Be Ready: 3 Tips To Prepare For Cosmetic Procedure

Being prepared for your cosmetic procedure is very important. You probably already read the pamphlets your cosmetic surgeon provided and asked all the questions possible. But there are a few tips that you may want to consider. The following are 3 suggestions that can help you prepare for your procedure:

1. Avoid Blood Thinning Foods

Blood-thinning foods are dangerous for you, since you are going into surgery. You do not want your body to bleed too much during the procedure. The following foods will clean up your blood stream and thin out your blood. They contain numerous nutrients, like salicylates, vitamin E, and other blood thinning properties. You can slowly introduce these foods back into your diet after your surgery (as they will prevent clogs in your blood system).

The following foods should be avoided for at least 2 weeks before your surgery:

  • Strawberries and other berry-like fruits
  • Ginger
  • Dill
  • Peppermint
  • Licorice
  • Raisins
  • Oranges
  • Honey
  • Cider
  • Vinegar
  • Wine

There are other foods that you should avoid, and you can find them here. Remember that these food limitations are only temporary because the aforementioned foods are very healthy for you. 

2. Be Happy, and Avoid Stress 

This one may be hard to accomplish, especially before your surgery. But do your best to avoid stress because stress produces cortisol in your brain. Cortisol is a hormone that helps your body get ready for a "fight or flight" situation. This makes your blood thin so that it travels quickly to all the muscles that need extra help during your stressful situation. And, as mentioned earlier, you do not want to bleed excessively during your procedure. 

You can try some of the following to relax before surgery:

  • Take long warm baths
  • Try to get a massage or two to relax yourself
  • Hear pleasant music
  • Eat a little chocolate, as it contains pleasure-inducing ingredients. 

Remember to talk to your plastic surgeon about any of the aforementioned suggestions, as he or she should be aware of what you are doing to prepare yourself. 

3. Be Prepared With After-Surgery Steps

What does that include? For one, make sure that you have someone waiting for you after surgery. You will need support and help. You should also consider some of the following:

  • Eat foods that will help you heal, like foods high in vitamin C. You can consider eating more cauliflower or broccoli.
  • Make sure you get enough sleep. Just so you know, the best temperature for a good night's sleep is 60 to 67 degrees. 
  • And follow your surgeon's instructions. 

As you can see, you do have the power to make this change in your life go smoothly. If you have other questions, contact a professional like Mark Schwartz, MD with any concerns you have.


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