Why a healthy lifestyle is important for a good outcome
If you are preparing for surgery or have recently undergone one, your nutrition and habits play a key role in your recovery. A healthy lifestyle before and after your plastic surgery helps your body face surgery in the best possible condition and recover faster and more comfortably.
How Nutrition Affects Surgical Recovery
Surgery temporarily weakens the body and increases vulnerability to infection. Choosing the right foods can strengthen the immune system, improve wound healing, and reduce inflammation. Just as you adapt your diet to physical activity, your body needs specific nutrients to prepare for and recover from surgery.
A balanced, protein-rich diet with fruits and vegetables high in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as adequate hydration, promotes better outcomes and faster recovery.
What to Eat Before Surgery
In the preoperative period, focus on foods that build blood quality, support tissue repair, and are easy to digest. Examples include:
- Iron-rich foods: Beets, spinach, lentils, beans, and lean meats.
- Vitamin C sources: Green bell peppers, oranges, strawberries, and kiwi.
- Low-fat meals: Grilled, boiled, or steamed foods instead of fried options.
- Avoid: Coffee, tea, alcohol, highly seasoned foods, and sugary or processed products.
During the days before surgery, eat light meals and avoid spicy or acidic foods that may irritate the stomach. If your procedure is scheduled in the morning, have dinner 3–4 hours before bedtime and choose an easy-to-digest meal.
Why Surgery Requires Fasting
Before anesthesia, it’s crucial to fast as directed by your surgeon. The reason is simple: anesthesia relaxes the digestive system, and having food in the stomach increases the risk of aspiration — when stomach contents enter the lungs, potentially causing pneumonia. This recommendation applies even to minor procedures involving sedation or local anesthesia.
What to Eat After Surgery
After surgery, your body’s priority is tissue repair and wound healing. Nutritional balance helps reduce swelling and accelerate recovery. Choose foods rich in:
- Protein: Eggs, chicken, fish, tofu, Greek yogurt, legumes.
- Vitamins and minerals: Broccoli, citrus fruits, carrots, and leafy greens.
- Healthy fats: Olive oil, avocado, and nuts in moderation.
Avoid greasy meats, pork, carbonated drinks, and foods that cause bloating. Continue to avoid smoking and alcohol, as they restrict blood flow and delay healing. Reintroduce caffeine gradually once your stomach and medication routine allow it.
Healthy Habits for Better Healing
- No smoking: Nicotine restricts blood circulation and affects wound oxygenation.
- Hydration: Drink at least 2 liters of water daily to maintain optimal recovery.
- Sleep and rest: Allow your body the recovery time it needs to heal tissues properly.
- Follow medical guidance: Always adhere to your surgeon’s postoperative instructions.
Remember, your doctor knows what is best for your specific case. Nutrition and lifestyle complement, but never replace, professional medical care.
Why Choose Dr. Luis Suarez
Dr. Luis Suarez is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Tijuana with more than 25 years of experience. His holistic approach integrates safe surgical techniques and personalized postoperative guidance to help you achieve natural, lasting results at CER Hospital.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What foods help the body heal faster after surgery?
Protein, vitamin C, and zinc-rich foods such as eggs, chicken, beans, oranges, and spinach help rebuild tissues, reduce inflammation, and strengthen your immune system for faster healing.
Why should I avoid smoking before and after surgery?
Smoking reduces oxygen delivery to tissues and restricts blood flow, which can delay wound healing and increase the risk of complications. Stopping smoking several weeks before surgery greatly improves outcomes.
Can I drink coffee or alcohol after plastic surgery?
Avoid caffeine and alcohol immediately after surgery, as they can dehydrate you and interfere with medications. You can gradually reintroduce coffee in moderation after your surgeon approves it.
Is Dr. Luis Suarez board-certified?
Yes. Dr. Luis Suarez is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Tijuana, Mexico, specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive procedures with a focus on patient safety and natural results.
Is plastic surgery safe in Tijuana?
When performed by certified specialists at accredited centers such as CER Hospital, plastic surgery in Tijuana is safe and follows international standards of care.
How can I schedule a virtual consultation?
You can start your Virtual Consultation at drluissuarez.com/virtualconsultation to receive a personalized evaluation and quote from our medical team.
START A VIRTUAL CONSULTATION
A virtual consultation is when you send us photos of the places of your body where you’d like to improve. Then our surgeon analyzes it to confirm that you are a candidate for that particular procedure. We later inform you about our doctor’s decision and give you a quote with all the information about your surgery. Please, do be at ease that everything is confidential between yourself, the doctor, and the doctor’s representative.
START A VIRTUAL CONSULTATION
A virtual consultation is when you send us photos of the places of your body where you’d like to improve. Then our surgeon analyzes it to confirm that you are a candidate for that particular procedure. We later inform you about our doctor’s decision and give you a quote with all the information about your surgery. Please, do be at ease that everything is confidential between yourself, the doctor, and the doctor’s representative.
