What to Eat After Rhinoplasty? Safe & Healing Food Choices

Important points such as your sleep pattern and nutrition routine are important points to be considered after rhinoplasty. The right nutrition list will be good for your health to have a comfortable process and reduce complications. In this direction, what to eat and what to avoid after rhinoplasty is very important. Creating a diet program for healthy living will help you in this process. At this point, you can have detailed information about what you should eat and drink after rhinoplasty by reviewing the “Food to Eat After Rhinoplasty: What to Eat & What to Avoid” content we have prepared for you. We wish you all pleasant reading and healthy days.

Why Should We Pay Attention to What We Eat After Rhinoplasty?

Since rhinoplasty is performed as a surgical intervention, it is no different from any surgery. For this reason, paying attention to what you eat and drink allows you to return to your normal life more quickly. If you ask why we should pay attention to what we eat after rhinoplasty, reducing pain and accelerating the healing process comes first.

• Minimizing the risk of possible complications
• Prolonging the effect of anesthesia and postponing the feeling of pain
• Minimizing the risk of swelling around the nose and face
• Reducing the swelling seen after nose surgery in a short time
• Not affecting the mucous flora
• Minimizing straining during defecation and not straining the nasal area
• Preventing the sensation of severe pain
• Prevent digestive problems
• Not directing the body’s energy for healing to the stomach

By paying attention to all these factors we have listed, you can easily return to daily activities.

What Should I Eat After the Rhinoplasty?

The list of things to eat and drink after rhinoplasty can be counted by sampling. Because nose surgery is applied to people of different nationalities and races. Therefore, it would be better for these people to choose appropriate foods according to their own culinary culture. If you ask what to eat after rhinoplasty, more fiber and liquid-weighted foods should be consumed. For this, options that will increase body resistance and eliminate the risk of infection should be preferred. In addition, care should be taken to consume protein and carbohydrates in a balanced way.

In addition, if you are wondering what to eat after rhinoplasty, the priority is protein-based foods. However, these foods should not be difficult to chew and their soft structure should stand out. Foods rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals will accelerate the recovery period much more.

• Soft Foods:It is forbidden to consume hard food in the first weeks after nose surgery. In particular, it is requested to avoid all kinds of foods that will accelerate the work of the nose area and upper lip. Hard foods such as meat, carrots and cucumbers should not be consumed in order not to strain the nose. Instead, soups, yogurt, boiled potatoes and vegetables with high liquid content are recommended. Protein-rich foods such as oats and eggs will make you feel much better and speed up your recovery. You can gradually reduce the number of soft foods after surgery.
• Anti-Inflammatory Foods;Since nose surgery is a surgical intervention, it is an application with a high risk of inflammation. Since inflammation will slow down the healing process and tire your body, it is undesirable to see this complication after nose surgery. Therefore, you should definitely add anti-inflammatory foods to your nutrition routine. Fish and seafood should be emphasized as anti-inflammatory foods. In addition, nuts can be crushed and blenderized. Olive oil should be included in every meal. As for spices, options that will prevent inflammation that will not tire the stomach should be used. In addition, spices such as turmeric and ginger both reduce your pain and prevent inflammation.
• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables;Including seasonal fruits and vegetables in the diet speeds up digestion and facilitates healing. For this reason, vegetables and fruits should be preferred over hard pulses and increasing the chewing reflex. Especially organic, fresh fruits and vegetables can be easily consumed even when your nose is stuffy. Be sure to include fruits and green leafy vegetables that increase the rate of tissue repair. For this, use your preference for anti-inflammatory vegetables such as spinach and kale. In addition, increase the consumption of citrus fruits, pineapple and lemon among fresh fruits.
• Brown Rice and Whole Grains;Although the consumption of legumes is undesirable after nose surgery, brown rice and whole grains are excluded. After the first week, you can slowly use your chewing reflexes. In this case, you can get enough carbohydrates if you consume brown rice and whole grain bread. In addition, these carbohydrates, which are high in fiber, will not cause digestive problems and will give your body the necessary energy and support your collagen synthesis and prevent your blood sugar from dropping.
• Wound-Healing Foods;It takes time for stitches and wounds to close after nose surgery. Therefore, it is important to eat a protein-based diet to speed up the process. Protein-based foods with cell regenerating and repairing effects should be added to the diet. In addition, foods that increase tissue repair, such as fish and beans, should be selected. When selecting, increasing the cooking time should be taken into consideration.
• High-Fiber Foods:It is important that the patient does not have digestive problems after rhinoplasty. Because digestive problems cause the patient to strain the nasal area during defecation. This increases blood pressure and damages the stitches. Therefore, it is recommended to consume high-fiber foods. Especially foods high in fiber such as brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread, oats, corn should be at the forefront. However, it is important to cook them in the appropriate time and remove the hardness.
• Anxiety-Relieving Foods;Reducing anxiety is as important as what to eat after rhinoplasty. Foods that reduce stress and anxiety after rhinoplasty will relax you. The more peaceful the postoperative process is, the shorter the recovery period. Therefore, herbal teas that reduce anxiety can be consumed. Nuts such as chocolate and peanuts can be eaten. Chamomile tea, lemon balm tea, green tea and dark chocolate can be consumed.

