Nutrition
First 24 hours:
Your diet should be restricted to cold or room temperature liquids (ex: protein shakes [Boost and Ensure], pudding, soup, ice cream, yogurt, etc.)
After 24 hours:
Gradually start eating soft foods that could be cut with a fork such as cooked vegetables, baked fish, pasta and omelettes. These are easily chewed and swallowed.
- AVOID : carbonated beverages, hot and spicy foods, and foods with small grains (seeds, rice, couscous, nuts, popcorn).
- DO NOT drink through a straw, spit, chew gum or drink alcohol during the course of the antibiotics.
Eating 3 meals daily is important!!! Proper nutrition will result in faster healing.
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, EAT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF YOUR MOUTH.
Activities
Rest:
- Plan 3 days of rest following your surgery. It is important to speak and laugh the least possible.
- Plan activities/chores that need no physical effort (reading, watching TV, desk work).
- For the first 2 weeks following your surgery, avoid all physical activity (land and water sports) that will lead to an increase in heart rate. Walking is allowed.
- Do not tilt your head forward or lift anything heavy.
- When sleeping, elevate your head using two pillows. This helps to decrease swelling.
- Do not sleep on the surgical side for 6 weeks, until your sutures have been removed.
DO NOT SMOKE or use a VAPOURIZER for two weeks after the surgery. The action of smoking creates a suction which is detrimental to the healing tissues and can result in a rejection of the graft.
NOTE : Giving blood is not permitted for 1 year after your graft.
Medications
Pain Medications:
- Take pain medication as needed, every 4 to 6 hours according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Never take pain medication on an empty stomach, always take with food to minimize stomach discomfort.
- It is normal for some discomfort or pain to occur a few days after the surgery. Do not hesitate to take painkillers as needed.
DO NOT USE ASPIRIN or at least one week following your surgery. Aspirin can cause excessive bleeding.
Use Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) instead.
Antibiotics
If antibiotics have been prescribed, it is important to take antibiotics as directed until all have been taken. Avoid alcohol while taking antibiotics.
If you are taking other medications, check with your pharmacist for any contraindications or possible interactions with your medications.
*Note taking antibiotics can diminish, or even inhibit the effectiveness of the birth control pill
Swelling
First 24 hours following your surgery:
It is normal for swelling to occur after surgery. To minimize this, it is important to apply ice. Place an ice pack wrapped in a hand towel on the outside of your face over the treated area in 10-minute intervals (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off). Continue to apply ice as much as possible for the first 24 hours after the surgery.
It is possible that inflammation will only occur a few days after the surgery. This is normal. If this occurs, apply ice on/off for 24 hours after the onset of inflammation.
Bleeding
Slight bleeding or oozing is normal during the first one or two days following the surgery. Put a towel over your pillow when sleeping in case this happens.
If excessive bleeding occurs, please call our office.
Sutures
The sutures used do not resorb and will be removed at your second control visit which will be 6 weeks following the surgery. Avoid “playing” with the sutures with your tongue as this may loosen them. Please call us in the event that a suture is loose or hanging. It is important to never cut a suture without our consent.
