Get ready for surgery.
Start 4–6 weeks before. Three steps.
01
Nutrition
02
Supplements
03
Conditioning
Just want everything?
The Pre-op bundle
9 essentials in one click: protein shake, multivitamin, zinc, biotin, Miralax, pill organizer, resistance bands, gauze pads and a dressing kit.
Stop biotin 72 hours before pre-op labs. Check every item with your surgeon.
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Step 1 · Protein
More protein, fewer wound infections.
Your daily protein goal2
120 lb65–82 g2 meals + 1 shake
150 lb82–102 g2 meals + 2 shakes
180 lb98–122 g2 meals + 2 shakes
210 lb114–143 g2 meals + 3 shakes
Easy protein shakes
Nutri protein shake, vanilla
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Nutri protein shake, chocolate
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Core Power protein shake, vanilla
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Quest protein shake, chocolate
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Ensure Max protein
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Orgain Vegan Protein Shake
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Step 2 · Vitamins
Fill the gaps before surgery.
Multivitamin
Covers the basics
Vitamin C, vitamin A and zinc in one pill.3
Shop multivitamin →
Zinc
Helps rebuild skin
Low zinc slows healing.3
Shop zinc →
Fiber
Stay regular
Pain pills slow your gut. Start fiber now, with plenty of water.
Shop fiber →
Biotin
Hair, skin & nails
Stop 3 days before blood tests. It can change some lab results.4
Shop biotin →
Ask first: vitamin E, fish oil and herbal pills can raise bleeding risk. Want extra healing support? Ask your surgeon about Juven, a drink mix with arginine, glutamine, HMB, vitamin C and zinc. See the stop list →
Stay on track, plus extra healing support
Step 3 · Exercise
Stronger body, fewer problems.
1.7×better odds of a problem-free recovery when you exercise before surgery6
No exercise before surgery
Exercised before surgery
Walk daily
Build up a little each week.
Bands 2–3× a week
Keep the muscle you'll need.
Steady weight7
Eat balanced meals. No crash diets.
Exercise gear
How you heal
Protein is the building block of new skin.3,5
1
ProteinYou eat it. Shakes, eggs, chicken, fish.
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2
Amino acidsYour body breaks protein into tiny building blocks.
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3
CollagenBlocks link into strong ropes. Vitamin C ties the knots.
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4
New skinCollagen ropes knit your cut closed and make it strong.
About 1/3of your body's protein is collagen
9amino acids you must get from food
3 of 4healing steps need protein
What each one helps heal
Supplement
Clean upDays 1–4
RebuildDays 4–21
Strengthen3 wks–1 yr
✓ = helps this step. Bleeding stops on its own in the first few hours.
Sources
- Gibbs J, et al. Preoperative serum albumin level as a predictor of operative mortality and morbidity. Arch Surg. 1999;134(1):36-42.
- Weimann A, et al. ESPEN practical guideline: clinical nutrition in surgery. Clin Nutr. 2021;40(7):4745-4761.
- Stechmiller JK. Understanding the role of nutrition and wound healing. Nutr Clin Pract. 2010;25(1):61-68.
- U.S. FDA. Biotin may interfere with lab tests: FDA safety communication. 2019.
- Guo S, DiPietro LA. Factors affecting wound healing. J Dent Res. 2010;89(3):219-229.
- Moran J, et al. The ability of prehabilitation to influence postoperative outcome after intra-abdominal operation. Surgery. 2016;160(5):1189-1201.
- Winocour J, et al. Abdominoplasty: risk factors, complication rates, and safety of combined procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Nov.
Prepare → Procedure → Recover
Your preparation doesn't end on surgery day.
Once your procedure is complete, your priorities change. Learn how to protect your incision, manage swelling, move safely, and make recovery more comfortable.