{"id":26823,"date":"2023-11-13T13:05:46","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T21:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=26823"},"modified":"2023-11-13T13:05:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T21:05:49","slug":"supplements-before-after-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/supplements-before-after-surgery","title":{"rendered":"Which Supplements to Take\u2014and Which to Stop\u2014Before and After Surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Plastic surgery can come with a lot of prep<\/a> once you’ve scheduled your appointment, like making arrangements for aftercare and getting into a calm, low-stress headspace ahead of your procedure. With these comes rethinking your supplements; it’s another important but often overlooked step ahead of surgery, since even herbal supplements can thin the blood (making it harder for wounds to clot post-surgery) or even interfere with your anesthesia.<\/p>

“It’s crucial to follow your plastic surgeon’s recommendations when it comes to stopping supplements and homeopathic remedies and adjusting your diet before surgery,” says San Antonio, Texas–based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gary Lawton<\/a>. The specific recommendations will vary depending on the type of surgery you’re having, your medical history, and your surgeon, among other factors, he adds. “As always, consult with your plastic surgeon for personalized guidance.”<\/p>

That said, these are generalized guidelines—so make sure you talk with your doc, to make sure you’re set. Ahead, the supplements to take (and skip), both before and after surgery.<\/p>

Supplements to stop taking before surgery<\/h2>

There are two groups of supplements that should be off limits ahead of surgery: those that increase your risk of bleeding and others that could potentially mess with anesthesia. “While most medications and supplements are okay to keep taking, we always recommend discontinuing blood thinners for our patients,” says New York City board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Shafer<\/a>. While this includes standard medications, the same goes for supplements that have a similar effect.<\/p>

Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

Which supplements thin the blood?<\/h3>

While adding a clove of garlic to your dinner shouldn’t be an issue, garlic supplements—as well as an excessive amount of garlic in your diet—can have blood-thinning properties, says Dr. Lawton. Other herbal supplements, like ginseng, turmeric, and curcumin, also have anticoagulant properties; in other words, they impact your blood’s ability to clot.<\/p>

Meanwhile, ginkgo biloba is known for its antiplatelet effects, meaning it prevents red blood cells from sticking together and can therefore increase the risk of bleeding, says Dr. Lawton. High doses of vitamin E can also make bleeding more likely. <\/p>

Which supplements interfere with anesthesia?<\/h3>

Other types of supplements may impact how well your anesthesia works—or make it more unpredictable. Take St. John’s wort, which is commonly used to treat mild depression. “This herbal supplement can interact with anesthesia medications,” says Dr. Lawton.<\/p>

On top of that, valerian root, which is used as a natural sleep aid, “may increase the sedative effects of anesthesia,” he says. Since dosing anesthesia<\/a> for a given procedure is incredibly precise, it’s best to stop taking these well in advance.<\/p>

When to stop taking supplements<\/h3>

You should hit pause on your supplements two weeks before surgery and for two weeks after, says Lisa Calhoun, RN, a nurse manager at Madnani Facial Plastics<\/a>. This creates a generous buffer around your surgery, to minimize the risk of any effects.<\/p>

\n