What Food to Avoid After Rhinoplasty for a Smooth Recovery

Foods to be avoided after rhinoplasty prolong the recovery period. It will not help with pain and swelling, but may increase it. It can cause swelling in the face and nose and strain the upper lip muscles. Therefore, the issue of which foods should be avoided after rhinoplasty should be given importance.

• Spicy Foods:It is not recommended to consume spicy foods after all surgeries, not just rhinoplasty. The reason for this is that spicy foods increase inflammation and blood pressure after surgery. In particular, hot, spicy and sharp foods should be avoided. For this, hot peppers, hot sauces and foods should be removed from your life for about 1 month. Thus, spicy foods should be avoided to avoid irritation in the nasal passages and to avoid feeling uncomfortable.
• High Sodium Foods: Sodium-rich and acidic foods irritate the stomach and irritate the inside of the nose and cause sneezing because they damage the tissues in the nasal mucosa. This is an unwanted reflex after rhinoplasty. For this reason, it is desirable to minimize sneezing and chewing movements. For this reason, foods containing high sodium should not be consumed as they will also cause digestive problems.

• Hard Foods:Hard foods, nuts and crunchy foods work the muscles of the upper lip and nose. For this reason, hard or crunchy foods should not be consumed for about 1 month to accelerate healing, not to increase pressure in the nasal area and not to strain the stitches. Instead, nuts that are healthy and will contribute to healing can be ground or blended and added to meals.

• Too Hot or Cold Foods; Excessive hot or cold consumption is related to gums and dental health. It has no direct effect on the aftermath of nose surgery. Very cold and very hot foods affect the teeth, upper lip and inside the mouth. It will cause sensitivity in the teeth and inside the mouth, making you uncomfortable. Very cold and very hot foods should be avoided to avoid gum pain and discomfort.

• Salty Food;Salt consumption also increases swelling, causes edema and blisters in the daily diet. Bloating after rhinoplasty is one of the most undesirable conditions. For this reason, salty foods, salty drinks and salt consumption should be eliminated from your life for a while.

• Chips;Chips are both spicy and salty and crunchy due to their structure. For this reason, chewing chips slows down healing as it will work the jaw and nose muscles. At the same time, it will increase blood pressure and cause inflammation and swelling. Therefore, it should be excluded from the diet for the first 1 month.

What Can I Drink After Rhinoplasty?

What to drink after nose surgery is closely related to supporting the healing process. Some types of liquids and drinks accelerate the healing process. It allows cells to regenerate and repair. Consuming rich and nutritious drinks supports you to spend the process after rhinoplasty comfortably. It will make you feel light and fit by removing edema and inflammation in the body.

• Water:Considering that 2/3 of the human body is water, attention should be paid to water consumption in applications that will strain the body such as surgery. Water should be consumed to reduce swelling, eliminate edema and minimize the effect of narcosis. In addition, water, which accelerates healing, plays an effective role in cell repair and regeneration.

• Green Tea;Green tea is known for its edema removal feature. It is one of the best nutritious herbal teas. For this reason, it accelerates healing thanks to its anti-inflammatory, healing and regenerating properties. However, if you are uncomfortable when consuming liquid constantly, you can also consume drinks such as green tea. However, care should be taken not to be too cold or too hot when consuming green tea.

• Natural Fruit Juices;Natural fruit juices meet the body’s need for vitamins and minerals. At the same time, vitamins play the role of regenerating, repairing and anti-inflammatory cells in the body. At this point, if natural fruit juices are added to the diet, your digestion will be relieved and you will feel energized. Speed up your healing process by drinking vitamin-rich natural juices.

What Not to Drink After Rhinoplasty

You should pay extra attention to what not to drink after rhinoplasty. Because drinks that are forbidden to drink after rhinoplasty directly affect the healing speed. Since it has the aspect of increasing the side effects of nose surgery, it is necessary to avoid consuming it.

