Although Smart Lipo tends to have less bruising due to the lasers ability to coagulate small vessels, there is always a potential for postoperative bruising and bleeding. Ibuprofen will worsen this situation so it is a definite NO. Most of my patients do well with Tylenol. Rarely they will request... more
SmartLipo - Can I take ibuprofen for pain?
I had smartlipo on my arms and i didn't want to take vicodin for pain, can i take ibuprofen?
3 answers to “SmartLipo - Can I take ibuprofen for...”
A: Ibuprofen alternative for SmartLipo
Ibuprofen is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) that can cause bleeding and bruising after surgery. An alternative NSAID is Celebrex (celecoxib) which does not significantly increase the risk of bleeding and has a more favorable side effect profile in regard to gastrointestinal irritation. It is a... more
A: I generally request that all patients refrain from...
I generally request that all patients refrain from Motrin (Ibuprofen and Advil are the same) for 2 weeks before and after surgery because of the increased risk of bleeding and bruising that these medications carry.
Comments
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13 posts
8 Jul 2008
Ibuprofen is usually a terrific pain reliever for post-procedure pain but there are two possible drawbacks: The first is the anti-inflammatory effect, which can potentially reduce the skin tightening effects of Smart-Lipo. The inflammation created by the laser has the effect of tightening the skin from within, and reducing this inflammatory effect may reduce one of the most desired effects. The second consideration is the effect on the lining of your stomach. Ibuprofen is irritating to the GI tract and can cause ulcers so always take it with solid food and plenty of water. I don't like using vicodin either, so my advice is to use arthritis strength Tylenol during the day and limit vicodin use to nightime (when we usually need pain management the most).
98 posts
6 Aug 2008
Ibuprofen or other NSAIDS (such as naproxen) are great for pain management but should NOT be used following SmartLipo (or any device causing skin tightening). I have my patiens use extra-strength Tylenol as needed for pain management following SmartLipo. I have only had 3 patients (1%) in the past year ask for something stronger. I did give them Percocet or Vicodin. I stay away from all anti-inflammatory medications (especially NSAIDS) for about one month following the procedure - minimum of 2 weeks (prefer 4 months). I do this for the following reasons: SmartLipo causes skin tightening through heating of the collagen, resulting in immediate contracture followed by an inflammatory process that causes new collagen and tighter skin as the damaged area heals. If an anti-inflammatory is used, this effect can be blunted! We all know that one of the best things about SmartLipo is that it can result in tighter skin than traditional liposuction. We don't want to hamper the skin from tightening! NSAIDS can result in increased bruising (should be stopped 2 weeks before procedure). NSAIDS can irritate the stomach lining and result in ulcers. With so many other medications that can be used for pain managment, it makes sense to find something that won't compromise your results.