Study Shows Plastic Surgery Patients Heal Faster With Nutritional Supplements!

August 13, 2004 -- Study Shows Plastic Surgery Patients Heal Faster With Nutritional Supplements!

In Alice in Wonderland, one pill made Alice larger while another pill made her small. Today, Alice could take one herbal supplement pill after having plastic surgery and recuperate faster than without it, according to a study published in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In fact, the study found patients healed 17% faster by taking a special mixture of bromelain, vitamin C, rutin and grape seed extract.

“I am sure some plastic surgeons were completely surprised that this combination of supplements actually reduced the recovery time for patients,” says Dr. Sam Speron, plastic surgery expert and consumer advocate. All of the herbal supplements included in the mixture are antioxidants, which enhance cellular stability and decrease swelling. As plastic surgeons, our goal is always to promote safety first and be the voice of reason. Based on these findings, plastic surgeons can provide an even greater proactive approach to caring for patients and ensuring a greater degree of success to help their wounds heal. Patients still need to be extremely careful when considering taking any supplements, however. Doctors still need to do more research and do not yet know which ingredient is the active ingredient or if they rely on each other to be effective. Also, while all of the herbal mixture’s ingredients are generally recognized as safe by the FDA, patients should never take large amounts of any supplement. In addition, some supplements have been shown to be dangerous to surgical patients and cause more bleeding and complications, such as Ginko and St John’s Wort. Fish oil and aspirin are other two common medications many patients take without realizing they can cause excess bleeding, extend healing time and create additional complications.”

Sam can outline to your audience the reasons why you may want to take some vitamins and herbal supplements with your cosmetic surgery but be careful:

-All oral herbal supplements are not the same because there is a lack of standardization of the active ingredients because they are not FDA regulated. Although people can buy these products at nutrition stores, there are differences between brands and even individual bottles from the same company.
-Due to these inconsistencies and potential hazards, patients should communicate to their plastic surgeons what current medications and herbal supplements they are taking, as well as other health problems. In addition, patients should never rely on unscientific anecdotal claims to decide which supplements they want to take. Only supplements that have been scientifically shown to work and are recommended by your plastic surgeon should be taken.
-This study is a bridge towards discovering if any of these individual supplements have merit separately or combined together.
-Only through further study can we discover how these antioxidants work to shorten recovery time for patients. Until more information is known, patients should always work with their plastic surgeons to determine if and what kind of supplements are right for them.
-Many qualified and reputable plastic surgeons currently use Arnica for their cosmetic surgery patients to decrease bruising and swelling. This can make the recovery process easier and more enjoyable.

Sam Speron is widely recognized as a leading expert on plastic surgery. Dr. Speron’s educational efforts have received critical acclaim from the media from around the country including national TV (MD TV), local TV (multiple CBS Channel 2 10PM special reports, multiple appearances on “This week with Dr. Breen”), national radio (“The Paul Harvey show” on WGN radio), local radio (“The Joe Gentile Show” on WJJG on AM-1530), newspapers (Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago Business, Daily Herald) and magazines (Complete Woman, Chicago Magazine, Living Life, Medical Economics, The Lutheran).



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