Preparing Your Body to Heal: Why High-Polyphenol Olive Oil May Be Worth Considering Before Surgery
Why olive oil should be consumed by those having surgery for better healing and repair.
If you are preparing for a facelift, tummy tuck, breast surgery, body lift after weight loss, or another elective procedure, you are probably thinking about the surgeon, the scar and how long recovery will take. But there is another question worth asking: How well prepared is your body to heal? Surgery creates a controlled injury. Your body then has to repair skin, rebuild tissue, make collagen, manage inflammation and deliver oxygen and nutrients to the area. That is why nutrition before surgery matters. And one food getting increasing scientific attention is high-polyphenol extra virgin olive oil.
What makes high-polyphenol olive oil different?
Extra virgin olive oil contains natural plant compounds called polyphenols. These include compounds such as hydroxytyrosol and oleocanthal, which researchers are studying for their effects on:
inflammation
oxidative stress
blood-vessel health
skin cells involved in repair
the body's natural antioxidant defence systems
Laboratory studies have also found that olive-oil polyphenols can influence fibroblasts — the cells that help produce collagen and rebuild damaged tissue. That is particularly interesting in procedures where skin healing matters, such as a facelift, neck lift, abdominoplasty or body-contouring surgery.
Why this may matter after a facelift
A facelift is not simply about tightening skin. The tissues underneath have been lifted, repositioned and surgically manipulated. Your body then has to control swelling and inflammation while repairing the incision and rebuilding tissue. Good circulation is also important because healing tissue needs a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients. Human studies have shown that polyphenol-rich extra virgin olive oil can support endothelial function, which is a measure of how well blood vessels work. That doesn't mean olive oil will make your facelift heal faster. But it does mean it supports biological processes that are relevant to healthy tissue recovery.
What about surgery after major weight loss?
Nutrition may be even more important for people having surgery after significant weight loss. Procedures such as a: body lift, tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift or breast lift can involve large areas of tissue and long incisions. Some people who have lost substantial amounts of weight may also have nutritional deficiencies or struggle to consume enough protein, particularly after bariatric surgery. In that situation, olive oil is not the first priority. Protein, adequate calories and correcting nutritional deficiencies come first. But high-quality extra virgin olive oil can fit very well into that wider recovery-focused diet. Think of it as one part of the nutritional foundation rather than a miracle ingredient.
The key word is "before"
One of the more interesting findings from experimental wound-healing research is that timing appears to matter. The evidence does not suggest suddenly drinking large amounts of olive oil a day or two before surgery. A better approach is to make good nutrition part of your routine in the weeks leading up to your procedure. Just as you wouldn't start training for a marathon the night before the race, preparing your body for surgery should ideally begin before the operation.
A simple pre-surgery plate
You don't need a complicated supplement programme. A good pre-surgery meal might look like: Protein + colourful vegetables + healthy carbohydrates + high-polyphenol extra virgin olive oil. For example: chicken or salmon with vegetables and olive oil. Greek yoghurt with nuts and berries. Eggs, avocado and vegetables. Lentils or beans with herbs, vegetables and plenty of good-quality EVOO. The olive oil is there to complement the rest of the diet — not replace it.
What should you look for in an olive oil?
If you are buying olive oil specifically for its polyphenols, look beyond the words "extra virgin." Ideally choose an oil that is:
fresh
from a recent harvest
stored in a dark bottle
produced by a reputable grower
independently tested for polyphenol content over 600mg/kg
A peppery or slightly bitter taste is often associated with higher levels of olive phenolics, although taste alone cannot tell you exactly how much is present.
Can it guarantee better healing?
No. And this is important. We spoke to a Dr Kshem Yapa, one of Londons leading facial plastic surgeons. As he rightly pointed out "There is currently not enough clinical research to say that high-polyphenol olive oil will prevent complications, improve scars or guarantee faster recovery after cosmetic surgery. However, what the research does suggest is that the polyphenols in olive oil can potentially influence several of the biological systems your body uses during tissue repair. I recommend all my patients look to optimise their diet pre- and post surgery to support healing and the research does suggest high-polyphenol EVOO as an interesting addition to a good pre-surgery diet".
However, Dr. Josef Hadeed has a much stronger opinion on olive oil being a must for those having surgery and states why in the video above. He believes if you're preparing for, or recovering from a plastic surgery procedure, incorporating extra virgin olive oil into your diet can be a game-changer. In this video, he breaka down 3 reasons why extra virgin olive oil should be your recovery MVP: 1) It boosts wound healing. Studies show that compounds in extra virgin olive oil promote the migration of cells essential for proper healing. 2) It Reduces Swelling & Bruising: Its antioxidant properties minimize oxidative stress, leading to less swelling, pain, and a faster recovery. 3) It Enhances Nutrient Absorption: Extra virgin olive oil improves the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, all crucial for healing. By adding extra virgin olive oil to your diet before and after surgery, you’re setting yourself up for faster, smoother, and healthier recovery in his opinion.
Finding the best high polyphenol olive oil to support your surgery healing journey.
It can be very tricky finding a good quality high polyphenol olive oil as they are not stocked in your local supermarket. However, here at Early Harvest - we have done all the leg work for you. You can find a list of the best organic high polyphenol extra virgin olive oils available in the Uk here.