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BREAST FRIENDS
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
Many women take some sort of multi-vitamin or herbal supplement, but most do not think to share this information with their surgeon and anesthesiologist before their surgery. After all, these are just common over the counter supplements and don’t count as medications, right?
False!
People either forget to mention the supplements they take, or they are in fear of being ridiculed by their physician. The fact is, your doctors need to know everything you are taking so they can ensure you a safe and efficient road to recovery. After your augmentation, your surgeon will let you know when it’s safe to resume your vitamin and supplement regime. Why is fish oil or licorice so bad? They are not bad – but they can also have dangerous side effects, such as increase in bleeding, raise blood pressure, or alter your sugar levels. Talk to your doctor, but the best advice is to stop all supplements and vitamins three weeks before your surgery, to give them time to clear out of your body.
Do:
Take a specialty multi-vitamin specifically designed for pre and post-surgery patients, containing nutrients that aid in the healing process and reduce bruising. Ask Dr. Vitenas which ones are right for you.
Don’t:
Don’t take any Aspirin, Advil, Motrin, BC Powders, etc… before your procedure, these are blood thinners and can increase your risk of bleeding. Don’t take any medications without your surgeon’s approval.
Also, avoid any other over-the-counter supplements; these are just a few examples:
- Chromium
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Fish oil
- Echinacea
- Ginseng
- Kava-kava
- St. John’s Wart
All of these items have an effect on your platelet formation, which is your first line of defense to stop bleeding when you are cut. A single aspirin or Advil will render all of the platelets in your body useless and non-functional. You turn over your platelets every ten days, so once you have taken an aspirin you have to wait for ten days to have normal platelet formation again.
