After undergoing minor surgery, establishing a scientific post-operative care regimen is crucial for the lips to heal quickly, preventing swelling, inflammation, and unsightly scarring. This article provides a detailed list of what to avoid after lip surgery, along with guidance from Dr Xuan Quan Clinic, to help the wound heal quickly and ensure the lips achieve the most balanced and natural shape.
What to Avoid After Lip Surgery? Foods to Absolutely Avoid
Your daily diet directly affects the speed of wound healing. To minimize the risk of irritation, infection, or unsightly scarring on your lips, you should proactively remove the following food groups from your daily diet:
Water spinach and beef (Risk of dark or keloid scarring)
- Beef: Although rich in nutrients, beef can easily darken the skin around the incision, causing the lips to become dark or unevenly colored after healing.
- Water spinach: This food can stimulate excessive collagen production, which can easily lead to the formation of unsightly raised or indented scars after surgery.

Sticky rice and chicken (Causes pus formation and itching)
Sticky rice: Dishes made from sticky rice, such as glutinous rice and banh chung (Vietnamese rice cake), are considered “heating” foods, easily causing prolonged swelling, pus formation, and slowing down the healing process of the surgical incision.
Chicken: Chicken skin, in particular, is very likely to cause allergies, itching, and discomfort to the sensitive lip area, which is in the process of forming new skin.

Seafood and fishy foods (Irritation, prolonged swelling)
Seafood such as shrimp, crab, squid, and sea fish contain high levels of strange proteins, which can easily cause irritation, redness, and cause the lips to be swollen and bruised for longer than usual.

Spicy and Stimulant Foods (Easily Cause Bleeding and Infection)
Spicy foods: Dishes containing a lot of chili peppers, black pepper, and mustard can easily irritate the surgical site, causing burning pain and sweating, creating conditions for bacteria to thrive.
Stimulant Foods: Alcohol, beer, coffee, and tobacco dilate blood vessels, reduce the body’s resistance, making the wound more prone to bleeding or swelling.

Lifestyle Habits to Avoid After Lip Surgery
Besides diet, daily lifestyle habits and lip muscle movements significantly impact wound healing. To protect the shape of your lips and help the incision heal quickly, you need to pay special attention to the following:
Avoid strong impacts and excessive lip muscle expressions
Do not touch your lips: Our hands contain many bacteria; touching, scratching, or rubbing the surgical area will increase the risk of infection and inflammation.
Restrict strong facial expressions: In the first few days, you should avoid laughing loudly, opening your mouth too wide, or pursing your lips. These strong movements inadvertently create significant pressure on the lip muscles, easily stretching and tearing the stitches.
Do not pick at scabs: When the wound dries and new skin forms, it may feel slightly itchy and peel. You absolutely must not use your hands to pick or peel off these scabs; you must let them fall off naturally to avoid bleeding and scarring.

Avoid direct contact of your lips with tap water and cosmetics
Avoid getting water on the incision: For the first 3-5 days, you need to avoid getting tap water on your lips when washing your face or showering to prevent bacterial infection. Instead, use a soft, damp cotton towel to gently wipe around your face.
Absolutely avoid cosmetics and lipstick: All types of lip balm, lipstick, and makeup remover contain chemical ingredients that can severely irritate open wounds.

Why should you choose Dr. Xuan Quan Cosmetic for lip cutting and post-operative care?
To have a harmonious lip shape and a gentle recovery process, choosing a reputable address is a prerequisite. Dr Xuan Quan Aesthetics is a facility trusted by many customers thanks to its outstanding advantages:
Directly performed by Nguyen Xuan Quan: Customers are consulted and operated directly by a doctor. Nguyen Xuan Quan – expert graduated from Hanoi Medical University, nearly 10 years of experience, trained in Korea and Singapore. The doctor’s high skills ensure meticulous cuts and a naturally balanced lip shape.

Modern, sterile equipment system: Surgical procedures take place in a closed operating room with advanced equipment. Strict instrument sterilization minimizes the risk of infection and ensures medical safety.

Micro-needling technique minimizes damage: Skillful dissection reduces swelling, bruising, and pain after surgery. The incision closes quickly, allowing the lips to form their final shape, so clients can have their stitches removed comfortably after 7 days.
Careful aftercare and reliable warranty: Our nursing team provides detailed instructions on daily hygiene. This is complemented by a reliable 6-month warranty, giving you complete peace of mind until your lips are at their most beautiful and stable.

Frequently Asked Questions About Post-Lip Surgery Diet
To make post-operative care at home easier and more effective, Dr. Xuan Quan Aesthetics has compiled and briefly answered the most common questions from customers below:
What happens if I accidentally eat foods I should avoid?
If you only accidentally eat a small amount, you don’t need to worry too much. Stop immediately, drink plenty of water, supplement with vitamin C (orange juice, guava juice) to boost your immune system, and continue to closely monitor the wound.
How long after lip surgery can I brush my teeth normally?
For the first 2-3 days, you should avoid brushing your teeth to prevent water and toothpaste from getting into the incision. Instead, rinse your mouth with saline solution. After that, you can brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush, avoiding touching the lip area.
Can I drink bubble tea or soft drinks after lip surgery?
You should limit your intake in the first few days because the high sugar content can easily cause irritation and bacterial buildup around the edges of your lips. If you do drink, use a straw placed deep in your mouth so the liquid doesn’t touch your lips.
The above information answers the question of what to avoid after lip surgery, along with the most scientific post-operative care instructions. If you have any further questions about the recovery process or services, the team of experts at Dr Xuan Quan Clinic is always ready to accompany and support you with dedicated guidance so you can confidently achieve the alluring, sharp lips you desire.
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