After spending so much time and money on the surgery itself, you want to protect your investment and maintain that result.
Dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of research papers prove that GOOD NUTRITION = A BETTER RECOVERY.
There are plenty of ways that nutrition can play a role in assisting with plastic surgery recovery.
As a specialized plastic surgery dietitian, I am here to give you my best nutrition tips and tricks for after your surgery.
Keep reading to find out more about what you can do to have a faster, stronger, and safer recovery after your plastic surgery!
What is plastic surgery recovery?
Plastic surgery recovery is the time after surgery, or called, “Downtime” where you spend healing from surgery. It is the time when your incisions are healing, your bandages are on, and/or you have caretakers taking care of you.
What are some tips to recover better after plastic surgery?
1. Start Walking
It is important to start walking as soon as your surgeon approves. This is often Day 0 or Day 1 of post-op.
Walking will help:
Reduce constipation
Reduce risk of blood clots
Help maintain your muscle
Since these are both potential complications from surgery, walking is essential to incorporate into your post-op routine. Even just pacing around your house or walking to your mailbox will help!
2. Eat water-rich produce and don’t be afraid of laxatives
Water-rich produce will provide fiber and water...two nutrients you need post surgery. While most professionals recommend dried fruit, I recommend water-rich fruit for its fluid content and active nutrients.
Water-rich produce for after surgery are:
Cucumbers
Blackberries
Pears
Peaches
Narcotics are commonly prescribed to help with the pain after plastic surgery. The problem with narcotics is that they can cause painful constipation.
To help with this, it is recommended to use laxatives post-op while taking narcotics. This will assist with keeping your bowel movements regular and prevent blockages.
Eating water-rich produce and taking laxatives can keep you comfortable and prevent constipation. There are also natural fiber supplements too.
Consult with a dietitian (like myself!) if you have any questions about the type of laxatives to take and how long to take them.
3. Prepare your meals before your surgery
The best thing you can do for your recovery is to set yourself up ahead of time. This is especially true when it comes to meals and meal prep.
It is likely that after surgery you will have limited mobility and strength. You may not be able to prepare your own food. While eating out is an option, fast food and restaurant meals are often full of hidden sodium and additives.
High amounts of sodium and food additives can be harmful to your healing process. Instead, I encourage you to meal prep your meals prior to surgery. This will cut down on the number of hidden ingredients and will promote nourishing meals that are beneficial for your recovery.
Meal prep will look like:
Make soups ahead of time and freeze
Have a grocery list and recipes to give to your caretaker
Precut your produce
Action Tip #1:
Preparing one meal–such as homemade, high protein, no added salt chicken noodle soup– and freezing it before surgery is one of the best ways to prepare for recovery.
4. Set up your recovery space before your surgery
As I mentioned with meal prep, setting yourself up for recovery is key. You may have trouble opening up containers, cups, and cabinets.
To help with this:
place all napkins, flatware, cups, plates, and snacks on the kitchen counter
put drinks in small containers, no larger than a quart size
cover foods with Saran Wrap versus airtight containers
Having items out on the counter can make sure you aren’t stretching and opening up your incision.
These tips make eating and drinking more accessible after plastic surgery.
5. Have quick foods on hand
Keeping up with your nutrition is essential during recovery, but it is not always simple. It is easy to undereat and become malnourished due to not eating enough calories throughout the day.
Choose a high-protein smoothie or shake that you like and keep a few ready to go. Take sips of your smoothie every hour, all day long. You can even set reminders on your phone to help!
You also want to have other quick food options on hand besides just a shake. Ideas include yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, oatmeal, etc.
6. Don’t be afraid to call your surgeon
It is important to keep in touch with your plastic surgeon. If you have any questions about the recovery process, they will be a great resource for you to use. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get the answers you need to properly heal!
7. Work with a plastic surgery dietitian to maximize your success!
The recovery process may seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be! Working with a plastic surgery dietitian can help you optimize your nutrition to best fit your recovery needs.
They can help you plan out your meals, create a grocery list, implement meal prep strategies, and more! Having this extra accountability and support can be life-changing for plastic surgery recovery.
Plastic Surgery Recovery: The Takeaway
After reading this article on plastic surgery recovery, here are some of the key takeaways.
Walk after surgery
Eat water-rich produce
Prepare your kitchen
Prepare one meal before surgery
Have quick foods on hand
Reach out to me, a plastic surgery dietitian, to create a postop meal plan.
As a plastic surgery dietitian myself, I know the importance of adequate nutrition for post-op recovery. Don’t let your nutrition fall short because there can be serious consequences!
Born from clinical experience, stubborn integrity, and love.
My Story
In 2019, I closed a chapter as a surgical dietitian. Underneath the noise, I felt lost. One night, I remember standing alone in my kitchen and I prayed, "God, take this life and do something with it."
Three months later, on a camping trip, my husband and I connected with a plastic surgeon. I asked him an earnest question: "What do you give your patients to help them heal after surgery?"
He said, "Nothing. We send them home on arnica."
My stomach dropped. I thought of all the women choosing surgery to feel more at home in their bodies—brave, thoughtful, intentional—and being handed nothing more than a hope and a wish.
So I began searching for "the supplement" I wish I'd had for my patients. It didn't exist. What I found instead were formulas with:
Cheap, poorly absorbed ingredients
Subpar dosages that wouldn't move the needle
Prebiotics and Probiotics that were already dead on arrival
Deceptive marketing and a loud "push harder" message that didn't honor a woman's healing pace.
It took five years. Six figures in losses. Three near-bankruptcies. We didn't give up.
