One of the most important things patients and plastic surgeons discuss during the pre-operative consultation is the patient’s use of medications, herbs, and vitamins. Certain products or common ingredients found in medications can increase the risk of complications during or after surgery. That is why plastic surgeons must take the time to review each patient’s medical history and review the types of medications that could potentially cause complications for cosmetic surgery patients. Here are a few reviews of how certain medicines, herbs, and vitamins can affect the patient, and some of the most common ones to avoid.
Poor Interaction with Anesthesia
Certain medications and herbs are known to react to the medicines used in anesthesia adversely. To prevent any complications during surgery, patients should avoid the following medicines before surgery:
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, doxepin, and desipramine
- Valerian
- St John’s Wort
- Kava
Poor Interaction with Pain Medication
Certain medications, herbs, and vitamins may interfere with the pain pills, antibiotics, and other medicines used after surgery. Since the use of the following products can increase your risk of infection and the efficacy of your pain medication, patients must avoid:
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, doxepin, and desipramine
- Echinacea
- Goldenseal
- Licorice
- St John’s Wort
- Kava
- Valerian
- Vitamin B-complex
Blood Thinning Properties
Several medications, herbs, and vitamins affect the blood and can increase your risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Patients should avoid the following medications before and after surgery:
- Anticoagulants such as Heparin and Warfarin
- Aspirin – Bayer and Bufferin
- NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex, Vioxx)
- Gingko Biloba
- Garlic
- Ginseng
- Fish Oils (Omega-3 fatty acids)
- Dong Quai
- Feverfew
Cardiovascular Effects
Patients that are taking any herbs or supplements that have a cardiovascular effect should discontinue use several weeks before surgery:
- Ephedra
- Garlic
Safe Pain Relief
Considering that NSAID and aspirin products should not be used during recovery, many patients want to know what medication is safe for pain relief after surgery. Acetaminophen products such as Tylenol are recommended and safe for use after surgery.
The medication lists that are featured above are by no means comprehensive. Patients should come to their pre-operative appointment with a list of medications, supplements, herbs, or vitamins they have taken in the past three years. We can then let you know if any of the products you have a history of taking could harm your surgery. We will also go over the list of medications, herbs, and vitamins that you should avoid before surgery. If you have taken any cause for concern, we will request that you halt their use for a few weeks before and after surgery. If it is not safe for you to stop your medication, you may not be considered the right candidate for surgery.
*The content in this blog is developed to spread the awareness towards plastic surgery. Our blog is not intended to serve as a replacement for an actual in-office consultation with Dr. Marin. As such, the information within this blog reflects the unique cases of our individual patients.
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