Incision Healing and Nutrition: How to Help Surgical Wounds Heal

Age is also a factor. "One of the misconceptions with wound healing is that recovery or healing is going to happen as swiftly as it did when you were younger," he said. But with each passing decade, your body loses some of its ability to recover quickly. This may be exacerbated by certain medications and cardiovascular conditions, as they can limit the flow of blood to the incision — which is essential for healing.

Getting enough of the right nutrients is critical when recovering from surgery. Your body needs extra energy from calories as well as nutrients including protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals to generate new tissue.

How to Help Surgical Wound Healing With Nutrition

Following major surgeries, our bodies require a significant number of calories to support healing, Nelson explained. "The cells for each stage of healing require specific nutrients," he continued. "And if you don't have those nutrients, the cells aren't going to be able to adequately do their job and the healing process can become stalled.”

However, your appetite and ability to tolerate foods might be lower during recovery.  In addition, a normal diet may not be enough to supply adequate levels of certain nutrients that are essential for the wound healing process. In these scenarios, supplementation is vital to bridge the nutrition gap. Therapeutic nutritional drinks like Juven^® are specially formulated to provide targeted nutrition for wound healing.

Juven, backed by more than 40 studies and clinically shown to support wound healing by increasing collagen formation in as little as two weeks^1*, contains a blend of nutrients that are major players in the wound healing process, including:

• Arginine and glutamine : During times of trauma, the body lacks enough of these essential amino acids, meaning you'll have to increase your intake to get more of them. Arginine helps to promote the production of protein, enhances cell growth, triggers collagen production, strengthens immune function and promotes blood flow. Glutamine also promotes collagen production and supports a healthy immune system. Together, these activities help support vital repair and rebuilding.

• Hydrolyzed collagen : This is collagen that's been broken down into building blocks, providing our bodies with the raw materials needed to cover a wound. It helps to increase the body's collagen level and stimulates the production of internal collagen at the wound site.

• HMB : Short for β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, HMB is a metabolite of the amino acid leucine. HMB helps slow muscle breakdown while also spurring protein synthesis.

• Zinc : This mineral aids in DNA and protein synthesis, immune function and skin integrity.

• Vitamins C and E : These antioxidants help the body recover and manage cell damage. Vitamin C helps improve collagen strength, while vitamin E assists in stabilizing cells.

• Vitamin B12 : This vitamin increases levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin, allowing the body to easily get oxygen and nutrients to the incision site for healing. It also helps spur collagen production.

Talk to your doctor before adding anything new to your diet, especially after surgery, and ask if adding Juven would be appropriate for your recovery nutrition plan. Juven should be used in addition to an already nutrient-rich diet that includes foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meats and dairy.

Understanding how wound healing works and how nutrition plays a critical role in the healing process is the first step on the road to recovery. For more tips on how to bounce back after surgery, consider working with a dietitian. Not only can they create an eating plan customized just for you, but they can also guide you on ways to maintain good health year-round.

_{¹ Williams JZ, et al. Ann Surg. 2002; 236:369-374.}

_{* as measured by hydroxyproline levels in healthy elderly adults as part of a wound healing model, taking 2 servings per day}