12 Essential Vitamins and Minerals for a Speedy Cosmetic Surgery Recovery

Ensuring a speedy recovery is extremely crucial when having a cosmetic surgery done. That is why post-operative care is as important as preparing and researching for a surgery. It does not matter whether you are going for a rhinoplasty or a full-blown facelift, it is imperative that you should strictly follow the post-operative instructions given by your doctor. Recovery from a surgery highly rests upon you to make sure that complications and side effects are kept at its minimum, at the very least.

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After every surgery, your doctor will prescribe you with a regimen that will make sure that you will be able to recuperate and heal efficiently from the trauma your body or a certain body part went through after a procedure. Naturally, for example, this could result to experiencing slight discomfort and pain. In a WebMD video, Dr. Robert Kotler, FCAS, Clinical Instructor at the Division of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA Medical School, mentioned that patients should take the prescribed medication once pain is experienced. This is because pain can increase blood pressure, which could translate to bruising or cause excessive bleeding underneath the treated area. This could eventually result to poor healing or to an opening of the surgical wounds.

Another thing that Dr. Kotler pointed out is that during the cosmetic surgery healing period, the body needs to repair themselves. This can be achieved through the healthy eating, drinking of water and fruit juices and, of course, through the intake of vitamins. However, Dr. Kotler clearly pointed out that it should be right vitamins and minerals that promote proper healing of the body. So if you are on your way to the operating table days from now and want to know which vitamins can help you achieve speedy recovery, here the top 12 vitamins that you should stack up to be ready for a quick, safe and healthy healing process.

Vitamin C

This popular vitamin that is most associated to preventing us from getting sick is at the top of the list of essential vitamins that you need to take after surgery. In fact, your doctor will recommend that you take Vitamin C even days before you undergo surgery to get you started by building your body to a healthy recovery. It helps support and boosts the immune system and contains antioxidant properties protecting the cells from getting further damage. It also manages and balances the blood pressure, as well as reduces constipation. Apart from these, since Vitamin C is an essential component in collagen production, it is useful in wound healing of all types, from burns, cuts to surgical wounds.

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A majority of fruits and vegetables are rich in Vitamin C content. Among those food that are packed with this immune boosting vitamin are oranges, tomatoes, kiwi, bell peppers and kale. However, supplementation is usually recommended 2 weeks before the surgery and to continue until the fourth week after the procedure with a suggested dose of 1,000 to 2,000 mg per day.

Vitamin A

Another vital vitamin that aids in proper healing is Vitamin A. Its role in collagen formation and production is what makes this mineral a must have when you recovering from a cosmetic surgical wound. It helps initiate reparative behavior in tissues, boosts the immune system and promotes great skin health. It also aids in the protection against bacterial and viral infections.

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Important sources of Vitamin A include Tuna fish, dark leafy vegetables, carrots, apricots, sweet potato and squash. Daily intake recommendations for Vitamin A are 900 mg or 3,000 IU in men and 700 mg or 2,300 IU in women. However, Vitamin A should be taken with precaution as an overdose can cause jaundice, nausea, vomiting, loss appetite and hair loss.

B Vitamins

The 11 components of this energy boosting vitamin complex is also one of the essentials in ensuring a healthy post cosmetic surgery recovery. It helps speed up the healing process by helping in collagen linkage and fights against infections. It also required in protein and DNA synthesis, as well as in the formation of red blood cells, which supply the wound with the required oxygen.

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High concentrations of B Vitamins can be found in seafood, red meat, fortified cereals, soy products, low fat dairy and eggs. It is recommended that you choose a supplement that contains all the 11 B Vitamins components to ensure that you can benefit from its wound healing advantages.

Vitamin K

There are quite a few vitamins that are not so popular but are important in wound healing, especially after getting a cosmetic surgery. One of which is Vitamin K. Its major benefit in ensuring proper recovery is its ability and function for blood clotting, which helps surgical wounds heal properly.

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It can be found in green leafy vegetables, like broccoli and spinach, and in cereals. Since our body needs only about 0.001 mg per day per kilogram of body weight, natural sources can suffice for your daily Vitamin K needs.

Zinc

This is often neglected mineral is vital in wound healing. It plays a role in the immune system, as well as in protein and DNA synthesis and cell division. It is involved in tissue and wound healing, regeneration and repair.

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Zinc can be sourced from poultry, red meat, whole grains, nuts, beans and dairy products. According to MayoClinic, 220 mg of zinc sulfate has to be taken three times daily for incision wounds to promote wound healing. It is also important to remember that zinc can become toxic if not taken with Vitamins A & C, so it is best to take these three together.

