How long before and after surgery should I abstain from alcohol consumption?

Each surgeon has their own post operative protocols. I advise patients to refrain from alcohol until they are off all narcotic pain medications. You should address this question with your surgeon. Regards, 

I advise my patients to adhere to the responsible consumption of alcohol prior to surgery.  Post operatively alcohol should be avoided until you are off the medications. Each surgeon has their own protocols and recommendations. Please discuss further with your board certified plastic surgeon. 

A small amount of alcohol before or after surgery will interfere minimally.  On the other hand, mixing with narcotics or other peri-operative medicines may have unwanted side effects, like over-sedation or decreased platelet function (more bleeding).  Why risk it?  There is no safe dose of anything.  Yet, small doses of alcohol a few days before or a few days after surgery seem to cause little or no problems.  

Stopping alcohol? Hello bananas! I think your question is an important question. Alcohol can interact with the medications related to anesthesia and also does medications that are given to patient for pain control and comfort after breast augmentation. It is therefore to recommend that the patient stop all alcohol consumption about a month before the surgery and certainly no less than two weeks after they stop using their post operative medications. What should also remember that alcohol Can be a source of huge calories which can lead to weight gain and in the long term can affect the results of breast augmentation and other plastic surgery operations.

Thank you for your question.It is best to seek advise from your plastic surgeons office. Usually it is recommended that you do not drink a few days before your surgery and once you have finished your medication post surgery.

It's a great question and the only person who can give you a specific answer is your plastic surgeon. In my office, it's okay for my patients to have a small amount of alcohol the night before surgery. Typically this would only be one drink. After surgery, about 50-60% of my patients will only take ibuprofen. For women who are using narcotic pain medicine, they must be off the narcotic pain medication before they have a drink.

This is a very important question regarding any type of surgery. Although minimal amounts of alcohol consumption may not interfere with daily activities, this is more than important when it comes to surgery. There are 3 major reasons for this. 
First of all, alcohol consumption can modify blood coagulation time, hence act as a blood thinner resulting in bleeding and/or edema and swelling that are important in aesthetic procedures.Alcohol consumption immediately prior to surgery can result in increased diuresis (which means increased urination) hence making it difficult to control your blood pressure, electrolyte balance hydration altogether.Alcohol consumption can change the way your liver metabolized medicine, hence intake of alcohol in combination with antibiotics and non-steriod anti-inflammatory drugs can result in increased/decreased metabolization of the medicine and overdose or underdose of the medicine required.
In general, I advice ro alcohol intake for 2 days prior to surgery and 1 week after.
Hope this helps,
Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

We all have our own preferences on this topic.  I tell my patients not to drink alcohol while they are taking narcotics.  Talk to your board certified plastic surgeon to get her/his advice.  Good luck!Sincerely, Dr. Michelle Spring

Generally, we tell patients to refrain from alcohol consumption several days prior to surgery as this can lead to water retention, risk of medication interaction, and increased risk of bleeding.  A glass of wine/beer usually isn't a problem, but best to avoid it if you can.  Post operative narcotics are usually prescribed for pain management and we recommend patients not consume alcohol until off narcotics.  In addition, the other pre operative risks apply as well--water retention, increase risk of bleed and med interactions.

Every surgeon has their own recipe for things to do or not to do before and after surgery.  I generally recommend to stop any alcohol consumption 14 days before and 14 days after.  One drink here or there during that time should be fine, but excessive drinking can cause issues with the surgery (bleeding) as well as dangerous interactions with the medications that are often prescribed.Hope that helps.

Hello,Thank you for your question. Protocols vary between practices and depending on the patient. Usually, abstaining at least 48 hours prior and afterward as long as you are taking narcotic pain medication, you will be advised to avoid alcohol. Ask your Plastic Surgeon what they recommend.All the best