How Drug and Alcohol Use Can Affect Your Plastic Surgery Results: What You Need to Know Before Going Under Anesthesia

By Your Health Magazine

Your Health Magazine

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How Drug and Alcohol Use Can Affect Your Plastic Surgery Results: What You Need to Know Before Going Under Anesthesia

Introduction: The Promise and The Risks

Plastic surgery is a major decision. It’s about reclaiming confidence, reshaping what makes you feel good, and starting a new chapter. But if you’re using drugs or alcohol, that new chapter can come with more hurdles than you expect.

Substance use affects every part of your body – from your heart to your liver to your immune system. When you combine that with surgery and anesthesia, it can change everything: the anesthesia dose you need, how well you heal, even the look of your results.

New Dawn Treatment Centers in Sacramento often sees people surprised by how intertwined addiction and surgery safety really are. Knowing the risks won’t scare you – it will empower you to make the best choices for your health.

Why Alcohol and Drugs Matter in Plastic Surgery

Anesthesia and Your Body

Anesthesia is a carefully controlled medical tool that puts you to sleep or numbs pain during surgery. Your anesthesiologist calculates doses based on your weight, medical history, and organ function. Drugs and alcohol complicate this by making your body unpredictable.

• Liver Function: Your liver processes both alcohol and anesthesia drugs. Regular heavy drinking can damage your liver, reducing its ability to break down anesthesia correctly. This means anesthesia can linger or be less effective, causing risks during surgery.
• Heart and Breathing: Drugs like cocaine, meth, and even heavy alcohol use can strain your heart, cause irregular rhythms, and interfere with breathing. Anesthesia also affects heart rate and respiration, so combining these makes your surgery riskier.
• Blood Thinning and Clotting: Alcohol thins your blood, increasing bleeding risks during surgery. Poor clotting means wounds take longer to heal and can reopen – a serious danger after plastic surgery.

Healing and Recovery Challenges

Plastic surgery requires healing time, and your body needs to be in good shape to repair surgical wounds:

• Immune Suppression: Alcohol and many drugs weaken your immune system. This slows healing and increases infection chances at the surgery sites.
• Nutrient Deficiencies: Substances often interfere with nutrition, dehydration, and sleep – all critical for recovery.
• Pain Medication Interactions: Post-surgery, you’ll likely use painkillers. Alcohol can dangerously interact with these, making side effects worse or reducing effectiveness.
• Longer Recovery: Using substances after surgery likely extends your healing time, delaying when you can enjoy your new look.

What Happens If You Don’t Stop Using Before Surgery?

Many people might not realize that even occasional drinking or drug use close to surgery day can cause problems.

• Severely increased risk of surgical complications, including cardiac arrest or breathing failure.
• Slowed anesthesia recovery, meaning you might spend more time groggy or with side effects in the hospital.
• Higher likelihood of bleeding, bruising, or infection.
• Possibility of withdrawal symptoms, like shakes or anxiety, if you suddenly stop drinking, which can interfere with your surgery.

Because of these dangers, most surgeons recommend you stop drinking alcohol at least 1 to 2 weeks before surgery – longer if you are a regular or heavy drinker – and discuss any drug use honestly with your surgical team.

What If You Continue Using After Surgery?

The days and weeks after plastic surgery are crucial. Using alcohol or drugs during this time can derail your results:

• Risk of post-op bleeding causing swelling, bruising, or wound breakdown.
• Infection risk rises as the immune system is weakened.
• Alcohol and drugs may reduce your ability to take prescribed medications safely.
• They may increase pain sensitivity, making your recovery more painful and longer.
• You risk poor scar formation or the surgical area not healing properly, ruining the cosmetic results you hoped for.

The Emotional and Psychological Side

Many turn to plastic surgery, hoping for a fresh start or to fix something on the outside. But addiction is often tied to deeper emotional struggles and mental health issues.

New Dawn Treatment Centers in Sacramento understands that mental health and addiction treatment go hand in hand with physical healing. Healing your body and mind together gives you the best shot at not only surviving surgery but thriving afterward.

Steps to Take Before You Schedule Surgery

1. Get honest about your substance use. Talk to both your surgeon and your treatment provider.
2. Seek treatment if needed. If you’re struggling with alcohol or drug use, centers like New Dawn Treatment Centers help you get clean before surgery, improving outcomes dramatically.
3. Prepare your body. Healthy eating, hydration, and rest all support healing.
4. Avoid alcohol and drugs for the recommended time frames.
5. Build a support system. Peer groups like AA or NA can provide community and accountability during this time.

Why Choose New Dawn Treatment Centers in Sacramento?

New Dawn treats addiction not as a side note but as a core part of your health journey. Their specialized programs help people prepare for life changes like surgery by:

• Offering comprehensive addiction and mental health care.
• Helping patients safely detox and recover before elective surgeries.
• Providing aftercare plans to keep you stable during and after your surgery.

With the help of New Dawn, many have successfully had plastic surgeries and come out healthier and cleaner on the other side of the experience.

Your Safety and Success Matter

Plastic surgery is about transformation, but true transformation happens when you care for your whole self. If you’re struggling with drugs or alcohol and thinking about plastic surgery, make your health the priority.

Waiting and seeking help today with New Dawn Treatment Centers in Sacramento can help you enjoy your new look safely and for years to come.

For support in your recovery journey, start with  alcohol treatment center Sacramento 

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