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Your pre-op diet might matter more than you think. A review presented at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Annual Meeting found that nutritional factors — including protein intake, micronutrients, and metabolic health — can meaningfully influence wound healing and recovery after dermatologic procedures. Experts are calling for routine nutritional assessments before cosmetic and surgical skin procedures.
Nutrition is flying under the radar in dermatologic surgery — and that could be costing patients better outcomes. A comprehensive narrative review presented at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Annual Meeting found that protein intake, micronutrient levels, inflammatory regulation, and metabolic health all play meaningful roles in how well patients recover from skin procedures. Despite this, nutritional factors are rarely part of preprocedural consultations.
Dermatology resident Dr. Kelly Frasier reviewed 57 studies published between 2000 and 2026 and identified four key modifiable domains affecting skin healing: protein and amino acid intake (critical for collagen synthesis and tissue repair), omega-3-supported inflammatory regulation, micronutrient sufficiency (vitamins C and D, zinc, and iron), and metabolic health — with hyperglycemia and insulin resistance linked to impaired healing.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: As demand for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures grows, integrating personalized nutritional assessments into pre-procedure planning could offer a simple, low-risk way to improve patient outcomes — before the first incision is even made.
