Supplement accelerates healing after plastic surgery

A study of patients who underwent plastic surgery procedures found that those who took a certain herbal supplement healed 17% faster than those who did not, according to a July 1, 2004, news release from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The supplement ingredients were

* bromelain--an anti-inflammatory agent that helps heal minor injuries and reduce postoperative swelling;

* vitamin C--a vitamin that may speed healing of various types of wounds and trauma;

* rutin--a flavonoid that helps vitamin C maintain healthy collagen by strengthening capillaries and regulating their permeability; and

* grape seed extract--an extract that may help vitamin C enter cells, thus strengthening cell membranes.

Eighty-two percent of study participants who took the supplements during the early phase of the heating process experienced accelerated soft-tissue wound heating compared to participants who received a placebo. Physicians observed decreased redness in the wounds of participants who took the supplements, which indicates that the supplements affected the inflammatory process. All the ingredients in the supplements are antioxidants, which enhance cellular stability and decrease swelling.

Despite the apparent success of this supplement combination in decreasing wound heating time, the researchers do not yet know which is the active ingredient or whether the ingredients depend on each other to be effective. Patients should exercise caution when taking any supplements and should tell their surgeons about any medications and herbal supplements they currently are taking.