A New York Plastic Surgeon Tells Us the Top Three Tips to Staying Young and Healthy Beyond the Operating Room

A New York City plastic surgeon tells us his top three tips to staying young and healthy beyond the operating room. We all would like to look our best, and there may come a time when a plastic surgery procedure is really the only option to achieve the image you desire.

By Robert Grant, MD
and Carolynn Grimes
ThePlasticSurgeryChannel.com

Dr. Robert Grant is a board certified plastic surgeon in New York City and chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital as well as surgical director at the hospital’s residency program.  He’s responsible for training the next generation of plastic surgeons. Grant says, “I always add at least one thought for every patient I see in a consultation that incorporates my philosophy of overall health and wellness into helping the patient make a positive change toward their own life and appearance goals.”

Grant’s Top Three Guide to Health and Wellness

 

1. “Quit smoking.  There is nothing that damages your health and ages you faster than smoking. There is no minimal acceptable amount of smoking. Figure out a way to stop, whether it’s with patches, gum, whatever… just do it.”
2. “Avoid excess alcohol.  Limit your intake of the hidden calories and the dehydration that results from excess alcohol. You will look and feel much better.”
3. “Make healthy food choices. Many patients would be better surgery candidates if they lost weight prior to surgery.  It’s not about going on one of the fad diets you read about, or doing a cleanse that everybody is talking about. You may lose weight, but the weight loss won’t last.”

Develop a Reasonable Eating Plan

Grant says he realizes losing weight is one of the toughest battles to beat. He says a change in lifestyle is the only way to lose weight permanently. Grant always takes a realistic approach in his diet advice saying, “Drinking spinach juice with a touch of wheat grass is not a realistic meal plan for the rest of your life, nor would you want it to be! Where is the pleasure in that?”

1. “The majority of your calories should come from lean protein sources like chicken, fish, beef, eggs or soy.”
2. “Carbohydrates should come from those found in vegetables and fruits. Healthy fat-like the ones found in olive oil, nuts and avocados are good for you.”
3. “Minimize your intake of non-healthy fats. Things like fat free muffins contain too much processed sugar that can contribute to blood sugar spikes and development of the metabolic syndrome.”

“Weight loss is not about starving yourself, but rather understanding the food choices you make” says Grant. He explains, “When I take the time to share a teachable moment with one of my patients I know I’m helping make a difference beyond what I can achieve in my operating room.