My recovery after a cosmetic procedure

Five weeks ago, I underwent a cosmetic procedure. Since then, it seems like everyone in the Netherlands has an opinion. But what almost no one talks about is what happens afterward: your body's recovery.

Because an operation is not just something a surgeon does. It is also something your body has to work on for weeks, sometimes months. How you eat, what you drink, how you sleep, and how you support your bowels can make a huge difference in how quickly and how well you recover.

Instead of focusing on all the opinions circulating, I'd rather talk about something I *do* have control over: health. In this blog, I'll share how I prepared my body for the procedure and what I'm doing now to support my recovery as best as possible – from nutrition and fasting to gut bacteria, red light, and collagen.

Unfortunately, without progress photos, because people read less than they judge nowadays. But if you're truly interested in how you can help your body recover, I'd be happy to guide you through it.

The most important part of recovery is patience. Something I still need to learn. I believe everything in life is a lesson, so I embrace this challenge with love.

In about 75 percent of patients, the upturned eyes recede within six months, but it can take up to a year for everything to fully recover. I am inundated with messages from people who want to know which surgeon operated on me. I will definitely share that, but only when the final result is truly there.

And that will take a while.

Quitting alcohol

Three weeks before my surgery, I stopped drinking alcohol. That alone felt like a gift to my body. Honestly, I notice that wine is a weakness of mine, and I also have a husband who enjoys it very much, so we reinforce each other in that. He was supportive, and we ended up not drinking anything at all for eight weeks. Only last week did we go out to dinner again and have a glass.

Still, we're sticking to this sober lifestyle for now. Alcohol slows down wound healing, increases inflammation, and disrupts sleep quality. Moreover, it burdens the liver, which plays an important role in recovery. For me, this means I no longer drink alcohol during the week.

Antibiotics and the microbiome

You often receive antibiotics during an operation. Normally, I prefer not to take them. Even when I had a stomach bacterium, I first went to naturopath Jan de Vries. We are all becoming more resistant to antibiotics, and that is dangerous when something serious is really wrong. In this case, however, I couldn't avoid it.

The problem with antibiotics is that they don't just kill bad bacteria; they also kill the good bacteria in your gut. These bacteria together form your microbiome and play a huge role in your health. They are important for your immune system, the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and even for your hormone balance and metabolism.

More and more scientific research shows that the composition of your gut flora can even influence your weight. For example, the bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila is often associated with a healthier metabolism and better insulin sensitivity. Bacteria from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus families also play an important role in supporting the gut wall and reducing inflammation.

One bacterium that has been extensively researched in recent years is Lactobacillus reuteri. Studies indicate that certain strains of this bacterium can contribute to a stronger gut barrier, a better functioning immune system, and even the production of the hormone oxytocin. This hormone is also called the "happiness hormone" and plays a role in stress regulation and recovery processes in the body, and it is something that people with ADHD, like me, produce less of.

A healthy microbiome is therefore essential if you want to stay healthy and recover well. That's why I started taking probiotics after my surgery to rebuild my gut flora.

Food that helps to drain fluid

After my surgery, I was quite bloated. Fortunately, the worst of the fluid subsided within a week. Besides rest and fasting, I also consciously chose foods that help the body to drain fluid and reduce inflammation.

For example, I drink nettle tea all day long. Nettle has been known for centuries as a natural diuretic and also contains many minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium. It supports the kidneys in removing excess fluid.

In addition, I eat a lot of asparagus and celery. Asparagus contains the amino acid asparagine, which has a natural diuretic effect and thus helps to drain fluid. Celery contains many antioxidants and potassium and is often used to support fluid balance in the body.

Support from within

In addition to food and supplements that support my microbiome, I also take my Killerbody Triple Collagen daily. Collagen plays an important role in the recovery of skin, connective tissue, and joints. After a procedure, the body must create new tissue, and Killerbody collagen with vitamin C is an essential building material for this.

I deliberately choose the variant without sweeteners and without flavorings. That is currently best for my microbiome, as these can actually disrupt it. That's why I had Killerbody collagen developed as pure as possible.

Fasting during recovery

In the first week after my surgery, I fasted a lot. Fasting gives your body the chance to spend energy on recovery instead of digestion. In addition, fasting activates a process called autophagy, which helps the body clear damaged cells and waste products. I have been fasting for at least sixteen hours a day for two years and maintained that rhythm after my surgery. My first week of recovery went surprisingly well as a result. I noticed that my body recovered relatively quickly.

My morning routine

Every morning I start my day with a mixture of chia seeds, apple cider vinegar, lemon, a pinch of cinnamon, and a little organic honey. This helps stimulate digestion and supports the liver. It also helps stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. Chia seeds also contain many omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fibers that contribute to a healthy microbiome.

Calming the nervous system

I go to the EEG system weekly. EEG therapy is often used in combination with neurofeedback and can help regulate brain activity and the nervous system.

After surgery, your body is often still in a kind of stress mode. This therapy can help rebalance the autonomic nervous system, improving relaxation, sleep, and recovery.

Red light and sunlight

Every day I use a red light mask. Red light therapy stimulates blood circulation and collagen production and supports cell repair. That's why it is increasingly used for skin recovery after treatments and surgeries.

In addition, I try to get at least fifteen minutes of sunlight every morning. Research shows that the infrared rays in morning light, in particular, can have a positive effect on the mitochondria in our cells, which are responsible for energy production and recovery.

Moreover, morning light helps regulate your biological clock and improve sleep quality. And good sleep is perhaps the most important part of recovery.

For me, this period has once again shown how intelligent the body actually is. A surgeon can perform a procedure, but the real recovery always comes from within.

For me, anti-aging is therefore not just about appearance. The most important form of anti-aging starts from within: a strong body, healthy gut, good nutrition, and a lifestyle that supports your body instead of burdening it. That is ultimately what determines how vitally you age.

And perhaps even more importantly: how resilient your body is when it needs to recover.