Can You Use Decongestants Before Surgery?

It's a great question. Only your surgeon's office can give you specific advice, but I see no reason why you would not be able to use decongestants before your surgery. Good luck with your upcoming procedure!

I would follow your plastic surgeon's advice. However, I would ensure you don't have an active infection. You want to be the healthiest going into your surgery. It will make the recovery process smoother and put you at less risk.

For most patients it is acceptable to take nasal decongestants before surgery.  When patients have an operation such as a tummy tuck, I would prefer that they avoid decongestant medications for the first week following surgery.  Decongestants might impede healing by temporarily diminishing blood flow to the skin. After one week following surgery, decongestants are unlikely to have a negative impact on healing.

Prescription and over the counter #medication use are not a matters that  surgeons or physicians than your own can advise on, without seeing you in-person or knowing your #medical history and surgical details. Therefore, its best to ask your surgeon this and about any additional medication use you have concerns about.

It’s not unusual for patients to
use decongestants when they develop upper respiratory infections. In the vast
majority of preoperative patients this doesn’t represent a problem.
Unfortunately some decongestants can cause significant elevations in blood pressure.
This type of decongestant should be stopped well in advance of cosmetic
surgery.

More important than decongestant
use is the upper respiratory infection itself. If this problem isn’t adequately
treated, the potential for complications is significantly increased. These
infections can lead to airway spasm and pneumonia.

For these reasons, upper
respiratory infections and the use of decongestants
should be discussed with your surgeon prior to surgery. Safety should be
everyone’s first priority and surgery should be postponed if patients haven’t
fully recovered from upper respiratory infections. 

Use of the decongestant would not be a strong indication for postponing your surgery. It really depends on your other symptoms and the type of anesthesia that you will be having. I use a deep sedation anesthesia for my mommy makeover surgeries instead of genereal anesthesia. There are many benefits to this type of anesthesia, but it does require the airway to be almost completely normal. If your congestion symptoms are signficant, then I would probably delay surgery. But if your symptoms are really mild or you are using a more protected airway type of anesthesia, then you should be fine.

Elective surgery, which all cosmetic surgery is, should be performed with the patient is healthy and not suffering from other conditions. Modest congestion after a cold is usually not a problem for elective mommy makeover. However, it is left to the judgment of the surgeon and anesthesiologist.

As long as you have stopped taking the decongestants then you should be okay. They can affect your blood pressure and increase your risk of postoperative hematoma. The real question will be if they feel your respiratory system is compromised. If they feel that your are at increased risk of pneumonia then they will want to postpone things. If your symtpoms are improved then its unlikely they will cancel your surgery. Best of luck!

  If your last dose was Saturday, you will probably not be rescheduled.  The pseudoephedrine (decongestant d part of mucinex-d) can raise blood pressure, but this should be out of your system by Wednesday. Just let your surgeon and anesthesiologist know.

Some decongestants contain medications that act as stimulants that can increase your heart rate or blood pressure, so these are typically discontinued before surgery.  In general, an antibiotic is not harmful before surgery.  An antibiotic is often given through your IV during surgery.  However, you want to make sure you do not have an active infection before undergoing an elective surgery like a mommy makeover.  Having any active infection before surgery can increase you chances of complications after surgery.  An upper respiratory infection such as the one you are describing can also make breathing more difficult during and after surgery.  Therefore, it is important to share your concerns with your plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist.  That way they can make sure you have the smoothest possible recovery possible.  Best of luck!
Ziyad Hammoudeh, MD@drhammoudehMayo Clinic-trained, Double Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonDiplomate, American Board of Plastic SurgeryDiplomate, American Board of Surgery