Breast Augmentation and Recovery. Everyone says stay off fat burners for 3 weeks before and after breast augmentation. Why?

Medicines like amphetamines could increase the heart rate during surgery and make it difficult for anesthesia to control your heart rate. I allow my patients to resume supplements 5 days after surgery. Always best to check with your surgeon's protocol.Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author

Hi XiaoBaiTu,

I understand your concern. However, medications have certain effects pre and post operatively and should be closely monitored by your plastic surgeon. It is best that you discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon as every surgeon has different pre/ post operative preferences and preparations. Make sure your surgeon knows what medications you are currently taking before undergoing breast augmentation surgery.

Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

There’s not much known about how far burners interacts with anesthesia drugs, but any supplement that potentially increases you temperature should be stopped before surgery.

All medications including prescription, over the counter, and supplements need to be discussed with your surgeon. This is for your safety. Many have side effects that you may not be familiar with that can interfere with surgery or recovery.

There are many products that can contribute to bleeding and bruising.  It is always best to discuss any OTC medications or supplements you may be taking before scheduling your surgery date to make sure certain products are out of your system before, during and after surgery. 

are not contraindications to surgery and there is not strict rule about its use around procedures.  If you're using diet pills such as Phentermine, those drugs affect the anesthetics used and should be stopped 3 weeks prior and may be resumed post-op when cleared with your surgeon.  As for OTC medications, your surgeon should be able to tell you what you can and cannot use but as you're already seeing here, every surgeon has their own guidelines.  In my practice, stopping a week prior and starting up a week post-op is good enough.

The ingredients in fat burners typically increase your heart rate and temperature, which can affect post operative bleeding after surgery, as well as anesthesia during surgery. Each office is different, but we suggest to stop the supplements a week before surgery and the week after surgery.

One of the issues with fat burners before and after surgery is that they are a stimulant so they're going to raise your heart rate and blood pressure. This not only is going to make it more difficult to control these things during surgery, but it will also increase your risk of bleeding after surgery. The second problem is that many fat burners have a "proprietary" blend of things in them. Because there may be other herbs in there that will further increase your risk of bleeding, it's best to stop them around surgery.Best,~Dr. Sieber