Nourish and Restore | Ethos Plastic Surgery
At Ethos Plastic Surgery, we treat recovery as a full-body experience that begins well before your procedure and continues long after. Dr. Ginger Xu’s comprehensive approach to recovery recognizes nutrition as a vital part of the healing journey. What you eat and drink matters not only for your outward results, but also for your energy, comfort, and overall well-being.
The Nourish and Restore Plan consists of a thoughtfully designed, science-based nutrition guide tailored specifically for our surgical patients. Whether you’re preparing for surgery or supporting your body through the post-surgical recovery phase, this guide helps you build strength from within, restore balance, and optimize your outcome with intention and care.
Please call (415) 506-4300 or contact us online today to learn more about how Dr. Xu’s curated nutritional support program can assist you in your healing journey.
Why Nutrition and Hydration Matter for Surgical Healing
Nutrition is one of the most powerful tools you have to support healing after plastic surgery. The recovery process places intense demands on the body, triggering inflammation, tissue repair, and collagen remodeling. Healing is a complex, multi-stage process that requires far more than the usual “eat healthy” advice. It calls for targeted, intentional nourishment.
Protein is one of the most important nutrients for surgical recovery, as it provides the raw material needed to rebuild tissue, close incisions, and strengthen skin.
Complex carbohydrates offer steady energy to power your body’s internal repair systems, while healthy fats, like those from olive oil, avocados, or nuts, help regulate inflammation and enhance the absorption of key vitamins.
Micronutrients are equally essential: vitamin C supports collagen synthesis, vitamin A helps with immune function and skin regeneration, and minerals like zinc, iron, and magnesium assist with wound healing, oxygen transport, and energy metabolism.
These nutrients reduce swelling, minimize bruising, and promote more refined, lasting results. By eating with purpose in the weeks before and after your procedure, you’re actively influencing the quality and speed of your recovery.
Hydration is just as critical, and it’s often underestimated. Water makes up around 60% of your body mass and serves as the medium that transports oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells to damaged tissue. Even mild dehydration (as little as a 2% drop in body water) can slow wound healing, thicken your blood, and worsen post-operative fatigue. Aim for about half an ounce of fluid per pound of body weight daily (roughly 75 ounces for a 150-lb adult), and monitor hydration status by checking that your urine remains pale yellow.
While plain water is ideal, herbal teas, diluted juices, low-sodium broths, and electrolyte-rich drinks also count. Proper hydration supports scar quality by keeping the skin supple, helps your kidneys flush out anesthesia by-products, and can reduce constipation caused by pain medications. It’s one of the simplest, most science-backed strategies for supporting recovery and one of the most overlooked.
In short, healing is a multi-stage process, and every bite, sip, and supplement can make a difference. Fortunately, living in the San Francisco Bay Area means you have access to abundant fresh, high-quality food. This guide is here to help you make the most of it. (As always, consult your surgeon for individualized recommendations; this guide is not a substitute for medical advice.)
Introducing Nourish and Restore: A Holistic Nutrition Guide
Nourish and Restore is our signature recovery roadmap, developed specifically for plastic surgery patients who want to support their body’s healing process from the inside out. Whether you’re preparing weeks in advance or navigating the first few days after surgery, the guide offers flexible strategies that meet you where you are.
Here’s what’s included:
- Stage-specific guidance for every phase: pre-op preparation, early recovery (days 0–3 and week 1–2), and long-term healing
- Sample meal plans and recipes tailored to a variety of dietary preferences, including plant-based, low-carb, and gluten-free
- Pre-op and post-op checklists to simplify preparation and reduce stress
- Tips for managing common post-surgical symptoms like nausea, fatigue, bloating, and constipation
- Supplement timing guidelines, including which supplements to pause or resume and when
- Hydration strategies with fluid targets based on body weight
- Simple protein “hacks” to help you meet recovery goals even with low appetite
- Clear explanations of key healing nutrients: protein, healthy fats, complex carbs, vitamins, and minerals
- Flexible approaches that accommodate busy lifestyles and varying levels of motivation or energy
The guide is not meant to be perfect or prescriptive. Instead, it’s a supportive, real-life tool to help you fuel your recovery with intention so your body can do what it’s naturally built to do: regenerate, repair, and thrive.
Below, we’ve summarized what a patients nutrition journey might look like based on the phases outlined in Nourish and Restore.
Phase 1: Setting the Foundation (2–4 Weeks Before Surgery)
The pre-op period is your opportunity to set the stage for a strong recovery. During this time, your focus should be on building up nutrient reserves, supporting your immune system, and eliminating any dietary habits that could impair healing.
