It’s no secret that amino acids are one of the main components of skin and muscle tissue, so it makes sense to increase your protein intake before and after plastic surgery (or any surgery). However, not all proteins are created equal when it comes to surgery.
Protein helps support your immune system to fight off infections during recovery and it also helps with healing to keep your skin smooth, firm, and scar-free.
You may be wondering, what are the best proteins for plastic surgery? Keep reading to learn about the critical amino acids needed for plastic surgery and food sources that contain them.
Amino acids are important building blocks of proteins and certain amino acids have been shown to support your body through surgery and recovery.
Next, let’s take a deeper dive into which amino acids are best for plastic surgery and why.
What are the critical amino acids needed for plastic surgery?
1. Citrulline
Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid. Meaning it is already made in your body but you should also include it in your diet.
A few of the health benefits of citrulline are:
Increases oxygen flow
Increases blood flow
Improves immune system
Citrulline is recommended for plastic surgery because it helps with blood and oxygen flow throughout the body improving the healing process.
Citrulline can be found in certain foods like:
Watermelon
Squash
Chickpeas
2. Arginine
Arginine is also a non-essential amino acid that your body already makes.
However, after surgery, it becomes CONDITIONALLY indispensable after surgery because your body needs more of it than it can make. Therefore, you need to eat high arginine foods.
A few of the health benefits of arginine are:
Relaxes blood vessels
Reduces recovery time after surgery
Eating foods high in arginine can be beneficial for plastic surgery because it can help reduce the recovery time after surgery by promoting wound healing and blood flow. This is crucial for the post-op healing process.
Foods high in arginine are:
Turkey
Pumpkin seeds
Chicken
ACTION TIP #1: Eat a high-arginine food daily after your surgery. Arginine is one of the most important amino acids the body needs post-op.
3. Glutamine
Next, glutamine is another non-essential amino acid that your body makes and it is the most abundant amino acid in the human body.
Some health benefits of glutamine are:
Supports good gut health
Helps maintain muscle proteins to reduce muscle damage
Protects the body against infection
Since glutamine is the main fuel source for white blood cells (lymphocytes), it is important to make sure you are eating foods that contain glutamine to help protect your body from infection after plastic surgery.
Glutamine has also grown in popularity for its effect on gut health and your gut lining. Supporting your gut health is always a good idea throughout the surgery process.
Foods high in glutamine are:
Chicken
Tofu
Lentils
4. Leucine
Leucine is an essential amino acid which means the body does not make it. You must get leucine from food. Foods that are high in leucine include chicken, pork, tuna, eggs, oats, cottage cheese, and peanuts.
Health benefits of leucine are:
Increases skin’s firmness
Promotes growth and development
Stimulates muscle growth
Reduces muscle sagging
Leucine can help control the skin’s firmness and helps prevent muscle wasting which is needed during the recovery process from plastic surgery. Additionally, it helps to make sure that everything heals properly and looks great.
Foods high in leucine are:
Salmon
Brown rice
Eggs
Nuts
Ask Your Surgeon or Dietitian About Daily Recommended Amounts of Amino Acids.
It is best to work with your healthcare team (which should include a dietitian) to help you determine the recommended amounts of each of these amino acids your body needs for your plastic surgery plans.
A registered dietitian (like me!) can work with you to help you determine a nutrition plan that is specific to your needs and will include the recommended amount of protein to eat before and after your plastic surgery to help you get the results you are looking for!
Don’t let all your effort and money go to waste because you weren’t properly supporting your body throughout this process. I have seen it happen way too many times!
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are found in protein-rich foods.
We make some amino acids, but during surgery, amino acids such as glutamine and arginine are needed in our diet.
Foods rich in surgery-specific amino acids include: turkey, pumpkin seeds, tofu, and squash
Eat a protein rich food at every meal after surgery to make sure you are getting enough of these amino acids.
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.
The best way to feel prepared for your cosmetic surgery is to feed your body with the nutrients it needs.
There are certain vitamins and minerals that you can add to your diet before your sur...
Nutrition is an important aspect of surgery prep and as a specialized surgery dietitian, I wanted to provide you with a comprehensive list of nutrition recommendations for patients undergoing s...
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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