Taking daily vitamins can boost your health. But in the weeks before undergoing plastic surgery, they can prove harmful.

Cosmetic plastic surgery procedures are on the rise, with more than 1.6 million performed in 2013 according to figures released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. If you’re planning to undergo plastic surgery in the coming months, know that your results highly depend upon your preparation. Jacksonville’s Parkway Plastic Surgery offers these tips to help assure a smooth and safe procedure, minimize recovery time and boost the procedure’s effectiveness.

1. Adopt a nutritious diet: Make sure your diet is rich in protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, copper and selenium, as well as plenty of water. Each of these plays a vital role in wound healing and in building the immune system, thereby reducing the chance of infection.
2. Nix bad habits: Smoking and drinking alcohol are two primary culprits in unhealthy, prematurely aged skin. Plus, they can seriously hinder your plastic surgery results. Alcohol suppresses the immune system and smoking reduces the supply of oxygen to your body’s cells, boosting the risk of complications during surgery and inhibiting wound healing. For the best results, break these habits for good at least two weeks prior to your surgery.
3. Discontinue certain medications and supplements: Aspirin is an anticoagulant, which means that it thins the blood. This can lead to excessive bleeding during your procedure and can be dangerous. Natural supplements like dong quai, Echinacea, fish oil, ginger, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, St. Johns Wort and vitamin E also are problematic as they can cause adverse reactions during or after surgery. Potential issues include prolonged bleeding, interference with anesthesia, cardiovascular disturbances and interaction with prescription drugs.
4. Minimize stress: High-level stress is proven to decrease immune system functioning and can lead to poor surgical outcomes. Minimize yours by making relaxation a priority in the weeks leading up to and following your surgery. Take long walks, meditate or simply spend some downtime with friends and loved ones as your surgery date approaches. And make sure you’ve lined up help with daily activities like household chores and errand running during your healing period.

If you’re considering a surgical cosmetic procedure, call Jacksonville’s Parkway Plastic Surgery at 904-396-1186 to schedule an initial consultation today.

More than 6.3 million Botox injections were performed nationwide last year.

Statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that some 6.3 million Botox injections were administered to patients nationwide in 2013. This figure reflects a 700-percent increase since 2000. Despite the numbers that prove Botox a highly effective, safe and popular option for smoother, tighter, younger looking skin, a myriad of myths and misconceptions persists. Jacksonville’s Parkway Plastic Surgery sets the record straight on three of the most common:

1. Botox freezes your face, rendering it expressionless: This arguably is the most persistent and least valid claim. To the contrary, Botox does not freeze your muscles. Rather, it simply relaxes them. To allow muscles to contract, your nerves release a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine at the junction where the nerve endings meet muscle cells. Acetylcholine attaches to muscle cell receptors, causing them to contract or shorten. Injected Botox works to hinder this chemical release, reducing abnormal contraction and allowing the muscle to remain relaxed and less stiff. You’re still able to express a full range of emotions, but the typical resulting crease is diminished.
2. Botox is a dangerous toxin: Formally known as botulinum toxin type A, Botox is indeed toxic in large amounts. But the amount of purified and diluted Botox approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in cosmetic procedures is extremely minimal – not nearly enough to be problematic. In fact, Botox also is medically prescribed to treat a range of conditions from muscle spasms to chronic migraines.
3. Botox is addictive: Botox has no chemically addictive qualities. Patients who love their Botox results return regularly. But once they stop, their skin and muscles return to their baseline condition. In fact, studies show that regular and responsible use of Botox actually enhances patients’ psychological well-being.

Don’t let baseless myths and misconceptions rob you of a younger, healthier and more vibrant look. Call Jacksonville’s Parkway Plastic Surgery at 904-396-1186 to schedule a consultation today.

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Call today to make your appointment. Offers end 1/31/15

Parkway Plastic Surgery

904-396-1186