TUESDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) -- Herbal supplement use is common among patients undergoing facial cosmetic surgery, especially in females and older patients, according to a study published in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Samantha J. Zwiebel, from the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and colleagues retrospectively reviewed the charts of 200 patients (age 15 years and older) undergoing facial cosmetic surgery performed by a single surgeon. Patients were classified based on supplement use as supplement users (herbal group) and supplement nonusers (nonherbal group).
The researchers found that 49 percent of patients used supplements, including 24.5 percent who used only vitamins or minerals; 2.5 percent who used only animal- and plant-based (nonvitamin/mineral) supplements; and 22 percent who used both types. An average of 2.8 supplements were used by patients in the herbal group. The herbal group comprised significantly more females (89.8 percent, versus 77.5 percent in the nonherbal group) and those in the herbal group were significantly older (51.4 versus 38.5 years).
"Considering the potential ill effects of these products on surgery and recovery, awareness and careful documentation and prohibiting the patients from the consumption of these products will increase the safety and reduce the recovery following cosmetic procedures," the authors write.
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