How decidedly exciting!
You have decided to work with Dr. Naderi for a cosmetic procedure, and exploring what you can do in preparing your body for optimal results and speedy healing, yes?
While any procedure requires disturbing the soft tissues and vessels within and under the skin, we can do much in optimizing the body to sustain this manipulation of facial structures, reduce bruising and swelling, and hasten the recovery period to get back into your regularly-scheduled life.
Typically, natural supportive measures require more time and compliance
than conventional methods, and the more time in-advance that you begin, the most effective you will be on your own.
Of course, when I support surgeons’ patients in pre- and post-operative care, I utilize pure, whole medicinal herb extracts that are biodynamic and highly concentrated, achieving effective results in shorter time frames.
That said, there is much that I recommend to patients in complementing and enhancing this process, and Dr. Naderi invited me to share them with you today!
Let’s have a look at the aspects we seek to support:
- Vascular integrity: The micro-circulation in skin and its underlying structures are that of capillaries, which are the tiniest of extensions in the circulatory system, supplying tissues with nutrients and carry away wastes for elimination. Their walls ‘leak’ fluids (leading to swelling) when disturbed or spontaneously when nutrition is lacking or with certain medications.
- Lymphatic drainage: The lymphatic system has dual function: immune system activity and waste-removal. We seek to optimize the swift drainage of swelling and surgical waste for elimination from the body. This includes addressing chronic issues like seasonal or chronic allergies that demand constant generation of waste products such as mucous and excessive histamine secretion. If the lymph nodes are already ‘full’ with waste of allergies, you can imagine the additional load of waste and fluids secreted from surgery may take a bit longer to drain than without the allergies.
- Connective tissue integrity: Under the skin and throughout the body, there is a thin, continuous layer of tissue known as fascia (connective tissue). It creates scaffolding for form and provides containment of structures and organs for optimal function. If you can imagine it to be like a continuous Saran/plastic wrap, surrounding every muscle, ligament, tendon and organ, it must be disturbed with any surgery. We seek to support its strength and ability for repair.
- Bruising recovery: Depending upon clotting time, the tiny vessels disturbed during surgery will leak, trailing a variable amount of blood through the tissues. This is what creates the blue/purple bruising of any injury or procedure. We seek to minimize this by giving the body what it needs for proper clotting time, and assist the body in removal of what does migrate through the area of surgery.
- Inflammation: As with any injury –like surgery– to the body, acute inflammation is necessary to bring the proper cells and substances to the tissues for repair and healing. We don’t seek to suppress the body’s natural healing abilities; Rather, we merely work to limit the inflammation and swelling to reasonable levels that the body can handle. This also minimizes discomfort of distended tissues. Reasonable acute inflammation is to be anticipated; This is very different from chronic inflammation that damages the tissues over time.
Rather than isolating nutrients into tablets that are heated and pressed, of questionable source, and often contain unnecessary excipients (base ingredients), it is best to seek preparation for surgery through basic dietary intake of certain foods at therapeutic levels.
Clean, Whole Food
It makes sense that we are best to clean-up the diet in eliminating excessive sugar, excessive caffeine, additives, preservatives, artificial flavorings and other chemicals from consumption. These additives feed acid-dependent inflammation, irritate the nervous system, promote yeast overgrowth, impede waste elimination, disrupt hormonal functions, and otherwise compromise the body’s ability to function and heal properly. Foods that heal include consuming a predominance of more ‘alkaline’ foods, such as vegetables, legumes/beans, nuts (as tolerated), seeds, seaweeds/sea vegetables, mushrooms, “superfoods” (such as raw honey, chia seeds, shelled hemp seeds, and other nutrient-dense food add-ins), and whole grains. Fruit should be kept to a reasonable volume of 2-3
servings daily, maximum; Opt in-favor of vegetables and foods listed above to minimize sugars. Consuming a balance of raw and cooked foods is best (as tolerated), since cooking does tend to make most foods a bit more acidic.
Nutrients we seek in these foods for addressing the points in this article include (but not limited to):
- Vitamins (C, E, B-complex)
- Minerals (broad spectrum, including zinc)
- Essential fatty acids
- Quality plant-based proteins, enzymes and fats
Anti-inflammation
Inflammation is influenced by substances the body generates called Prostaglandins. Inflammatory prostaglandin formation is enabled by consumption of foods including:
- Dairy
- Red meat
- Organ meats
- Orange citrus
- Shellfish
It is best to eliminate these foods in the 2-4 weeks before and immediately after surgery, to reduce unnecessary acid and inflammation.
Hydration
Hydration is always essential to flush the by-products of surgery, and to assist in consistent waste elimination. Studies have shown that 2-3 Litres of water per day supports bowel function, eliminating eye puffiness/shadows and otherwise enhancing overall glowing appearance of skin. You may consider the fluids in soups, smoothies, herb (no caffeinated) teas, and warm water with raw honey as part of your total fluid intake.
Early days
In the early days just after surgery, it is best to avoid bending forward and increasing the pressure in tiny facial blood vessels. Stay upright or reclining at an elevated 45-degree angle (maximum). Follow guidelines for cool packs to soothe any minor discomfort. It is best to use lukewarm water for washing, once the doctor has cleared it.
If you suspect that you generally tend to bruise or swell easily (or simply wish to encourage a speedy healing process), of course I am here for you to provide additional care and support.
Trust in your surgeon. You’re going to love the results!
Cheers to your best self!
Tami Bronstein, BSc Phyt (Hons), MNIMH, AHG, is a Medical Herbalist,qualified by University of Wales/College of Phytotherapy in East Sussex and London, England (UK). Her ongoing post-graduate work with medical doctors from Paris, France focuses on plant remediation through neuroendocrine (central nervous system/hormonal) dysfunction of disease and imbalance, known as Endobiogenic Medicine. She consults cross-country privately by phone, and in-person from her organic apothecary, The Medical Herbalist Apothecary, in Highland Park, NJ. Herbal medicines are custom compounded by-hand following a full medical history review &analysis, and shipped direct to the patient, anywhere in the world. For details and info, Tami can be reached at: 908.915.1998 www.sundancewellness.com.
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