We recommend increasing your intake of lean protein, such as chicken, tofu, fish, and legumes, to supply your body with the amino acids it will need for wound repair. Colorful vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, and antioxidants help reduce inflammation and support tissue regeneration. At the same time, eliminate alcohol, tobacco, high-sugar snacks, and any supplements not approved by your surgeon, particularly those that could increase bleeding risk (like fish oil or vitamin E).
Even if you only begin these changes a week before surgery, you’re giving your body a stronger foundation to heal well and recover more quickly.
Phase 2: Immediate Post-Op (Days 0–3)
In the first 72 hours after surgery, your body begins initiating its repair process. However, your appetite might not cooperate. Nausea, fatigue, and discomfort are common, so it’s important to prioritize soft, gentle foods and hydration above all else.
Stick to nourishing options like broths, smoothies, mashed vegetables, Greek yogurt, or scrambled eggs. These are easy on the stomach and still provide protein and hydration. Small meals every few hours are more manageable than large portions, and adding herbal teas like ginger can soothe digestion. Hydration is key during this phase, as water helps transport nutrients, flush anesthesia by-products, and prevent constipation, which is a common issue after pain medications.
Don’t push yourself to eat large meals; instead, aim for consistency and balance. A few spoonfuls of protein-rich food and steady sips of fluid go a long way in these first days.
Phase 3: Early Recovery (Week 1–2)
This is when your healing ramps up: incisions are closing, bruising begins to fade, and your body starts rebuilding tissue beneath the surface. Nutritional support becomes even more important here, especially your protein intake, which should hover around 1.2–1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight per day.
Add high-fiber foods like oats, beans, vegetables, and chia seeds to support healthy digestion and reduce bloating. At the same time, include anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as salmon, avocado, turmeric, walnuts, and berries, to help calm the body’s inflammatory response and promote healthy scar formation.
Many patients find it helpful to pre-prepare meals or use quick protein hacks like adding unflavored protein powder to soups or oatmeal, enjoying Greek yogurt as a snack, or blending smoothies with nut butter, berries, and spinach. Keeping hydration up remains essential: aim for at least 64 ounces of fluids per day, more if you’re active.
Phase 4: Long-Term Recovery (Week 2 and Beyond)
By now, most swelling has subsided, and your body is focused on remodeling tissue and strengthening scars. You may feel ready to return to light exercise or resume your normal routine, but this does not mean you can let your nutrition habits diminish.
Continue prioritizing lean protein to support ongoing tissue repair, and expand your variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure a wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals. Stable weight is important during this phase, especially for procedures like liposuction, tummy tuck, or breast augmentation. Large fluctuations can affect contour, stretch scars, or compromise your final results.
A balanced plate is your best friend here: fill half with vegetables, one-quarter with protein, and one-quarter with complex carbs like quinoa or sweet potatoes. Try rotating recipes each week to avoid boredom and ensure a range of nutrients.
Lifestyle, Dietary Needs & Special Considerations
Whether you follow a vegetarian, gluten-free, low-carb, or plant-based lifestyle, you can still optimize your recovery; it just takes a bit more intentional planning. If you avoid animal products, pay special attention to protein quantity and nutrient gaps such as vitamin B12, iron, and zinc, which may require supplementation. Gluten-free patients should ensure they’re still getting enough whole grains from sources like quinoa, rice, or certified GF oats.
For those with busy schedules, we recommend prepping high-protein snacks in advance (think hard-boiled eggs, hummus and veggies, or Greek yogurt) or using a meal delivery service that accommodates recovery-focused nutrition. Even during travel or work demands, staying on track is possible with a little foresight.
Meet Dr. Ginger Xu
Dr. Xu embraces the responsibility and transformative opportunity to alter a patient’s appearance in a way that is congruent with their own values and matches a more cohesive sense of self; to realign the external with the internal; to create an improved emotional landscape and a better life. These ideals captivate and inspire her every day.
Should I Take Supplements After Plastic Surgery?
While food should always be your first source of nutrients, certain supplements can enhance recovery if cleared by your surgeon. The most commonly recommended include:
- Vitamin C (500–1000 mg daily) to support collagen formation and immunity
- Zinc (15–30 mg short-term) for wound healing
- Collagen peptides (10–20g/day) to support skin and connective tissue
- A high-quality multivitamin to cover basic micronutrients
- Probiotics, especially if you’ve been prescribed antibiotics post-op
Avoid unapproved supplements in the week or two before surgery, especially those that may increase bleeding risk (fish oil, vitamin E, garlic, ginkgo). After your surgeon clears you, these can typically be resumed gradually. Consider monitoring blood levels (e.g., vitamin D, ferritin) if you suspect deficiencies.
