How soon prior to surgery should I start taking arnica & eat pineapple? Can I continue to take C, D, probiotics & zinc?

Hello! The use of supplements with surgery can help with recovery. They may decrease bruising, swelling and inflammation and promote collagen formation and tissue repair. Although there are no strict rules, the Vitamin C,D, zinc and Bromelain can be started 3-7 days before surgery and continued for 1 month. Arnica can be started the night before surgery and continued for a couple of weeks. I hope this helps.Dr. D. Motakis

I am not aware that there is a proven fixed schedule to begin consuming arnica and pineapple to minimize bruising prior to a facelift and brow lift. I would assume you could start approximately one week prior to the surgery and you should be fine. All of the remaining supplements that you suggested can also be continued up until the time of your surgery unless your surgeon specifically wishes you to stop one. Obviously you will need to not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery so that there is no food in your stomach at the time of your surgery. Best wishes.

Every doctor has a different regimen with certain dietary or vitamin supplements. You should follow the surgeon’s directions as far as using these.

Although some surgeons still sell them, or speak highly about them, homeopathic remedies have no place in medicine. Arnica does nothing, as proven by many well designed studies. As for the rest, supplements have shown to have limited to no value either in wellness. Most recently, two well designed prospective randomized studies that enrolled thousands of individuals and followed them for almost a decade showed no clinical value in taking vitamin D and/or omega 3 fatty acids. The truth is that the multibillion dollar supplement industry has no scientific evidence to justify its existence.

Hello and thank you for your question. You can start 1-2 weeks prior to surgery and continue for 3 weeks post operatively. Bromeline is the supplement that is in pineapple so you can take this or eat up on pineapple :)

You should discuss what medications, supplements, and vitamins you are taking, both prescription and over the counter, with your plastic surgeon and have him or her decide what you should and should not be taking. Your surgeon should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) ) or the Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (CSAPS).


Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California

Its always best to ask your operative surgeon, but most people take Arnica and pineapple starting the day after the surgery. Anticipate two weeks of visible bruising and swelling after a lower face and neck lift procedure whether taking arnica or pineapple. More importantly is to study your prospective surgeon's before and after facelift photo gallery to ensure that you are going to get an excellent long-term result

Taking arnica as well as eating pineapple is more of an anecdotal than the scientific proof that it decreases bruising. But I have had many patients who have taken both or either and have had decrease in bruising. Starting the day after surgery is probably the most convenient and practical way to take them..