Healing Well: A Functional Medicine Guide to Recovery After Skin Surgery

By Corey Howard, MD, FACP, FAARFM

I’ve always believed that healing is a skill, not just something that happens to us, but something we can influence. After going through surgery myself, I was reminded how active that process really is. Whether you’ve had a mole removed, a basal cell treated, or something cosmetic done, your body is doing something incredible: rebuilding tissue, orchestrating immune defenses, cleaning up inflammation, and repairing with precision.

In functional medicine, we look at healing not just through the lens of the procedure, but through the whole person — your nutritional status, sleep quality, hormone balance, stress levels, and cellular energy production. So when I talk about healing well, I’m not just aiming for a scar that looks good. I want your body to bounce back stronger, your skin to regenerate with vitality, and your mitochondria to do what they were designed to do — power that repair.

Allow me to guide you through my personal recommendations and explain why they are effective.

Start with Protein: Food First, Always

After surgery, your protein needs go up — and not just a little.  You’re repairing tissue, producing collagen, fighting off infection, and hopefully preserving lean muscle. I start with a simple rule: get at least 0.6 grams of protein per pound of body weight. For a 150-pound person, that’s around 90 grams a day.

Where should it come from? Think quality over quantity. Eggs, wild-caught fish, poultry, grass-fed beef, and collagen-rich cuts like chicken thighs or bone broth are excellent choices. For plant-based eaters, quinoa, lentils, tempeh, and tofu can work, but keep an eye on leucine, a key amino acid for muscle and tissue repair. Pea protein, for example, is lower in leucine and not my first choice for post-op recovery.

If your appetite is low or you're short on time, a high-quality whey protein powder can fill in the gaps. Whey has all the essential amino acids and is rapidly absorbed, making it great for healing. I like products from Pure Encapsulations or Thorne — clean, reliable, and well-tolerated.

Collagen for Skin Repair and Scar Support

Collagen is the backbone of your skin — literally. After surgery, your body needs it in large amounts to lay down new tissue and reinforce structural integrity. I personally used hydrolyzed collagen peptides after my own procedure and recommend them to most of my patients.

I usually start with 10 to 20 grams of collagen peptides daily. Look for products that are sourced from grass-fed bovine or marine collagen, and pair it with vitamin C — that’s the cofactor your body needs to convert amino acids into usable collagen. I like Great Lakes, Vital Proteins, or Thorne Collagen Plus, and I often combine this with 500–1000 mg of buffered vitamin C to really drive the process.

Zinc: The Unsung Hero of Wound Healing

Most people think of zinc only when they get a cold, but it's absolutely vital for surgical recovery. It’s involved in DNA replication, immune defense, and cellular repair. I recommend using zinc for about a week or two post-op — 15 to 30 mg per day — ideally as zinc picolinate or monomethionine, which are well absorbed. More isn’t better here, so don’t exceed this without supervision, especially long-term, because it can deplete copper.

Why I Target Mitochondria for Recovery

Here’s something most post-op protocols miss entirely: energy production. But think about it — your cells can’t rebuild if they don’t have fuel. And that fuel comes from mitochondria. These tiny organelles are responsible for ATP — the energy currency your body needs to drive healing, control inflammation, and create new skin.

When your mitochondrial function is sluggish (which can happen with age, stress, anesthesia, or chronic illness), your recovery may be slower. That’s why I support this process with supplements like CoQ10, acetyl-L-carnitine, and NAD+ precursors like NMN. Products like ATP 360 by Researched Nutritionals or MitoCORE can provide comprehensive mitochondrial support in a simple daily dose.

Omega-3s, Inflammation, and Smart Healing

I always say that inflammation is not the enemy — unmanaged inflammation is. After surgery, we want the right amount: enough to initiate repair, but not so much that it causes excessive swelling, bruising, or fatigue.

That’s where omega-3s help. They don’t shut down inflammation like NSAIDs do (which can delay healing), but they gently modulate it. I typically use 1000 to 2000 mg of EPA and DHA combined. Nordic Naturals and Carlson both make excellent options. If you were already taking them before surgery, it’s fine to continue — just skip mega-dosing the week before unless cleared by your doctor.

Magnesium for Calm and Recovery

Healing takes place while you rest — and magnesium helps you rest deeply. Magnesium glycinate is my go-to form because it doesn’t cause GI upset and has calming properties. I recommend 200–400 mg at night for sleep, stress management, and to support energy metabolism.

Multivitamins: A Safety Net for Recovery

When you’re healing, your body burns through nutrients. If your diet is limited, you’re skipping meals, or just feeling off, a good multivitamin acts as nutritional insurance. Look for something with methylated B vitamins, chelated minerals, and real vitamin A. I prefer Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950 or Thorne Basic Nutrients — they’re comprehensive and clean.

Topical Skin Support: Don’t Skip the Surface

Internal healing is only half the story. Topical support can improve scar quality, speed healing, and reduce complications. I often recommend CU3 cream, which combines copper peptides and zinc oxide in a nourishing base. These nutrients support tissue repair, reduce oxidative stress, and protect the skin barrier. 

One Last Thing: Avoid NSAIDs If You Can

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and naproxen can reduce pain, but they also suppress the prostaglandins that initiate healing. I usually steer patients toward acetaminophen for pain, at least in the first few days, and use natural anti-inflammatories like bromelain when appropriate.

The Takeaway: Healing Is a Partnership

I’ve been the patient. I’ve been the doctor. And what I know is this: you can influence your recovery far more than you might think. Healing is an active, whole-body process. When you nourish it with clean food, targeted nutrients, quality sleep, and smart movement, your body responds with strength, clarity, and resilience.

So if you're heading into a skin surgery — or recovering from one — let’s do it the right way. With intention, with science, and with care.

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