Whole-Self Care at Ethos
At Ethos Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ginger Xu offers more than Ivy-League excellence and surgical precision. She provides a comprehensive care experience that supports your body, mind, and spirit throughout the healing process.
We offer a variety of holistic services through the GX Collection™, including:
- Guided visualizations
- Integrated healing
- Lymphatic massage
- Sound healing
- Strength and mobility after surgery
- Aromatherapy
This holistic approach helps patients feel not only prepared and informed but truly cared for. By addressing both physical recovery and emotional resilience, Dr. Xu creates a calm, confident environment where you can heal deeply and move through your transformation with strength and clarity.
Ready to Nourish and Restore?
To learn more about Dr. Xu’s nutritional program and gain access to our Nourish and Restore guide, contact Ethos Plastic Surgery at (415) 506-4300 or reach out online. We’ll help you prepare for surgery, heal more comfortably, and feel stronger every step of the way.
FAQs
Nourish and Restore
Before surgery, your body needs nutrient-dense foods rich in protein, antioxidants, and essential vitamins. At our San Francisco practice, Dr. Xu provides a pre-surgery nutrition guide that helps reduce inflammation, strengthen immunity, and promote healing from the inside out.
Yes. Proper nutrition after surgery can significantly impact healing time, reduce swelling, and support tissue repair. Dr. Xu’s Nourish and Restore program offers Bay Area patients a clear, compassionate guide to eating for optimal recovery and results.
Coming soon: We are developing a partnership with local providers like Milky Oats and Nazafit to offer nutrient-rich, surgery-friendly meals delivered directly to patients in San Francisco and the broader Bay Area.
What you eat before and after surgery can influence everything from how quickly you heal to how well your results hold up over time. A well-supported body leads to better scarring, reduced complications, and longer-lasting outcomes.
Absolutely. The program includes adaptable plans for gluten-free, plant-based, and low-carb lifestyles. Whether you’re in San Francisco or recovering remotely, our nutrition approach meets you where you are.
Post-surgical recovery requires high-quality protein, vitamin C, zinc, iron, and hydration. These support tissue repair, immune function, and energy levels. Our Bay Area team helps you get exactly what your body needs through personalized recommendations.
That’s completely normal. Focus on small, protein-rich snacks and hydrating smoothies. Nutrient-dense sips can go a long way when full meals feel like too much.
Caffeine in moderation is generally fine once nausea has passed. Alcohol, however, should be avoided during early recovery as it may interfere with medications and increase swelling.
Not likely during active recovery. Your body is using extra calories for repair. Once fully healed, your intake can shift based on your long-term goals.
Increase your fiber and fluid intake, try gentle movement (if cleared), and use stool softeners as needed. Prune juice and magnesium can also help.
Stick to light, balanced meals that are easy to digest. Focus on lean protein, cooked vegetables, whole grains, and plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol, processed foods, and any supplements your surgeon advised you to stop.
Always check with your surgeon, but many supplements like vitamin C, zinc, and collagen peptides can be resumed within the first week, especially if cleared in advance. Avoid fish oil, vitamin E, and herbal supplements pre-op unless specifically approved.
Tracking is optional, but it can help, especially if you’re trying to meet protein goals or follow a specific recovery plan. The guide recommends apps like MacrosFirst, MyFitnessPal, or Cronometer to keep things simple and clear.
Yes. The guide includes recipes, food options, and substitutions for various dietary needs. Whether you’re on a plant-based diet or watching your carbs, you’ll find flexible meal ideas to meet your nutrient needs.
A good rule of thumb is about half an ounce of fluid per pound of body weight daily (e.g., 75 oz for a 150 lb adult). Look for clear, pale-yellow urine as a sign of good hydration. Herbal teas, diluted juices, broths, and electrolyte drinks all count.
It’s best to wait until your surgeon gives the green light, usually 4–6 weeks after surgery. Your focus early on should be on healing, not dieting. Once you’re cleared, you can begin adjusting your intake while maintaining nutrient quality.
Nutrients like protein, vitamin C, vitamin A, and zinc directly support collagen production, which influences scar formation and tissue strength. Hydration also keeps the skin supple and may improve scar quality over time.