5 Tips To Boost Healing After Surgery

Surgery is stressful enough without having to deal with wound healing complications afterwards. Maximize your chances of healing well by following these 5 tips:

1. Increase pro-healing nutrients in your diet:
Wounds need a lot of energy to heal well. Since energy can only come from food, it is vital that patients eat as healthily as possible especially before and after surgery. Crucial nutrients for wound healing include protein, zinc and vitamins A and C.

So what are the best things to eat? Meats, nuts, beans and dairy products are great sources of protein. Carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach and apricots are great sources of vitamin A. Citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables are great sources of Vitamin C. Yogurt, green peas, beef, oysters, black beans and crab are great sources of zinc.

2. Drink plenty of water:
Patients must also stay well hydrated before and after surgery by drinking plenty of water. Moisture is needed for normal wound healing. Dehydration causes the skin and soft tissues to lose moisture and this in turn can delay healing.

3. If possible get to a healthier weight:
The importance of healthy nutrition is really emphasized by the link between obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] over 30) and complication rates after surgery. Obese patients have much higher rates of infection, wound healing problems (breakdown of wounds), hematomas (blood collections), and seromas (fluid collections) compared to non-obese patients.

Obese patients also have a thicker subcutaneous adipose layer with a poorer blood supply. Blood flow to the healing tissues is therefore less robust and the amount of vital nutrients and oxygen reaching these tissues are far less than in non-obese patients. This poor blood flow compounds the negative effects of poor nutrition. If possible, losing weight before surgery will only decrease the risk of complications.

4. Stop smoking:
Smoking can also really impact healing. The nicotine in cigarette smoke causes blood vessels to shrink, so again tissues do not receive enough of the nutrients and oxygen required for healing. At best, this can cause the wound healing process to take much longer. At worst, smoking can cause wounds to breakdown. Unfortunately, many smoking-cessation products will also increase the risk of healing problems because of the nicotine they contain!

Cigarette smoke also contains carbon monoxide. This combines with your blood cells preventing them from carrying oxygen and effectively lowering the level of oxygen in the blood. Since oxygen is vital for healing, it is crucial to quit smoking before and after surgery to decrease the risk of healing complications.

5. Exercise:
Another good thing to do?... Exercise. Regular aerobic exercise improves healing after surgery and boosts the immune system. Start with walking and progressively build up to more of a sweat once given the "all-clear" by your surgeon.

*****

Dr Chrysopoulo is a board certified plastic surgeon and microsurgeon specializing in breast cancer reconstruction. He is in-network for most major US insurance plans and routinely treats patients traveling from across the US for breast reconstruction. To schedule a consultation please call (800) 692-5565 or email patientadvocate@PRMAplasticsurgery.com. Connect with Dr C on Twitter and Facebook.

*****

Breast Reconstruction Not as Safe For Obese Patients

Significantly obese women may wish to consider delaying breast reconstruction following mastectomy until they achieve a healthier body weight. According to findings presented today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2006 conference in San Francisco, women who are significantly obese are at higher risk for complications and have a lower satisfaction rate than do normal and overweight patients.

“Just because someone is overweight doesn’t mean they should not be entitled to undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy,” said Elisabeth Beahm, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon, author of the study, and associate professor at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. “Feeling ‘whole’ can be an integral part of recovery from cancer, yet significant concerns have been
raised about the wisdom of doing breast reconstruction in very obese patients due to a high complication rate.”

The current retrospective study found that patients with a BMI greater than 35 demonstrated significantly increased complication rates for all types of breast reconstruction, from implants to flaps. The complication rate approached 100 percent for morbidly obese patients with a BMI over 40.

“We investigated whether plastic surgeons can safely perform breast reconstruction for these patients or if we would be depriving them reconstruction simply because of empiric concerns for their weight,” said Dr. Beahm. “We found that significantly obese patients, those having a BMI of 35 or higher, had a higher risk for complications. Our experience suggests that in many cases it may be more prudent to delay breast reconstruction until the patient has lost weight.”

The most frequent complications for obese patients were fluid collections and infection at both the reconstructive site and the flap donor site. When the flap was harvested from the abdominal area, weakness and deformity of the abdominal wall such as hernia and bulge was much more common than in normal weight patients.

“While it’s very difficult to tell a patient she needs to wait for breast reconstruction, patient safety is our primary concern,” said Dr. Beahm. “We must not compromise the oncologic imperative in breast cancer. Each case must be individualized. Morbidly obese patients need to work with their plastic surgeons and carefully assess risk factors. Patients may be best served by deferring breast reconstruction until they have achieved and maintained a lower BMI through exercise and nutrition.”

For referrals to ASPS Member Surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, call 888-4-PLASTIC (475-2784) or visit www.plasticsurgery.org where you can also learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

******

Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year including the DIEP flap procedure. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.

******