danya
July 5th, 2004, 08:27 AM
Fictional 'Magic' Pill Might Be Medical Reality: Plastic Surgery Patients Heal Faster With Nutritional Supplements
(press release from ASPS)
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., July 1 -- 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(r), the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In fact, the study found patients healed 17 percent faster by taking a special mixture of bromelain, vitamin C, rutin and grape seed extract.
Check out beautysurg.com healing supplements now. (http://shop.beautysurg.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1397&HS=1)
"We were completely surprised that this combination of supplements actually reduced the recovery time for our patients," said Rod Rohrich, MD, ASPS president and co-author of the study. "Based on our 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."
"Previously, it would generally take 18 days for a patient to recover from a plastic surgery procedure, such as a facelift," said James Chao, MD, ASPS member and co-author of the study. "By taking these supplements right after the procedure, patients can fully heal in just 15 days."
In the study, 82 percent of the participants benefited from taking the special mixture of herbal supplements during the early phase of the healing process, which accelerated the soft-tissue wound healing compared with subjects who received the placebo.
Doctors Rohrich and Chao observed decreased redness in the wound for subjects receiving the supplement, indicating that the supplement ************tail more than likely changed the inflammatory process. As with all wounds, if the wound stays inflamed longer, it takes longer to heal. All of the herbal supplements included in the mixture are antioxidants, which enhance cellular stability and decrease swelling.
The herbal ************tail consisted of four main ingredients:
-- Bromelain: An anti-inflammatory agent, bromelain helps heal minor injuries, including sprains, strains and muscle injuries. Bromelain has been found to dramatically reduce postoperative swelling.
-- Vitamin C: Preliminary studies suggest vitamin C supplements in non-deficient people can speed healing of various types of wounds and trauma, including surgery, minor injuries, herniated intervertebral disks and skin ulcers.
-- Rutin: This ingredient assists vitamin C to maintain healthy collagen by strengthening capillaries and regulating their permeability.
-- Grape seed extract: Similar to pine bark extract, some evidence indicates the extract helps vitamin C enter cells, thus strengthening the cell membranes.
Patients need to be extremely careful when considering taking these supplements, according to Dr. Rohrich. Although this study strongly indicates the particular mixture used for the study decreases healing time, doctors 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, all oral herbal supplements are not the same, according to Dr. Chao, who stated 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.
"Many patients don't realize that herbal supplements may not only not help the healing process but actually hinder it," said Dr. Rohrich. "Fish oil and aspirin are two common 'medications' many patients take without realizing they can cause excess bleeding, extend healing time and create additional complications."
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," said Dr. Rohrich. "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."
Check out beautysurg.com healing supplements now. (http://shop.beautysurg.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1397&HS=1)
(press release from ASPS)
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., July 1 -- 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(r), the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In fact, the study found patients healed 17 percent faster by taking a special mixture of bromelain, vitamin C, rutin and grape seed extract.
Check out beautysurg.com healing supplements now. (http://shop.beautysurg.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1397&HS=1)
"We were completely surprised that this combination of supplements actually reduced the recovery time for our patients," said Rod Rohrich, MD, ASPS president and co-author of the study. "Based on our 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."
"Previously, it would generally take 18 days for a patient to recover from a plastic surgery procedure, such as a facelift," said James Chao, MD, ASPS member and co-author of the study. "By taking these supplements right after the procedure, patients can fully heal in just 15 days."
In the study, 82 percent of the participants benefited from taking the special mixture of herbal supplements during the early phase of the healing process, which accelerated the soft-tissue wound healing compared with subjects who received the placebo.
Doctors Rohrich and Chao observed decreased redness in the wound for subjects receiving the supplement, indicating that the supplement ************tail more than likely changed the inflammatory process. As with all wounds, if the wound stays inflamed longer, it takes longer to heal. All of the herbal supplements included in the mixture are antioxidants, which enhance cellular stability and decrease swelling.
The herbal ************tail consisted of four main ingredients:
-- Bromelain: An anti-inflammatory agent, bromelain helps heal minor injuries, including sprains, strains and muscle injuries. Bromelain has been found to dramatically reduce postoperative swelling.
-- Vitamin C: Preliminary studies suggest vitamin C supplements in non-deficient people can speed healing of various types of wounds and trauma, including surgery, minor injuries, herniated intervertebral disks and skin ulcers.
-- Rutin: This ingredient assists vitamin C to maintain healthy collagen by strengthening capillaries and regulating their permeability.
-- Grape seed extract: Similar to pine bark extract, some evidence indicates the extract helps vitamin C enter cells, thus strengthening the cell membranes.
Patients need to be extremely careful when considering taking these supplements, according to Dr. Rohrich. Although this study strongly indicates the particular mixture used for the study decreases healing time, doctors 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, all oral herbal supplements are not the same, according to Dr. Chao, who stated 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.
"Many patients don't realize that herbal supplements may not only not help the healing process but actually hinder it," said Dr. Rohrich. "Fish oil and aspirin are two common 'medications' many patients take without realizing they can cause excess bleeding, extend healing time and create additional complications."
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," said Dr. Rohrich. "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."
Check out beautysurg.com healing supplements now. (http://shop.beautysurg.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1397&HS=1)