This is something I have believed for a while now, and I am glad that my society is starting to look at it. Going into surgery optimized with weight, diet, and health improves surgical outcomes.
This was in the latest issue of Plastic + Reconstructive Surgery Journal April 2026. “Residing in a Food Desert is Associated with an Increased Risk of Complications after Breast Reconstruction.” The article matched breast mastectomy patients for BMI. It was a study of 1500 patients. They defined a food desert as being more than 1 mile in a urban setting or 10 miles in a rural setting away from a grocery store. They looked at minor and major complications.
Findings?
Vitamin D seems to be a super vitamin. I have know this for years, but science keeps reinforcing it. It is unclear why our Vitamin D levels are so low- sunscreen? indoor work? Something else? But they are. (See the blogs I wrote on my medical advisory role. Vitamin D)
This study “Perioperative Vitamin D Insufficinecy Impacts Postoperative Outcomes in Abdominally Based Reconstruction,” in the April 2026 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal. They looked at abdominal breast reconstruction patients who had Vitamin D levels. 147 patients were in the study. They qualified D deficiency as a level below 30ng/mL.
Findings?
Those with low Vitamin D had significantly more surgical site infections, seromas, and medical complications.
They cite other studies on Vitamin D- a study of improved fat graft retention in mice who had Vitamin D- it is thought it reduce hypoxic stress and increased blood vessel formation. One head and neck microvascular study showed those with higher D levels had lower postop fistula a formation. There is a study which found no association between Vitamin D levels, but it was a small study, which they think affected their findings.
This was a study I blogged about a decade ago, looking at tummy tuck patients after major weight loss. They found when they had them protein load for one month ahead of the surgery and one month post surgery, they had significantly less infection rates and prettier scars.
This study changed how I advise my patients. I had seen patients who didn’t heal well after surgery despite being young and healthy. Then I would find out they weren’t eating while they were healing. Part of my focus on whole body care is my embrace of the role nutrition plays in surgical healing and risk.
To see that original 2016 study click Abdominoplasty protein study
Diet is important. Basic tenets I advocate around any type of surgery
When I look at these, I think why not do these? There is no harm in eating protein, making sure your Vitamin D levels are normal, and taking probiotics. But they seem to help. If you haven’t tested your Vitamin D levels recently, do. A full physical and labwork is a great idea before doing elective cosmetic surgery.
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