When to Start Taking Arnica Montana and Bromelain? Before or After Surgery?

Thank you for your question.  Arnica and Bromelain is often recommended to help reduce bruising after cosmetic procedures such as facelifts and liposuction.  The scientific studies suggest they may help but are not strongly convincing due to flaws in study design that are difficult to overcome.  They may or may not be helpful and are probably not harmful.  There are some risks associated with taking vitamins and nutritional supplements before surgery such as interactions with narcotics and anesthetic medicines.  In your case Arnica and Bromelain are unlikely to significantly change your recovery from a body lift, but could contribute to bleeding in a procedure that has some risk.  Bruising can also be covered with clothing in comparison to the face where it cannot without camouflage makeup. My recommendation would be to start it after surgery to reduce any risk of interactions or effect on bleeding.  Be safe & Best Wishes! 

First of all, congratulations on your achievement! And good luck with your upcoming surgery!
It is only anecdotal evidence for these natural medication in helping bruising and swelling. Some patients really believe in them.
We are ding number of things to improve recovery, from vitamins and zinc, to infrared LED light. If you want to take Arnica, it is to be started before surgery, 1-2 days and then continued 6 days after. 
in terms of topical creams with Arnica, check with your surgeon, if you can use it on the exposed areas, not on the surgical wounds, which will be covered with dressings.
Good luck!

Thank you for your question. The majority of surgeons do state that it is okay to take but in certain
patients this can cause increased bleeding as a side effect. We now routinely tell our patients to AVOID taking arnica tablets before and after surgery. We found increased instances of bruising following the use of the tablets. The arnica cream is useful as a topical agent but it is possible that the effect arnica, when taken as a tablet , is with breakdown of clots that are form normally on cut blood vessels. This can lead to more blood oozing. Although this will not cause significant haemorrage or excessive bleeding, we do feel it is enough to result in greater post-operative bruising and subsequently greater down-time. For all our facelift and blepharoplasty patients we now advise against the tablet forms of arnica and also to avoid bromelain and other homeopathic agents which may have quite high levels of garlic - this can also increase bleeding following surgery. The homepathic remedies can be restarted a week after surgery.  Arnica cream can be used a week after surgery. This is our treatment regimen and you will find that others have a different opinion. We base this information on our personal experience rather than the general consensus, as we noticed a difference in these patients. I hope this helps