A nutrition guide for patients who have undergone facial surgery

For patients who have undergone facial surgery, nutrition is an extremely significant aspect of the recovery process. To minimize health issues and quicken the recovery period, it is highly recommended that patients stick to the types of food that they can intake. 

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Let’s start with fiber. What many patients who have had facial surgery don’t say out loud is the constipated feeling they feel after the procedure. Fibrous food can help facilitate bowel movement. Even during the recovery process, patients may have some digestive issues due to the prescribed meds. Fruits and vegetables can ease the digestive system during this time. 

Protein-rich food, on the other hand, has a very different role to play from its fibrous counterpart. During the recovery process, protein acts as a healing agent for the muscle and skin. Food like chicken, lean meat, eggs, and fish can all shorten the recovery time. Avoid fried food though, since it makes the skin itch. 

Of course, to fully recover, and recover the right way, patients should not skimp on vitamins and minerals. There are several vitamins patients can and should take. With regards to minerals, patients should look for those with selenium, zinc, and calcium. 

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Tup Ingram, M.D., is a reconstructive and plastic surgeon based in Nashville, Tennessee. He has worked with various nonprofit organizations such as Operation Smile, Habitat for Humanity, and Doctors Without Borders. For similar articles, click here.

Simple Age Guide To Cosmetic Surgery

Unlike regular medical surgery, elective surgery such as those used for cosmetic purposes has age recommendations. And the age recommendations for these elective surgeries vary depending on what they are for. Not only do these differ in terms of age, but there are also periods in one’s life where the procedure is best to be had. Here is a simple guide to the age recommendations of cosmetic procedures.

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The recommended age for cosmetic breast surgery is 18 and above. By this age, a woman’s breasts would have developed, and thus they would be able to tell if they fell that their breasts are underdeveloped. Options for cosmetic breast surgery include breast augmentation, uplift, and reduction. 

Another age where one could consider cosmetic breast surgery is after they hit 30. The reason for this includes loss of volume after pregnancy or significant weight loss. 

While there is no age limit, most surgeons have a minimum age of 17 or 18 when it comes to liposuction if there is no existing medical condition. For teenagers who are conscious about their image but have yet to reach this age, doctors would suggest seeking counseling first until they reach the right age. 

Similarly to cosmetic breast surgery, rhinoplasty is a procedure best done after the patient has reached 18 years of age. This is to ensure that their nose is fully grown.

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Tup Ingram, M.D., attended Yale University and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Mathematics and Physics. After his undergraduate studies, he moved to Dallas, Texas, and completed his medical studies and residencies in general and plastic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. For more on Dr. Ingram’s work and interests, click here.