Surgeon Spotlight: Recovery with Dr. Michael Keyes

Proper nutrition sets the foundation for a strong recovery. In his first video, Dr. Keyes highlights foods that can help, or hinder, your body as it heals. One surprising tip? Celery isn’t the best pre-surgery snack.

“Celery actually has negative calories if you eat it by itself. Before surgery, we want you to tank up on protein, so celery doesn’t give you much nutritional value.”

Focusing on protein-rich foods before and after your procedure can help your body repair tissue, reduce swelling, and support overall recovery. Nutrition is about giving your body exactly what it needs to look and feel its best.

Next up, Dr. Keyes dives into recovery tips for patients who have undergone liposuction. These strategies are designed to optimize results and comfort. Some of his key recommendations include: liposuction.compression garments, lymphatic massages, staying active, protein intake and avoiding nicotine.

“Even after surgery, staying active and eating the right foods makes a huge difference in your results.”

Finally, Dr. Keyes addresses one of the most important factors in healing: avoiding smoking. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, limits oxygen delivery, and can seriously compromise wound healing. Dr. Keyes says, “Nicotine affects wound healing. It affects the small blood vessels that grow into a fresh wound. You have to stop four weeks before surgery and four weeks after surgery to get the best results.”

Even beyond cosmetic procedures, avoiding smoking benefits your health in countless ways. But when it comes to surgery, it can literally make the difference between a smooth recovery and complications.