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Cosmetic surgery scar prevention
I had some cosmetic surgery five years ago at the age of 50. I was very slow to heal with bad bruising and scars for much longer than I had been promised. In spite of this, I am having another cosmetic procedure in November. Can you suggest any supplements and anything to help the skin that I could start taking now?
Whenever the word ‘cosmetic’ precedes the word surgery, people seem to think the effects of having an anaesthetic or being cut open are going to be less traumatic than when the surgery has been for medical reasons. The mind may be more relaxed about the procedure when you are going under the knife voluntarily, but to the body, it amounts to the same kind of serious trauma.
You will need to both boost your immune system before the operation and accelerate wound healing afterwards. You can also use natural remedies to minimise scarring. The kind of bruising you suffered before can easily be reduced by taking a high strength (200c) homeopathic preparation of Arnica. Take two homeopathic pills, three times a day, for two days before surgery and two days afterwards. Drop the pillules into the lid of the bottle and tip them directly under your tongue to avoid contamination by contact with your hands. Homeopathy can also help reduce the side-effects of an anaesthetic - and Ainsworths, London’s homeopathic pharmacy, makes a remedy called Mixed Anaesthetic to help the 25% of the population who do have a severe reaction.
Echinacea is now so popular it has become the best-selling immune-boosting remedy both sides of the Atlantic. I actually grew it in my garden for the first time this year and was amazed by how vigorous it was. It works by boosting the number of white blood cells, which help your body fight off infection, and by increasing the amount of interferon, a chemical that is crucial to a healthy immune response. I succumbed to the worst infection I have ever had on a hospital ward. To prevent the same happening to you, I suggest you start taking echinacea tincture for a week before your hospitalisation and for a week afterwards. It will lose its potency if you overuse it - so take 15 drops, two or three times a day for no more than 14 days in total.
You will also need to take a probiotic supplement to replenish the good bacteria in the gut which will be wiped out by the antibiotics - these have been shown to help counter 50% of the infections that are common after the use of antibiotics - and you may find aloe vera juice will help by soothing the lining of the digestive tract.
Certain foods will also help your body prepare for the shock of surgery, especially those that are rich in an amino acid called L-arginine. This stimulates the thymus gland, which in turn stores the infection-fighting T-lymphocytes or T-cells until they are needed to ward off disease. Ironically, levels of L-arginine drop during times of stress - but you can increase them again by eating more poultry and fish, which are excellent natural sources, and by taking a supplement.
To minimise scarring, I always recommend a product that was originally developed as an anti-wrinkle treatment. Rosa Mosqueta is made from the pressed seeds of the rosehip. Massage it into the skin once your surgical wound has healed.