186lbs, 44 years old, can I still have surgery if I have antihistamine in my system?

Dear Cute94180,
every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

It's important to note that antihistamines don't typically prevent you from undergoing surgery. These medications are usually well-tolerated and don't interfere with the anesthetic drugs used during surgical procedures. However, some antihistamines can cause dry mouth and drowsiness, which may affect your comfort level and recovery time after surgery.

It's crucial to have a clear and open discussion with your surgeon and the anesthesiology team about all medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, that you're taking prior to the surgery. They will give you specific instructions on which medications you should stop taking before surgery, as well as when to stop taking them.

To give you a more personalized answer, we would need to know which specific antihistamine you're taking, the reason you're taking it, the dosage, and how frequently you're taking it.

Remember, your safety is the top priority when considering any surgical procedure. Please don't hesitate to ask your healthcare team any questions you might have regarding this matter.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katzen

It would be in your best interest to stop takin antihistamines 1 week before surgery since they may interfere with anesthesia and possibly, wound healing. You should discuss that issue with your surgeron ahead of surgery. Hope this helps.

Hello @Cute94180, thank you for your question. I suggest you follow your specialist recommendations, this is because it depends of multiple things among other the doctor's surgical technique. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

Just the fact that you were taking an antihistamine, should not preclude you from having surgery. You would need to have a full consultation with a plastic surgeon who could evaluate your overall health, and whether you were a good candidate for the procedures that you were considering. Best wishes.

Yes, many patients take Benadryl on a regular basis and can still have surgery. However, something like Benadryl should not be taken consistently on a long term basis.

A preoperative consultation is required, as with any other patient a preoperative assessment by an internal medicine specialist that checks on your lab work and medical history to make sure you are ready for your surgery. If you’re a good candidate for the procedure and ready for it, or if you require something else beforehand. Great thing you always are true in your preop evaluation, remember all of this is done having your safety first.

The first step is to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your interest in a Mommy Makeover and determine if you are a candidate. Your surgeon will review your medical history as well as medications that you take. Requiring antihistamines on a regular basis will not eliminate you from being a candidate. Your surgeon will advise which medications should be stopped and which are okay to continue as you prepare for surgery.

I suggest you contact your surgeon and ask them about any scheduled upcoming procedure and your medical history, including what medication you were currently taking.
I don’t think being on anti-histamines should prevent you from having surgery but I suggest you check with your provider.Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD