Salicylates are compounds derived from salicylic acid (what people commonly use to fight acne) and are used to kill pain, reduce fevers, and decrease inflammation. Aspirin, which you likely have in your own medicine cabinet, is a salicylate. This drug offers many medical benefits, but when taken close to your surgery date, it can cause problems.
Why salicylates are harmful before breast augmentation surgery
Salicylates thin the blood and prevent blood clotting in the blood stream. This is something you don’t want in the operating room. Blood clots can be lifesaving because they stop bleeding. Modern surgical techniques limit the amount of bleeding your body will undergo in surgery, but your bloodstream’s ability to clot is imperative to your safety during a breast augmentation, or any surgery for that matter.
Medications and foods to avoid before plastic surgery
Below is a list of food products and drugs containing salicylates that you should avoid ingesting prior to breast implant surgery. If you are actively consuming any of the following, consult your doctor before surgery. (When consulting with your surgeon, you should make sure to mention any and all medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements that you take regularly. This includes all over-the-counter medications.)
Foods Containing Salicylates
- Almonds
- Apples
- Apricots
- Blackberries
- Boysenberries
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cherries
- Chinese Black Beans
- Cucumbers
- Currants
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Grapes
- Olives
- Oranges
- Pickles
- Pineapples
- Plums
- Prunes
- Radishes
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Wine
- Worcestershire Sauce
Drugs Containing Salicylates
- Amigesic (salsalate)
- Disalcid (salsalate)
- Doan's (magnesium salicylate)
- Dolobid (diflunisal)
- Magsal
- Pamprin (Maximum Pain Relief)
- Mobigesic
- Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate)
- Salflex (salsalate)
- Salsalate
- Salsitab (salsalate)
- Trilisate (choline salicylate + magnesium salicylate)
