Nips, tucks and herbs
To true devotees of the pursuit of beauty, the recipe for retaining youth and gorgeousness appears to involve tinkering with what's inside as well as what's outside. A newly published survey has found that 55% of cosmetic surgery patients take herbal supplements, compared with only 24% of similar people not undergoing surgery.
UCLA researchers said they worried that these supplements, in rare cases, might add to the complications of surgery. Published in this month's issue of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the report also found surgeons performing such surgeries are frequently unaware of the supplements' effects, or even that their patients are taking them.
The study compared 100 adults (95 women and five men) older than 40 who went to UCLA for cosmetic plastic surgery treatments with 100 adults of a similar gender distribution who were not getting cosmetic surgery. Subjects were asked about 13 herbs and supplements that are either top sellers or have the greatest potential to cause complications after surgery.
The researchers found that the most commonly used herbs and supplements were ephedra (18%), chondroitin (18%), echinacea (14%) and glucosamine (10%). All 55 of the surgery patients taking herbs used at least two supplements, and at least one every day.
"In one sense it seems ironic that something like taking a natural substance is being used by people getting plastic surgery," said Dr. James Bradley, associate professor of surgery at UCLA, and one of the study's authors. "But when you look at it carefully, that population is looking for self-improvement. They are using both herbs and plastic surgery to rejuvenate themselves."
Cosmetic surgery patients were also more likely to do yoga, get acupuncture, practice meditation and see chiropractors, according to the study.
Bradley said he and his colleagues undertook the survey because they found that many of their plastic surgery patients took herbs and supplements but neglected to inform their surgeons before having face-lifts, breast augmentations and abdominoplasties.
The study also surveyed 50 surgeons and found they were only familiar with the side effects of one herb, ephedra. (Ephedra has been taken off the market since the survey was completed because it can cause high blood pressure and strokes.)