What not to drink after rhinoplasty?

• Alcohol: Alcohol, which slows down the healing rate and lowers the body’s defenses, is not recommended after rhinoplasty surgery. If you consume alcohol in the first weeks, you may feel more pain as it will reduce the effect of anesthesia. However, alcohol consumption can also cause side effects after surgery. It also causes swelling after nose surgery. Although you should consult your doctor about this, if you are not fond of alcohol, not consuming alcohol for a while will allow the swelling to go down completely. The later you start consuming alcohol, the faster your recovery will be.

• Acidic Juices; Acidic juices and drinks cause swelling in the body andOne of the undesirable side effects after rhinoplasty is swelling. Bloating can cause digestive problems and slow down healing. It will also irritate the stomach and affect the mucosa. If the mucous tissues are irritated, the nose will heal more difficult.

• Caffeinated Drinks; Caffeinated drinks reduce the speed of recovery in all kinds of surgical interventions. If you want your body to recover quickly, avoid caffeinated drinks. Since caffeine reduces the effect of anesthesia, it should be avoided for the first 1 week.

What Can I Eat Week by Week After Rhinoplasty?

The rate at which the human body heals is directly proportional to what it eats and drinks. If you prefer foods and drinks that nourish the body and support its healing, you can avoid side effects. As the healing process will accelerate, you will experience less complications such as pain, bruising, bleeding and swelling.

Consuming foods and drinks week by week after rhinoplasty prevents the risk of experiencing severe pain. It also prevents you from hindering your body’s efforts to heal.

Week 1 Post-Surgery: Especially 24 hours and the first 1 week after rhinoplasty are very important. In this time period, which closely affects the healing process, eating a protein-based diet will enable your body to recover quickly.. 

For the first 24 hours, you should drink plenty of water and avoid caffeinated foods and drinks. In particular, alcohol, smoking and stimulants are prohibited for the first 1 week.

It is important to avoid eating sweet and heavy foods to avoid nausea and vomiting after rhinoplasty. Carbonated, sweet and intense-tasting foods and drinks should not be consumed.

If you are wondering what to eat in the first 1 week after rhinoplasty, you should choose foods that you will not have difficulty chewing. Liquid-heavy and easy-to-chew choices prevent you from experiencing pain around the nose. It is important to eat yogurt, porridge, potatoes and mashed foods to avoid activating the nasal muscles. In addition to being easy to chew, nutritious foods should be preferred. You can consume soups that are spicy, hot and not too oily.

As a drink, you can drink freshly squeezed fruit juices rich in vitamins and eat fruits that are easy to chew. In addition to being easy to chew, foods that will not cause constipation should be consumed. It is in your best interest to avoid acidic drinks and spicy foods.

Week 2-3 Post-Surgery: Compared to the first 1 week, the 2nd and 3rd week after rhinoplasty surgery is much more comfortable. The body manages the healing process more easily and your pain is relieved. Since rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure, foods that are easy to chew and not hard should be preferred during this period. It will be beneficial to listen to your body and choose food and drink accordingly. For example; when you switch from soft foods to slightly hard ones, you may feel pain or discomfort while chewing. At this time, maintain the same routine as 1 week ago.

Your body will decide your eating pattern in the 2nd and 3rd weeks after nose surgery. At this stage, eating a protein and sufficient carbohydrate-based diet contributes to the healing process. You can consume foods such as fish and chicken in appropriate hardness. Continue to increase water consumption.

Week 4 Post-Surgery: After about 1 month you can easily return to your old eating pattern. Avoiding hard and crunchy foods for a while even if you recover will make you feel better. If you are wondering what to eat in the 4th week after rhinoplasty surgery, there are no restrictions on this issue. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco products will also be good for your personal health. Although full recovery is experienced after surgery, gradually returning to normal life will make you feel better.

You can eat and drink whatever you want in the 4th week after rhinoplasty and onwards. Continue to drink water regularly and do not consume excessively hard foods.

What Should the Diet Program Be Like After Rhinoplasty?

The subject of how the diet program should be after rhinoplasty is for you to feel comfortable and recover in a short time. If you follow the nutrition program, you can easily recover and resume normal life. You should follow this program to reduce complaints such as bleeding, bruising, swelling and pain after nose surgery. If you ask how the diet program should be after rhinoplasty, you should turn to soft foods. Give priority to soft foods, especially rich in protein and fiber. In addition, use green leafy plants, ground nuts and anti-inflammatory spices that will facilitate digestion. When you pay attention to these and consume plenty of water, green tea, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, you can return to daily activities in a short time.