables, fresh fruit, and beans. These are simple carbs that are low on the glycemic index, are processed more easily, and make you retain less water. As a result, including such simple carbs in your post-op diet will enable you to have nutrients that can be readily converted into energy without being stored as excess fat. Most Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) labels don’t tell you what the glycemic index value of a food is (some do), but you can always look it up on the Internet if you are uncertain of the rough category of carbs you are dealing with for a certain product. Just type ‘glycemic index’ with the food you want to know about in your search engine and you should be able to find out. Remember, the higher the number the more it will make you retain water and be processed with more difficulty. As far as the RDA label goes, you can at least check the percentage level of carbohydrates. Normally, you should get around 55% of your total daily calorie intake from carbohydrates, but in the 2 weeks leading up to your surgery and for the week or so after, it is recommended to decrease that percentage. Again, check the serving size compared to what your eating portion is. Sometimes the serving sizes that the label suggests are really just kid size portions and you need to eat several servings at once.
Sugars
In the first few weeks before and the weeks after surgery of post-op, it is recommend to reduce and better yet, cut out altogether the consumption of foods and beverages that contain refined and processed sugars. To understand the reasons, you should first know that sugar does not contain any nutrients (i.e. vitamins, minerals, fiber). For maximum healing to occur, you should be nourishing your body with foods that are rich in nutrients. Not only will sugar add no nutritious value to your body or have any benefit to the healing process, but its actual consumption will reduce the levels of several key vitamins and minerals in your body. In order for the body to absorb and metabolize refined sugar properly, the body has to use up some of its supply of certain vitamins and minerals. As a result, consuming foods or drinks that have refined sugars during the early phase of post-op will reduce the level of some key nutrients in your system. Lowering the level of nutrients in your body interferes with the body’s ability to heal at its best. Furthermore, sugar makes your body more vulnerable to infections as it encourages the growth of some bacteria. As a result, reducing, or better yet eliminating, refined sugars from your system during the first 1-2 weeks of post-op (or longer which is even better) is a good healing-friendly measure to take when it comes to your diet. It is also suggested to take the same approach to sugary foods in the 1-2 weeks before surgery. Finally, you may wonder if the body needs any form of sugar at all. While keeping in mind that refined/processed sugar we know is a product of modern civilization that is absolutely unnecessary in a regular diet, the body does require certain types of natural sugars that provide energy and heat. Glucose, the form of sugar contained in the blood, is essential for cells to function properly. Fructose is another sugar that is needed by the body. But, more important to know is that our body is able to produce its own sugar by converting carbohydrates found in some starches, vegetables, fruits, and grains into glucose. As are result, knowing how to select the right carbs is the key to a healthy diet. As we discussed earlier, sticking to simple carbs found in veggies, fruits, and beans is recommended during the initial phase of post-op.
Processed Foods
During the first 1-2 weeks of post-op, you should try to avoid eating processed foods. The term "processed food" is the generic name for any food whose nutrients have been stripped away and where artificial chemicals, synthetic vitamins or minerals, or hydrogenated oils have been added to it. Examples of processed foods include soft drinks, foods containing refined sugar, foods made from refined flour such as cookies, cakes, breads, rolls, muffins, donuts, and most pastas. Processed foods are exactly the contrary of whole foods that are all the vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry, fish, and water. Eating processed foods in normal situations is a personal choice, yet when it comes to the first weeks of healing they are not so great for you because they deplete your body from its vital nutrients, mainly vitamins and minerals. Many processed foods contain refined sugars that require a lot of vitamins and minerals to be absorbed. Additionally, many processed foods contain partially hydrogenated fats and oils in their ingredients. This means that this artificial, fractioned food has been treated and its nutrients have been stripped away. During the process of creating processed foods, several dozens of altered compounds are created and among them are trans fatty acids. These trans fatty acids are known to increase LDL cholesterol levels and interfere with normal body cells functions. Nutritionists will always recommend you to avoid processed foods as much as you can, especially while you are healing from a surgery. Our best recommendation is to temporarily avoid such processed foods so that you do not interfere with the body’s ability to heal at its best. Otherwise, you will pay a price to…process them in your body. Finally, it is recommended to take the same approach to avoiding processed foods during pre-op and avoid them in the 1-2 weeks before surgery.
