If you’re planning facial plastic surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute (aka Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery) wants to make sure your experience is a positive one. That means taking every necessary safety precaution, including eliminating certain medications and supplements in the months leading up to your procedure. Many medications and dietary or herbal supplements can remain in your body for weeks and may interact with other medications and anesthesia required at the time of your surgery. A negative reaction between two drugs could put your health or life at risk.

It's imperative that you tell your surgeon about any medications or supplements you're taking prior to your facial plastic surgery. Jacksonville's Garcia Institute can advise you.

For your safety, be sure you tell your Jacksonville facial plastic surgeon about all prescription and over-the-counter medications, dietary and herbal supplements and recreational drugs you have taken in the six months prior to your scheduled facial plastic surgery. Jacksonville-area patients are advised to avoid all types of aspirin and ibuprofen for two weeks prior to your procedure. Both of these medications are temporary blood thinners and thus can cause excessive bleeding during your surgery. If you need a pain reliever, ask your plastic surgeon if it’s okay to take acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Acetaminophen may be safer because it does not interfere with blood clotting.

If you have been prescribed antidepressant medications, make sure tell your surgeon immediately. Antidepressants and other drugs classified as MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors can negatively react to anesthesia. Telling your Jacksonville plastic surgeon and your anesthesiologist early allows them to make necessary adjustments and keep an extra cautions eye out for any potential problems.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because herbal remedies are naturally derived they are safe. St. John’s wort, a popular natural supplement believed to help treat depression and premenstrual syndrome, is known to interact with anesthesia. St. Johns Wort, ginseng and Ginkgo Biloba can increase bleeding. Ephedra and kava can affect blood pressure and heart rate and interfere with anesthetic medications, and kava in particular can intensify anesthesia’s sedation effects. Echinacea can contribute to allergic reactions.

The Garcia Institute’s Drs. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia also strongly recommend that you not smoke cigarettes for at least two weeks before and two weeks after your facial plastic surgery. Jacksonville patients who do not smoke heal quicker and have less noticeable scarring than do patients who continue smoking.

If you’re considering facial plastic surgery, contact Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute for a consultation today.