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!
Before + After Vitals is a surgeon-endorsed, all-in-one surgery nutrition powder designed to support your body before and after cosmetic procedures—so you can feel more confident about your recovery, incision healing, and overall nutrition.
Free ground shipping on orders over $199 100% money-back guarantee Discreet shipping (privacy matters)
Why you’ll love it (key benefits)
This complete surgery powder delivers targeted recovery nutrition in one scoop, including protein, collagen, amino acids, micronutrients, synbiotics, and enzymes to support:
Faster incision recovery support
Healthy wound healing + tissue repair
Bruising + inflammation support
Gut + microbiome support (gut-health studied ingredients)
Peace of mind with tested, high-quality sourcing
“Can you believe it? My incision scars are nearly invisible at just 5 weeks!” — Jessie
What makes it different
27 surgeon-approved ingredients
Bioavailable forms (designed for absorption)
5 patented ingredients (patented = a high standard of ingredient validation)
Clinically tested ingredients
3rd-party tested
Therapeutic dosages
Sourced from Europe + international suppliers
Gluten-free
Vegetarian whey
No: gluten, soy, artificial colors/flavors, or GMOs
Who it’s for (perfect if you are…)
Preparing for cosmetic surgery
Recovering after cosmetic surgery
Dealing with slow-to-heal incisions/wounds
Using a GLP-1 (Ozempic, semaglutide, etc.) and want extra nutritional support to help prevent nutrient depletion
Good to know: You can start at any point in your surgery journey—even if you’re weeks post-op. Scar healing can continue for up to a year after surgery.
Directions (how to use)
Take ½ scoop to 1 scoop daily
Max: 1 scoop/day
Use daily for at least 6 weeks post-op
Recommended protocol (best results)
We recommend 3 bags total for most surgeries:
1 bag before surgery
2 bags after surgery
What’s included
1 pouch = 20 servings
Super-fine powder that dissolves quickly
Vanilla flavor—mix into cold or warm drinks, smoothies, or even recipes
Our survey results* (2024)
79% reported a beautiful incision
85% reported a faster recovery
90% liked the taste
*Based on our post-op customer survey (2024).
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!
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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.
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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.
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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 bags for 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
1 pain recovery cream (Kylie's personal favorite item!)
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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