Herbs & Spices
There are some herbs and spices that under normal circumstances are healthy for you to ingest, but in the aftermath of your surgery, are negative for your healing. No spices in their pure form have any sodium or MSG qualities (unless they are pre-packaged mixtures), so if they are to be avoided, it is usually because they are Anticoagulants. Please read the anticoagulant section in this tab (if you haven’t already) to understand why anticoagulants are not good for you during the post-op journey. Doctors and dietary gurus recommend staying away from the following herbs and spices during your healing journey: Salt, garlic, onion, cumin, cloves, turmeric, ginger, cayenne pepper and red chili peppers.
Teas
In addition to green tea (which was discussed earlier in the tab) being a product that should be eliminated from your diet before and after surgery, there are other teas that some doctors believe can interfere with healing due to them being anticoagulants. It should be noted that not all doctors believe that these herbal teas are strong enough anticoagulants that you will need to stop taking them. But in certain situations like surgery where you can’t be too careful, it is better to be safe than sorry. These teas include: rosemary, peppermint, cinnamon, chamomile, evening primrose, fennel, aniseed, bilberry, and willow tea. If you drink any of the following teas on a regular basis, you may want to stop drinking them in the final week countdown before surgery and refrain from taking them until 1 week post-op.
Gum
For facial procedures such as a Face Lift, it goes without saying that if you should not eat chewy foods during the initial days of post-op, that gum chewing is out of the question as well for the first week of post-op. Making excessive facial movements (such as chewing) is to be avoided during the first week of post-op. Moreover, you facial muscles, mouth and jaws may be tight and sore, making any form of chewing a source of discomfort and possibly pain. As gum chewing is a repetitive activity that can go on for a long sustained period, it is recommended to avoid gum chewing for the first 2-4 weeks of post-op while your face is in high healing mode. You don’t want to be offsetting the work that your doctor has done.
Supplements
While everything about vitamins, minerals, natural remedies, and other supplements that you should take and ones that you should avoid appears in the Natural & Homeopathic Remedies, Vitamins And Supplements area, we will highlight a few that are noteworthy here for your convenience. Some of the supplements you may take, herbal, vitamin, natural or otherwise, may contain products that can have negative effects on your healing. Many of these products are listed in the Anticoagulants section, but there are a few others of which you should be wary. These are only some of the more common supplements that the general public takes. If you happen to be taking something that is not on this list, assume that it is NOT OK for you to take it during your healing journey and ask you doctor about it. He or she will let you know for sure.
Kava Kava
Kava kava has been heralded as a mood enhancing herbal sedative. There have claims that it can treat stress and anxiety and give you an overall feeling of mild euphoria. However, this product may interfere with traditional sedatives that your anesthesiologist may be using for surgery and that your doctor may give to you post-op. Stop taking this product, just to be safe around 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a natural chemical found in your body that can also be taken in supplement form. It is one of the elements that regulate the sleep/wake cycle and you will find it in peak levels just before you go to sleep. Many patients take this product as a natural alternative to sleeping pills, but if you intend to take melatonin, make sure to consult your doctor. While melatonin has no known side effects, it may conflict with your anesthesia or medications at certain levels and you should get your doctor’s permission before you continue its use.
Echinacea
Echinacea is an herb that has been gaining massive popularity for its claims to help prevent or treat viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. However, some people are allergic to this product without knowing so, and you should be cautious about taking it in the weeks before your surgery if you are not familiar with it. You should also watch out for Echinacea if you have any pre-existing liver conditions, as it can have a bad effect on your liver when anesthesia interacts with it. Here again, don’t take this product 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery.
Ephedra
An ingredient in many types of anti-histamines (such as Sudafed), ephedra (also known as ephedrine) has been used for weight loss, increasing energy, and treating respiratory infections. Because ephedra may increase blood pressure in some people, this can lead to complications during surgery. Do not use any ephedra products for 1 week prior to surgery and discontinue their use until no earlier than 1 week post-op.
