What should you eat after surgery to reduce swelling?

Depending on the surgery you have, you may not be able to eat afterwards. If you are given a general anesthesia, you probably will not want to eat right after surgery. As for swelling, that is not really a question of what you eat, or drink, but it is your body's response to injury. The best way to avoid swelling after surgery is to follow your doctor's orders. If your surgery is on an extremity, your foot, knee, or arm, keep it elevated as much as possible to avoid swelling.