Turn Back the Clock Cosmetic Surgery Program

Serving San Francisco, San Jose, & Walnut Creek, California

Turn Back the Clock is a customized cosmetic surgery program that starts days before surgery and continues a week after surgery to minimize swelling and bruising while maximizing your results. The program consists of six important components when followed diligently will give you the most out of the program. So let's begin!

Nutrition

Nutrition plays a key roll decreasing the amount of swelling and bruising while maximizing your body's ability to heal faster. A proper diet high in antioxidants can help improve circulation which helps the healing process. The main antioxidant nutrients are vitamins A, C and E and the minerals selenium, zinc, manganese and copper.

Selenium is found in seafood, organ meats, cereal, mushrooms, garlic and asparagus. Zinc is commonly found in brown rice, yogurt, whole wheat breads, lentils, baked potatoes, milk, turkey, spinach, rye bread and beans. Manganese is found in nuts, wheat germ, wheat bran, leafy green vegetables, pineapple and seeds. Copper is found in oysters, clams, leafy vegetables.

Alcohol

Alcohol depletes your body of essential vitamins and minerals which can affect the healing process. We recommend no alcohol a week prior to cosmetic surgery and a week following. If you are used to consistent or heavy alcohol consumption we suggest you wean off gradually to avoid uncomfortable side effects including headaches and irritability.

Exercise

Exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy body. Specifically for post operative patients, it increases circulation which will result in a decrease in healing time. Increase circulation can also help reduce post operative bruising and swelling by ridding your body of excessive fluid.

Caffeine

Caffeine, like alcohol, has negative effects on the healing process. It is a diuretic which can lead to post operative dehydration. It also reduces the absorption of vitamins and minerals crucial for healing. For best results reduce your caffeine consumption gradually the week prior to your plastic surgery procedure. Try to avoid caffeine all together two days prior to surgery and five days after your procedure. Replace caffeinated drinks with fruit juice, herbal teas and water.

Water

To calculate the amount of water you should consume in a day, take your body weight and divide by two. For example if you weigh 140 pounds you should be drinking at least 70 ounces of water a day. This will avoid fluid retention which results in less swelling. Water flushes out toxins which have accumulated in your body over time. Toxins retain fluid which actually increases swelling. Therefore, the more water you drink the less swollen you will be after your surgery.

Diet

The week before your surgery and the week to follow increase the servings of fruits and vegetables while decreasing the amount of carbohydrates and fatty foods you eat. Eat small portions more frequently. Last but not least, salt. A low sodium diet is recommended a week prior to surgery and week to follow. Salt prevents fluid from being eliminated from your body which results in increased swelling. Less salt, less swelling.

Randall B. Weil M.D., F.A.C.S

San Francisco Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

909 Hyde St., Ste. 602, San Francisco, CA 94109 | 415-781-2081