We created Sulinu—born from clinical experience, stubborn integrity, and a genuine love for women who are investing in themselves.
What makes Sulinu different:
Evidence-aligned dosages of nutrients that actually matter for post-op healing
Thoughtful formulation for absorption and synergy—not just a label full of buzzwords.
Details that care for you: from the functional bag design to the clarity of our education on the website. No fluff. No fear tactics. Just what works and why.
Is Sulinu a luxury? Yes. Because healing deserves precision.
Your body is not a problem to fix; it's a partner to support. Healing is a biological process that loves to be nourished.
I made Sulinu for the woman who leads with intention, who wants her recovery to reflect the care she's put into every other part of this decision. Thank you for being here. I'm honored to support your healing.
An all-in-one surgery nutrition powder formulated to support the body before and after cosmetic procedures — with a complete blend of protein, collagen, amino acids, micronutrients, synbiotics, and enzymes.
Free ground shipping on orders over $199 100% money-back guarantee Discreet shipping (privacy matters)
Why you'll love it
One scoop delivers targeted nutrition to support:
The body's natural recovery process
Tissue and skin nourishment
Digestive comfort and gut balance
Overall wellness during a demanding time
Peace of mind with tested, high-quality sourcing
"This became part of my daily routine after my procedure — I loved the vanilla flavor and how easy it was to mix in." — Jessie
What makes it different
27 thoughtfully selected ingredients
Bioavailable forms designed for absorption
5 patented ingredients
Clinically studied ingredients
3rd-party tested
Sourced from Europe + international suppliers
Gluten-free, vegetarian whey
No gluten, soy, artificial colors/flavors, or GMOs
Good to know
You can start at any point in your nutrition journey — it's never too late to begin supporting your body with quality nutrition.
Directions
Take ½ to 1 scoop daily
Max: 1 scoop/day
Use daily for at least 6 weeks
Recommended protocol
We recommend 3 bags total for most timelines:
1 bag to start
2 bags to continue
What's included
1 pouch = 20 servings
Super-fine powder that dissolves quickly
Vanilla flavor — mix into cold or warm drinks, smoothies, or recipes
Customer feedback
90% of surveyed customers liked the taste.* *Based on our 2024 customer survey.
Allergy information
Contains lactose. Processed in a facility that may also process eggs, peanuts, sesame, soy, tree nuts, shellfish, and other allergens.
Eight Expert Guides on Healing - Ultimate Mocktail Recipes, Swelling Guide, Fast Food, How to Poop (You'll Thank Us!), Meal Guide, Protein Guide, Hydration Guide, and Smoothie Recipes - All Included!
You've booked the surgery. Now prepare like you mean it.
Most patients walk into surgery focused on the procedure — and walk out wishing someone had told them what to do next.The Ultimate Surgery Bundle is that someone.
Eight expert guides covering everything from what to eat and how to hydrate, to managing swelling, navigating fast food on a recovery diet, and keeping your digestion on track — all in one place, all designed to work together.
130+ pages of essential pre-and post-surgery guidance for optimizing recovery.
Pair it with Before + After Vitals for complete nutritional support from the day you book your procedure to the day you're back to yourself.
$57 (130 value) - Everything you need in one instant download.
What's included:
Mocktails & Nightcaps Guide ($20 value)
Swelling Guide ($20 value)
Fast Food Guide ($20 value)
Constipation Guide ($20 value)
Surgery Meal Guide ($20 value)
Protein Guide ($10 value)
Hydration Guide ($10 value)
Smoothie Recipes ($10 value)
Total value: $130 — yours for $57
The VIP Surgery Recovery Kit - Everything You Need for Surgery Recovery
Surgery is an investment. The VIP Surgical Recovery Kit is how you protect it.
Designed specifically for cosmetic surgery patients, the VIP Surgical Recovery Kit gives you every tool to enter the OR prepared and come out healing faster.
What's in the box?
2 bags of Before + After Vitals — our clinically focused surgical supplement
1 highly requested Pre and Post Surgery Recipe Guide*
7 travel bagsfor on-the-go recovery
1 personal blender for mixing your daily supplement
1 personal bag
1
essential oil to support rest and recovery
1 essential oil recovery bracelet
No guesswork. No missing pieces. Just everything you need, in one kit, built around your results.
*Personal bag, essential oil, and essential oil bracelet all vary with each box
Scoop. Mix. Heal.
The Pre and Post Surgery Recipe Guide is a physical, exclusive book included only in the VIP kit. You won't find it anywhere else. Your recovery deserves something you can actually hold in your hands. Created and curated by a surgical dietitian, designed to take the guesswork out of eating for healing.
*Return Policy
This is a signature-upon-arrival purchase. Meal Guides, Bracelet, Personal Bag, Essential Oil, and Bracelet are final sale.
If you have been feeling low on energy after your surgery or just “out of whack”, chances are you may not be feeding your body what it needs for recovery and healing. There are some foods...
This is a great document… so I dont want to take away feom that… but it was very disappointing to pay $20 amd then realize rhat almost everything in rhe small file is information I’ve already gleaned from Sulinu’s instagram and information cards that come with the product. It would be fine if I’d bought the whole collection of guides but couldnt swing he almost $60 so just chose one. Again, I love this company and appreciate them! But you really dont need to buy this individual guide if uou follow the instagram.
On week 3 of taking it post-op. Healing has been solid, but I legitimately hate choking this down every day. A little gritty and tastes awful. PLEASE make an unflavored version.
We really feel this product aided in the fast healing for my husband after his rotator cuff surgery! He is 4 weeks post op and ahead of the curve in his healing!
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