Certain drinks should not be consumed the week before surgery for optimal recovery post-operation.
Are you wondering what you should and shouldn’t drink before your surgery?
As a specialized plastic surgery dietitian, I know it can be confusing and overwhelming to know how to best prep for your upcoming surgery. My job is to provide you with the accurate and evidence-based information you need to go into your surgery feeling empowered and prepared.
In today’s article, I will be going over what drinks you should NOT drink a week before surgery. I will also include a brief section on why surgery prep is important and should be taken seriously. You can never be too prepared for pre-op!
Surgery preparation is everything that you do before your operation to prepare yourself for surgery. Surgical procedures can take a toll on your body and there is a large amount of room for complications.
You can limit your risk for mishaps by properly prepping for your procedure and going into it in your best health.
An often overlooked aspect of pre-op is nutrition: both the foods you are eating and the drinks you are drinking. Certain foods and drinks can benefit you before your surgery.
On the flip side, there are also foods and drinks you will want to avoid or limit a week before your procedure starts.
Caffeine is a staple in many people’s diets. However, I recommend to stop drinking caffeine a week before surgery and there are a few reasons why.
First off, caffeine withdrawals can lead to severe pain/headaches. Since you aren’t drinking caffeine during and right after surgery, you do not want to be going through your withdrawals over that period. Some limited studies state the caffeine withdrawal period can be so painful that it will impede healing!
Second, caffeine can lead to dehydration and poor sleep quality. These two things can negatively affect your body and you want to go into your surgery the healthiest you can be.
3 Drinks Highest in Caffeine:
Coffee
Black Tea
Espresso
3 Drinks Lower in Caffeine:
White Tea
Flavored Sparkling Water
Herbal Tea (peppermint)
Action Tip #1: Pick up a few non-caffeinated drink options besides water to have on hand for the weeks before and after your surgery. Fruit-infused sparkling waters are a great option.
Weight-Loss/Detox Drinks Before Surgery
Weight loss and detox drinks are a very popular fad, but should you be drinking these before surgery? As a specialized surgery dietitian, my answer is no! And here’s why.
Detox and weight loss drinks are typically used in replacement of foods and meals. If you are drinking these as most of your calories, you are likely to be nutrient deficient. Going into your surgery deficient in nutrients is not ideal whatsoever and can slow your recovery period.
Examples of drinks to avoid include:
“Skinny” teas
Juice cleanses
Herbal detoxes
Fat burners
Weight loss shakes
Another thing to be concerned about is many of these drinks contain herbal extracts. These herbal extracts may interfere with the anesthesia you are getting during your surgery.
Can I Drink Alcohol Before Surgery?
Alcohol can be a huge contributor to inflammation. Excess inflammation in your body will lead to poor and slow recovery after surgery. Which you do not want! You want your post-op to go as smoothly as possible.
Stop any alcohol consumption when your surgeon tells you to or at least one week prior to surgery.
Action tip #2: Opt for fun mocktails that contain anti-inflammatory ingredients, for an extra boost. try this recipe here.
What Should You Not Drink a Week Before Surgery: Final Thoughts
Put your best foot forward going into surgery by paying attention to what you are eating and drinking beforehand.
Remember these action points:
Caffeine, alcohol, and weight loss/detox drinks should be avoided before surgery
Caffeine can cause severe withdrawals, dehydration, and poor sleep quality
Inflammation from alcohol consumption could slow recovery
Weight loss/detox drinks can lead to nutrient deficiencies
Herbal extracts may interact with anesthesia
Stock up on non-caffeinated drinks and bonus points for anti-inflammatory ingredients
Head over to the other posts on my blog to binge on more surgery nutrition content!
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 nutrition powder formulated to support the body before and after cosmetic surgery, with a complete blend of protein, collagen, amino acids, micronutrients, synbiotics, and enzymes. Created by a surgery dietitian with over 10 years of experience.
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
What's inside and why
19g protein + amino acids: the building blocks your body uses to rebuild tissue
Collagen: the main structural protein in your skin
Vitamins + minerals: nutrients your body needs for normal collagen formation and skin health
Probiotics: support gut balance when your routine is disrupted around surgery
Enzymes: support digestion and absorption
"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
Directions
Take ½ to 1 scoop daily, mixed into cold or warm drinks, smoothies, or recipes
Max: 1 scoop/day
Use daily for at least 6 weeks
Always follow your surgeon's pre-op and post-op instructions
Recommended protocol
We recommend 3 bags total for most timelines:
1 bag before surgery
2 bags after surgery
Already had surgery? It's never too late to start supporting your body with quality nutrition.
What's included
1 pouch = 20 servings
Super-fine powder that dissolves quickly
Vanilla flavor
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!
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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.
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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 the ultimate, highest-capacity way 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
1personal blender for mixing your daily supplement
1 personal bag
1
essential oil to support rest and recovery
1 essential oil recovery bracelet
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*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.
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I started 3 months ago and still taking it as I order more
I started 3 months ago and still taking it as I order more. It has been very beneficial with nutrients that needed and very satisfying. I will be taking it coming months as well.
I have been using sulinu since my surgery in feb. I had a very quick recovery and great scar healing. I have continued to use the product because I like it so much.
I was so pleased with my experience that I reordered SULINU after completing my recommended pre-
I was so pleased with my experience that I reordered SULINU after completing my recommended pre- and postsurgery regimen. I felt there was a benefit to continuing, and I now mix one scoop, as the directions suggest, into an Ensure Max daily.
This October marks 30 years of volunteering and fundraising, and one of the things I treasure most is the friendships formed along the way. We share what we love and what has helped us, with the trust that comes from knowing one another for years. SULINU has become one of those things I’m happy to share!
Mostly, I wanted your team to know how much this experience has meant to me. There are people on the other side of your work who are grateful. I’m one of them.
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.
![A person in a fitted outfit poses against a neutral background. Text reads ⭐BEST VALUE⭐ The Prep + Recovery Bundle [free shipping]. Discover the ultimate surgery prep bundle—nutrition for cosmetic surgery and essential support for your recovery kit.](http://www.sulinu.com/cdn/shop/files/UltimateSurgeryBundle-Sulinu.png?v=1775162796&width=537)
