Epi 3 Welcome back to The Cutting Edge! In this episode, Mel sits down with Dr. Omar Beidas, MD FACS (Plastic Surgeon) and Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes, LCSW (Bariatric & Trauma Therapist) for a deep dive on one of the most overlooked steps in plastic-surgery readiness after weight loss: protein intake, healing nutrition, and how your body actually recovers after surgery. If you’re preparing for skin removal surgery, tummy tuck, arm lift, back lift, breast lift, lipo, or ANY post-weight-loss plastics… this episode is your new bible. We cover the exact protein targets, why low protein causes wound-healing complications, how seromas form, how drains work, why compression affects blood pressure, and why your surgeon keeps yelling “Get your protein in!” Plus: weird protein sources, vegetarian struggles, bug-based protein (yes, really), GLP-1 nausea tips, food noise vs cravings, and why bariatric patients struggle with solid protein. 🩺 Why Protein Matters Most Before Plastic Surgery Most complications in post-weight-loss plastic surgery happen because patients:• aren’t eating enough protein• don’t preload before surgery• rely only on shakes instead of food• aren’t aware of how healing actually works Dr. Beidas explains EXACTLY why protein reduces:• wound openings• seromas• swelling• delayed healing• prolonged drains• muscle breakdown (yes, you can lose lean mass while healing) And Ashlyn breaks down the mental health side — perfectionism, overwhelm, food noise, sensory issues with solid protein, and GLP-1 adjustments. 🥗 Best Protein Sources We Cover • Chicken breast• Shrimp cocktail (the unexpected hero)• Salmon• Greek yogurt• Cottage cheese ranch• Lean meats• Tofu & beans• Hemp hearts• Eggs• Crispy protein snacks (like Crisp Power)• Protein puddings• Casein ice cream (“Creamey” recipes)• AND… grasshoppers, crickets & mealworms (seriously) Drop your questions in the comments! What plastics are YOU preparing for?Need help with protein? Want a plastics prep checklist? ASK BELOW!And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on bell notifications so you never miss the next Cutting Edge episode. Your dream body deserves your best prep. Let’s get you healing strong, recovering faster, and stepping into plastics with confidence. Come hang out with us on IG and stay connected. Mel (Host) – @melunfiltered Dr. Omar Beidas (Plastic Surgeon) – @drbodycontouring Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes (Therapist) – @ashlynchange4life2012