An often overlooked aspect
of preparing for surgery is the need for a good diet. That’s
right – the healing process
that takes place after surgery can be significantly affected
by your nutritional intake before surgery. Swelling,
edema, time to healing, bruising, discoloration, scar formation,
and redness – all are influenced by your diet, especially
in the several weeks prior to surgery. Many of our patients
who have closely adhered to our dietary suggestions report that,
in addition to the healing benefits they enjoyed, they experienced
weight loss, much higher energy levels, and increased mental clarity.
In fact, many patients continue a healthful diet as part of their
lifestyle postoperatively.
What we recommend isn’t mysterious
or weird or difficult to follow. Our suggestions are based
on the Zone Diet,
which seeks to achieve a metabolic state of optimal health in which
your body works at peak efficiency. Its biochemical underpinning
is the maintenance of ideal levels of the hormone insulin through
an appropriate balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in the
diet.
Here’s a summary of our recommendations based on the Zone
Diet:
Drink at least 64 ounces of water per day. (Our body is 70% water,
and all of that water needs to be continuously and aggressively
replaced.)
Eat more fruits and vegetables and less pasta, breads, grains,
and cereals.
Eat more frequent meals with fewer calories.
Eat small amounts of low fat protein at every meal and snack.
Determine how much protein you require per day and consume only
that amount.
Drink eight ounces of water 30 minutes before each meal.
Make sure most of your carbohydrates come from fruits and vegetables,
and use grains, breads, and pastas as condiments only.
Never let more than five hours go by without eating a meal or
snack
Eat five times a day: three meals and two snacks
Always eat breakfast, and do so within one hour of rising.
Always have a small snack before bedtime.
Always have a small snack a half hour before exercising.
Do not eat any more protein than fits in the palm of your hand.
Eat double the amount of favorable carbohydrates than protein
at each meal.
For more details, read The Zone Diet, by Dr. Barry Sears,
or visit www.zoneperfect.com
Cigarette smoke (including secondhand smoke) affects your body
just as much as – and sometimes more than – any medically
prescribed drugs you may be taking. It affects your lungs,
heart, blood vessels and the way in which wounds heal. It changes
the way an anesthetic drug works during surgery and can have a profound
impact on your surgical results. So, eliminate cigarette smoking
and second-hand smoke completely before and after surgery. Eliminate
as well any alcohol, herbal supplements, or recreational drugs such
as steroids, marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines.
Do not use herbs and supplements unless cleared
by Dr. Pollard's office.
Herbs, and supplements can contribute to healthy and longer
lives, but new evidence proves that the benefits they provide are derived
mainly from their functioning as blood thinners. Using a blood
thinner only complicates your anesthesia, surgery, and healing. It
is therefore imperative that you not take any dietary supplement, vitamin,
herbal, or homeopathic for at least three weeks prior to surgery, and
that you tell Dr. Pollard about any that you have been taking up till
then
Two weeks before surgery:
Start taking 500 mg. of Vitamin C one or two times a day. Look
for Vitamin C that is time-release and pure (that is, not mixed with bioflavenoids
or anything else). Vitamin C promotes healing and is a free-radical scavenger.
Start 1 day before surgery:
Take Arnica Montana the night before your surgery, preferably around
a 30c dose. (The dosages are confusing, ranging from a low of x to c to a high
in the m's.) It is taken by putting a tablet under the tongue. Take
two tablets three times a day for the first three days after surgery. Arnica
Montana, which decreases swelling, is available in health food stores.
Take 500mg (or 100 GDU) of Bromelain two times the day
before surgery, and continue for five more days after surgery. This
pineapple enzyme, which decreases bruising, is available in health
food stores.
Please Note: The above is a program recommended by Dr Pollard. Whether
you follow all, part, or none of this program is entirely your choice,
based on what you deem best for your own health. If you do plan to
deviate or not follow this plan, however, it is important that you
notify Dr. Pollard of your decision.
You need a medical clearance if you have multiple
medical problems. Please
see your primary care doctor to have a full physical, and then have the results
faxed to 610 667-5171. Failure to do this will delay or cancel
your surgery.
Get your lab tests done and fax the results to our office (610 677-5171). Stop all aspirin and blood thinning supplements and vitamins Stop all anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve and
any medications that contain aspirin. Stop all Vitamin E unless it is
in your multivitamin. Stop smoking and avoid all second-hand smoke. Either form of smoke can
cause serious problems with the healing of wounds.
Submit to us a list of all medications, vitamins, supplements, herbals,
and over-the-counter medications for our review and recommendations. If you have
any questions about a medication you are taking, please call. Clean out your refrigerator for foods that
thin the blood. Eat
healthy and begin to de-toxify your body.
TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO SURGERY
Stop all alcoholic beverages, which can thin the
blood and cause bleeding. Start your supplements and vitamins as recommended
elsewhere on this site.
If you are having major liposuction, begin taking Iron supplements. Begin the specific preoperative diet outlined elsewhere
on this site. Start a low sodium diet (1200-1500 mg/day). Begin restricting all unfavorable carbohydrate intake and
adhere to all other specific diet recommendations noted on this site. Fill your prescriptions.
ONE WEEK PRIOR TO SURGERY
If you desire, color or perm your hair. Make arrangements with whoever will take you
to and from surgery.
Get proper nutrition and rest. Do not stay up late or
work long hours.
THREE DAYS PRIOR TO SURGERY
If you are having facial surgery, scrub your face thoroughly
twice daily. Also scrub vigorously behind the ears. If you are having breast surgery, do not shave under the arms. Stop all skin creams, Obagi, and Retin-A. Use cleansers only. Stop exercising.
THE NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY
Do not eat or take anything by mouth after
midnight.
This includes water, black coffee, mints, gum, lozenges, or cough
drops.
Shower and wash and condition your hair
as usual. Do not use hair spray, hair gel, or mousse.
THE DAY OF SURGERY
If you wish, shower in the morning and wash and condition your hair.
Do not use hairspray, hair gel, or mousse. Do not wear makeup, lipstick, deodorant, nail polish, hairpins, or
moisturizer. Do not wear contact lenses. Bring a case for your glasses. Do not wear any jewels or valuables. Wear loose-fitting clothing, button-up shirts, elastic waist pants
and slip-on shoes. Do not wear jeans, jump suits, or sweaters. Bring scarf, sunglasses, or hooded sweatshirt to wear after your surgery. Brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash. Do not swallow any water
or other liquids. Do not drive your own car or take a cab to or from surgery. All specimens removed will be submitted to the pathology department.
You will receive a separate bill for this.
