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Discomfort After Breast Lift Caused by Vitamins?

asked 3 years ago by Debra O. in chicago ,
Latest answer by Gary M. Horndeski, MD
Question viewed 2,797 times
Tags: vitamins

I had an anchor type breast lift 2 1/2 months ago. Sometimes there's no discomfort at all, sometimes extreme itching (especially around the nipples) occurs. My breast also appears flushed and slightly bruised from below the nipple down to the crease underneath.

I'm wondering, could my vitamins have caused blood thinning, which later on resulted to this bruising/discomfort? I know that some vitamins are to be discontinued just prior to surgery, but I started taking my vitamins 5 days post-procedure. Could I possibly have started going back to the routine too soon?

20 answers to Discomfort After Breast Lift Caused by Vitamins?

Vitamins Are Helpful

Vitamins can be helpful for the healing process. Niacin can cause itching and flushing. Itching is also a normal part of healing. There are creams that can help minimize the itching. Ask your surgeon if they recommend some treatment, and to evaluate your supplements.

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.pzwiebel.com

Some herbal supplements can cause prolonged bleeding

Great question! Although, itching is a normal pain sensation associated with the healing process, late stage swelling or bruising could be attributed to some herbal supplements. The following are the most common: feverfew, garlic, ginger, gingko biloba, ginseng, and vitamin E Hope this helps, Dr. Horndeski

Gary M. Horndeski, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.horndeski.com

Discomfort caused by vitamins-Not Likely

I do not see any relation between itching and irritation after a breast lift and vitamins.

Ivan Thomas, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Swelling and pain after Breast Lift - Mastopexy

Residual swelling and bruising are associated with postoperative pain. At this point, I would use an Arnica and Bromelain based medication regimen. In my practice, I recommend Bruise-Stick and Bruise-pak kits.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Sensation issues after breast lift

After any surgery, it is not uncommon to have temporary sensation alterations at the swelling is resolving and the tissues are healing. However, if you have any concern about the incisions, you should follow up with your surgeon to make sure there is not a more urgent cause to your issues. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Breast discomfort after breast lift

It is not uncommon to experience different types of sensations, such as tingling, sharp pains, and itching, after surgery. These are due to the normal healing process and most likely not related to vitamin use after surgery.

Olivia Hutchinson, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Discomfort after breast lift

After a breast lift surgery it is common to have discomfort and feelings of tightness in the breast and skin. The amount of discomfort that you will have largely depend on the surgical techniques that were used for your surgery. Smaller breast reductions or lifts that did not remove a great deal of tissue or were primarily on the skin will have the least discomfort. However, if your breast lift required work on the breast print them or anchoring to the fascia or other deep... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Extreme Itching after Breast Lift (Mastopexy) is NOT related to Vitamin Intake

Itching, strange feelings (sometimes described like insects walking on the skin - referred to in Medicalese as PARESTHESIAS) are normal and are associated with nerve healing after surgery. All this will resolve. Normal vitamin intake is NOT associated with any of these symptoms. The only reason why we advise patients to stop taking certain supplements is lower your likelihood of bleeding during surgery.That is no longer a concern a few days after surgery.

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Doubtful healing problems after breast lift caused by vitamins.

I doubt your vitamins had anything to do with your convalescence. It is true that very high doses of fat soluble vitamins can create metabolic problems (D,E,A,K) but resuming even large doses of those after surgery would have no effect. Don't beat yourself up on that one. Also, why are you taking vitamins? They don't do you any good unless you have some intestinal disease or you're starving.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift and recovery

I doubt that the vitamins have contributed to your condition and symptoms. After any injury including surgery, it takes 6 weeks to form the scar tissue and up to two years to "mature" the scar tissue. In my experience, breasts typically take 6-9 months to achieve a truly stable result. Give it some time and you may want to wear a supportive bra if perfmitted by your surgeon. Some of the stitches used may even take up to6 months to absorb which may also account for some of your... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Early phase of healing after breast lift

Vitamins should not cause all these signs and symptoms. I would recommend that you check back with your surgeon to rule out other causes. You are still in the early phases after surgery and wound healing is still in the active phase.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift discomfort unlikely caused by vitamins

Taking vitamins 5 days after your operation is very unlikely to have anything to do with your current situation. The normal healing process can involve all of the issues that you bring up, but you want to make sure that your plastic surgeon is aware of what is going on and can make sure that you are on the right track to a great result.

Adam David Lowenstein, MD
Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

Unlikely, probably normal healing process

Some bruising and swelling normally occurs following a mastopexy. The skin in or near the surgical site can appear either lighter or darker than surrounding skin. Although uncommon, swelling and skin discoloration may persist for long periods of time, and in rare situations, it may be permanent. Also, itching and tenderness may occur after the surgery. Usually that resolves during healing. Taking vitamins after the procedure should not have caused changes as you described. This symptoms... more

Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Possibly, but not likely

Unless you were on megadoses of things like vitamin E, etc., it is not likely that the discoloration and discomfort is related. Depending on exactly what was done at surgery, you will likely still have dull aching pain, that will wax and wane, but diminish over time. The tingling is due to nerves regrowing, and this is a good thing as it indicates that sensation is returning. The redd-ish color is due to increased vascularity needed for healing.

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

The vitamins did not have a direct effect on your surgical outcome

I do not think that the vitamins that you took prior to your surgery had a direct effect on your outcome. What is probably more important was the quality of your skin and how tight the skin envelope was following the breast lift procedure. Increased vascularity is seen sometimes following breast lift surgery as well as changes in pigmentation or coloration. I would advise you to go back to your surgeon. Retin-A, anti-oxidants, and/or chemical peels may be useful to improve your appearance.... more

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon

This doesn't sound like a problem.

Hello, Make sure your doc is seeing you through this, but you are probably OK. Itching and flushed skin is not uncommon at your stage. I doubt the vitamins had anything to do with it. Best Regards, John Di Saia MD

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

Not likely

Starting vitamins several days after surgery sounds OK. The things you wrote about sound pretty normal in terms of recovery. Unless you have fever and chills or drainage it doesn't sound like much.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Possibly, but you sound normal

What you are describing is the normal nerve recovery around the nipples. A wide variety of syptoms such as itching, burning, or electrical feelings go along with nerve recovery. The redness in the lower pole of the breasts is also normal and comes from the weight of the implant on the lower pole skin plus having to undermine it to lift and tighten the skin. Time resloves this.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Sounds like things are OK

Itching around the nipples is normal. This can be the result of the nerves regenerating in the area, or because of the resolution and softening of the scars. The scars are often dry and it causes itching. The discoloration below the breast is likely due to residual bruising or to the ordinary healing process of skin which has had the blood supply stressed (normal). Anyway, for patients like you , I suggest Hydrocortisone cream around the nipples to reduce the itching and modestly soften the... more

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.breastenlargement.net

Vitamin E in the post-op

Large doses of vitamin E can be associated with increased bleeding. Itching around the incisions in the immediate post-op period is likely normal although it is important to watch for skin reactions from tape or "steristrips". Some bruising after a breast lift is normal. Things to watch for would be increased discomfort, increasing swelling or bruising that does not appear to be getting better. As always it is important to have close follow-up with your surgeon. I hope this helps... more