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

You do not need to cancel your face lift. The suggested supplements are just that, a suggestion.  They have been shown in some studies to decrease bruising and improve healing. However, if they are making you feel ill, ask your surgeon the top 2 or 3 supplements he/she recommends. If you still cannot tolerate a few pills per day, focus on a healthy diet with increased protein. 

Don't cancel your facelift!  We use supplements extensively before and after surgery, but I tell our patients that if they become nauseated, just stop them.  Ultimately, healing will be the same, although I do think that certain supplements will hasten recovery.  It's better that you found out preoperatively, rather than this becoming a concern after your procedure.

More important that supplements is to try and eat a healthy diet before and after as vitamins coming directly from food are much more helpful for your nutrition.  As for the ones listed above: vitamin C and Zinc have been shown to help with healing.  Vitamin E can make you bleed so not sure why they would have you take that.    

You should check with your surgeon about this, I have my patients take high quality vitamins (VitaMedica) for two weeks before and two weeks after surgery. Good luck!

Dear poodlelissimoThank you for your question!  We recommend supplements - we want all patients to have good nutrition before and after surgery- This is a stressful event .  The type of supplements - will depend on the Surgeon.  Clearly if you are not reacting well you should check with your surgeon on the instructions to follow.With Warm RegardsTrevor M Born MD

I would recommend you stop the supplements.  They are not necessary for a successful facelift.  Benefits of these supplements have not been elucidated conclusively, other than for Vitamin C and Zinc improving wound healing.  

Dear Poodle Lissimo,

 

I have to echo the other surgeon’s comments here that I have never heard such a list recommended to a patient before elective surgery.  A normal diet with fruit, vegetables, and enough protein to develop good wound healing is all you need.  As a matter of fact, we try to dissuade people from taking many homeopathic remedies as sometimes it can inadvertently thin the blood and cause bleeding problems.  I hope this has been helpful.