If you have decided to undergo cosmetic surgery, it’s a good idea to look into nutritional issues ahead of the procedure, as the right diet before and after the planned surgery can have a positive impact on numerous processes, such as wound healing for example. For those patients who have provided their body with all the required nutrients and have lost a few kilos prior to surgery by means of lots of exercise and healthy nutrition, the procedure is less risky and they will recover much quicker. So there are a lot of reasons to make good use of the time ahead of the operation in order to give your body a head start for the procedure. We tell you what you need to know, with the support of our nutritional expert Alexandra Garcia(*).

When it comes to providing your body with the right proteins especially after a surgical procedure, a combination of animal and vegetable protein is beneficial, as this will not strain your digestive system. Good combinations are oats with milk, potatoes with white cheese, egg with bread, because apart from their high biological value, these combina- tions are low in calories. In general, during the healing process you should focus on your daily calorie intake. Being largely immobilised during the recovery period, your body needs less calories. To avoid putting on weight, the calorie intake should be adjusted. Here, foods with a high nutrient density should be given preference, as they provide your body with the necessary vitamins and minerals that it urgently needs to support the healing process. Fresh fruit, vegetables, fruit juices and green smoothies are rich in vitamins and minerals, which the body needs to strengthen its immune system. Your body will reward you by recovering quicker and better.

If you want to enhance your healing process and support your health before and after the treatment, you should supplement your food with a customised blend of nutrients that is individually geared for your body. Based on blood, urine and saliva samples and other factors such as age, body weight and possible medication, nutritional consulting experts and specialist physicians can use this data to calculate an individual micro nutrient blend consisting of up to 40 different ingredients. Taking this blend of nutrients even long after the procedure should be beneficial, but the blend can also be used as an immune booster during wintertime regardless of whether you intend to undergo cosmetic surgery or not.

Also after the surgical procedure it is advisable to continue focusing on a balanced nutrition. While individual nutritional recommendations are strongly dependent on the relevant type of surgery performed, it is always advisable to avoid putting strain on your digestive system, as this will also have a positive impact on your immune system. The digestive system and the immune system have a close symbiotic relationship; if the gut is under stress, the immune system will be less effective. To enable the immune system to fulfil its numerous vital tasks, a balanced and light diet after a procedure is essential. During a short stay in the clinic, usually a special diet is served at meal- time in consultation with your doctor to prepare for the transition to a normal diet.