You should be off Accutane before having surgery

David A. Dreyfuss, MD answers: Can I have liposuction while I'm taking Accutane?

Can I have liposuction while I'm taking Accutane?


David A. Dreyfuss, MD
12 months ago

Accutane has numerous effects on the body, and it requires monitoring. Not only is the liver affected, but the skin and subcutaneous tissue has changes. It can alter you response to surgery and anesthesia. Your best bet is to finish your course of accutane and then consider surgery after 2-3 months. This is the amount of time the Accutane can remain active in your system.

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A: In general, I would not recommend doing it!

Julius W. Few, MD
12 months ago

Accutane affects the way skin heals after injury. As liposuction is done for cosmetic reasons, the margin for complications has to be very small. In general, I recommend patient wait 6 to 12 months, after being off accutane, before I perform an invasive procedure. There are always exceptions, but I do believe in minimizing risk where possible.

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