How important is it to take supplements before and after face-lift surgery?

In case you have not noticed, we as a society are not particularly malnourished. The supplement business is unscientific, largely unregulated, and makes billions of dollars off the public by getting you to believe that a few pills will make you healthier.  Many of these products affect coagulation and cause excessive bleeding that complicates surgical outcome.  Many offices, including mine, have long lists of products to avoid before surgery.  Please carefully listen to these warnings and avoid these products.  Do your part to have the best possible surgical result.

Thanks for your question!  A lot of offices offer supplements, but we make them optional to our patients.  If you can't tolerate the supplements, you do not need to take them and you certainly don't need to cancel your surgery.  You'll be fine without them.  Good luck!

At Quintessa, we do give patients oral supplements that help decrease bruising and help make any bruising go away quicker. We don't necessarily recommend any other supplements. Certain supplements like Ginko Biloba and fish oil actually thin the blood a little and can lead to increased bruising or other complications. We therefore recommend that patients stop all other supplements two weeks prior to a facelift. Most patients are healthy and eat a normal diet, so they shouldn't need any other supplements to help them heal.Andrew Campbell, M.D.Facial Rejuvenation SpecialistQuintessa Aesthetic Centers