Bioflavonoids

One of the vitamins that may be unfamiliar to most are bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids are the substance that gives fruits and vegetables their bright orange or yellow colors. These are mostly found on the skin of fruits and vegetables and are considered to be powerful anti-oxidants. It helps get rid of damaging free radicals and increases the antioxidant action of other nutrients. Together with Vitamin C, it acts to help maintain the thin walls of the capillaries and strengthening the walls of the blood vessels. This helps in the prevention of excessive bleeding and bruising. Apart from that, it also has anti-bacterial properties, controls inflammation, reduces allergic reactions and is needed by the immune system to be at its peak level.

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Bioflavonoids are typically found on citrus fruits, bell peppers, grapes, onions, garlics, berries, green tea and buckwheat. There supplementations available and it should be taken with Vitamin C for better absorption. The recommended daily dosage of bioflavonoids is 500 mg.

Probiotics

If you want to have a quick and safe healing after a cosmetic surgery, the best way to do this is to incorporate healthy dietary changes. One of the healthy dietary changes that one should do before and after surgery is to introduce probiotics into your system.

Probiotics are friendly bacteria that most of you may associate with the digestive system. It helps treat irritable bowel syndrome, as well as constipation. Its action on the bowel movement of the patient, especially when one is constipated, helps to avoid having to exert too much pressuring when you are relieving yourself, which could result to bleeding and bruising. But more importantly, probiotics can help protect you from bacterial infections and helps boost surgery recovery.

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Excellent sources of natural probiotics are yogurt, sauerkraut, aged cheese and some soy products. There are also other food that are fortified with probiotics, like chocolates, fruit juices and cereals. To help the body heal after surgery, a recommended dose of 1 billion to 450 billion colony forming units (CFU) is needed. So, it is best to watch out for these numbers on the nutritional facts labels on your food choices.

Copper

Another mineral that is essential in wound healing after a cosmetic surgery is copper. It is required and plays a significant role in cross-linking and strengthening connective tissues. Typically, copper is included in the post-surgical nutritional program to be recommended by your doctor to promote wound healing.

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Some of best sources of copper are liver, seafood, kale, mushroom, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, prunes, dark chocolate and avocado. Copper supplements should be taken as prescribed by your doctor, as it can become poisonous if taken in large amounts. A recommended dose is between 2 to 4 mg per day. It is even suggested that you should start taking copper 2 weeks prior to your surgery date.

Selenium

This may be one of the more unheard of minerals and can normally be found in soil. But, while you only need small amounts of it, selenium plays an important role in the metabolism and wound healing post-surgery. It contains antioxidant properties, helps protect the cells and reduces edema or swelling after surgery.

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The recommended dietary allowance for selenium in adults is 55 micrograms per day. Excellent natural sources of selenium are Brazil nuts, fish, beef, poultry and grains. It is important to take note that an overdose of selenium can cause side effects, from the simple bad breath to the more serious kidney, liver and heart problems.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that is present in the body and hosts a myriad of health benefits. It helps maintain bone integrity, enables energy production and maintains nervous balance system. However, what makes it an essential mineral post-cosmetic surgery is its ability to enhance control of inflammation and blood sugar and helps relax the blood vessels. Magnesium is important in supporting normal immune function and tissue repair after a surgery. Also, it is used as a laxative for constipation.

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One of the best sources of magnesium is fiber, as well as green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and beans. And if you are into juicing your vegetables, this is even more beneficial to ensure that you get enough of this post-surgery mineral into your system.

L-Arginine

Most men would be familiar with what L-Arginine is. It is typically used among bodybuilders to boost the immune system and improve the athletic performance. If you not familiar, L-Arginine is an amino acid, which is used to make nitric oxide in the body, a chemical compound that helps relax blood vessels and improve blood flow. It is also an important building block of proteins, which helps repair damaged tissues after surgery.

According to MayoClinic, the recommended dose for wound healing is 30 mg of arginine aspartate divided into three doses for two weeks or 36.2 grams of Arginine HCL for five days. Naturally, this can be found in red meat, poultry, fish and dairy products.

L-Glutamine

Another amino acid that is essential in wound healing is L-Glutamine. It works similarly and has the same benefits as with L-Arginine. It is important in providing nitrogen and carbon to cells in the body, which is necessary to repair the wounds. Recommended dosage for L-Glutamine is between 5 to 20 grams per day.

When seeking to get cosmetic surgery, you should never undermine the importance of taking care of your body when you are recovering. This list of essential vitamins and minerals will help you ensure a speedy and healthy healing process. However, this does not mean that you load up supplements to give your body their healing benefits. Incorporating food that are rich in these vitamins and minerals are always the best and natural way to get it.

If you are decided on getting a cosmetic surgery, like rhinoplasty or double eyelid surgery, you can trust that Advance Cosmetic Beauty Surgery will provide you with a comprehensive list of post-operative care, which includes vitamins, to help you recover quickly and enjoy your new enhanced look. Call now and schedule for a free consultation with Dr. Ahnsup Andrew Kim.