Before you undergo any type of cosmetic surgery, your surgeon is going to recommend that you not drink any alcohol at least 48 hours before your procedure and for several days after your procedure. 

But why is it that you should stay away from alcohol before and after cosmetic surgery? There are six good reasons actually. 

If you will be undergoing an invasive procedure at top plastic surgery clinic such as Academy Face and Body, you will require a general anaesthetic. Before your surgery is carried out, an anaesthetist will need to determine what dosage to give you. Alcohol can make the anaesthetic less effective, which means your anaesthetist may not provide you with enough sedatives. If your surgeon knows that you’ve been drinking before your surgery, your procedure may be cancelled. 

In most surgical procedures, there will be some blood loss and because alcohol thins your blood, chances are you will experience excessive blood loss during your procedure. When your blood is thinner, it will also make it more difficult for your wounds to heal, which leads to further complications such as scarring and infection. 

One of the main reasons why people pursue cosmetic surgery is to look younger but it’s important to keep in mind that the results of your surgery can be undone if you consume alcohol in excess. Alcohol dehydrates your skin, which can make you look a lot older than you really are.

It’s only natural to want to see the results of your surgery as soon as possible but there is going to be some swelling after your procedure, which means you will need to wait for it to subside. By drinking during your recovery, you could experience increased swelling, so you may end up having to wait longer to see your results. Increased swelling also leads to physical pain.

Your surgeon will more than likely provide you with pain medication and antibiotics after your procedure to aid in your recovery. Alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of these essential medications and lead to side effects such as vomiting, breathy difficulties, headaches and heart problems. Rather finish the medication you need to take before you consume any alcohol.

Most patients want to have a short recovery period because it means they can get back to work, exercising and their usual routines. In order for your recovery to be as quick as possible, you need your immune system to be strong. Alcohol is known to have negative effects on the autoimmune system, which will end up increasing your recovery period.

If you want to achieve optimal results, it’s important to carefully follow all of your surgeon’s pre and post-surgery instructions. You also don’t want to risk your surgery being cancelled if you decide to drink prior to your procedure.