18 Sep 2025 | by Dr. Sanan
Most patients don’t tend to think about recovery as being a literal component of the aesthetic procedure itself. Instead, many get annoyed at the idea of downtime and just want to rush the process. I understand that your time is valuable. But it makes no sense to spend a lot of money on a deep plane facelift, neck lift, or rhinoplasty procedure and then not do everything in your power to support your body as it heals.
As a double Board-Certified Facial Plastic and Head & Neck Surgeon, I have the expertise, skill, and artistic eye to deliver an excellent aesthetic result for my Boston area patients. However, if you don’t invest the necessary time into recovery, it could adversely affect and/or delay your end result.
There are steps that you can take to create a healthy atmosphere so that your body can heal as quickly as possible. One of these is what you put in your mouth. Here is a guideline on what to eat before and after surgery for better healing.
Why No Nicotine Both Before & After Surgery
Before I get into food, I want to take a moment to discuss why you need to stop ALL nicotine products at least 4–6 weeks prior to your surgery, and stay away from them until I give you the all-clear, which will probably be, at minimum, another 4–6 weeks.
There are multiple reasons—starting with the fact that nicotine adversely affects your body’s healing ability. It constricts your blood vessels, which reduces blood flow, depriving your tissues of oxygen. This not only slows down their ability to repair themselves but may also result in unwanted complications such as:
- Delayed or poor wound healing, resulting in thicker scars
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Necrosis or tissue death
- Increased risk of heart attack & stroke
As if this isn’t enough, nicotine can also impair the production of essential proteins like collagen that enable your skin and tissues to heal quickly and well.
As these are two things that we definitely want, avoiding nicotine is a non-negotiable.
Dietary Changes to Consider Before Aesthetic Surgery
Any surgery is going to put some degree of stress on your tissues. The more steps that you take to prime your body so that the only major stressor is the surgery itself, the better.
I encourage patients to walk or exercise daily, embrace a form of mind/body work such as yoga or meditation, and consider some dietary changes starting a few weeks before surgery. These include:
- Stop or limit alcohol consumption
- Increase protein intake
- Reduce consumption of highly processed foods
- Embrace vegetables, particularly leafy greens
- Stay hydrated
- Cut back on sugar and salt
Post-Op Diet Recommendations
For the first 48–72 hours after your surgery, I want you to eat small, frequent meals that are bland and soft. It’s important that you prioritize fluids and electrolytes. Try to have protein with every meal or snack—even if it’s a protein powder in a smoothie.
Foods that are rich in Vitamin C, such as citrus or peppers, and Zinc, such as seafood and beans, can really help to amp up your body’s healing energy.
Since you are going to be swollen after your procedure, sticking to foods that are low in sodium will help reduce the swelling. And if you get constipated from any pain medication—a very common problem—high-fiber foods such as oats and prunes can be a great way to naturally alleviate the issue.
Also, with any facial surgery such as a deep plane facelift, neck lift, or rhinoplasty, I will ask you to avoid hot/spicy foods for the first few weeks, minimize consuming foods that require a lot of chewing, and stay away from alcohol.
After 2–4 weeks, I will likely give you the go-ahead to return to your normal diet, but try to maintain your uptick in protein and reduced sodium consumption. Both can help to minimize inflammation, which will help you to look and feel better, faster.
To find out more about a deep plane facelift, neck lift, rhinoplasty, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Akshay Sanan at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 402-2768 to schedule a consultation.
