THE GUTHRIE GUIDE • Expert Answers from dr. ashley guthrie
Can You Continue Peptides Before & After Surgery?
DR. GUTHRIE EXPLAINS
Should You Stop Peptides Before Surgery?
Peptides have become one of the most common supplements patients ask about before surgery. In this video, board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Ashley Guthrie explains why she generally recommends pausing them during the perioperative period and how that recommendation helps minimize unnecessary variables that could affect healing. View the full video transcript below.
key takeaways:
- Peptides have not been well studied in relation to plastic surgery.
- Product quality and sourcing can vary significantly.
- Some surgeons have observed anecdotal healing concerns.
- Dr. Guthrie recommends pausing peptides before and after surgery whenever it's medically appropriate.
- Recommendations may evolve as more scientific research becomes available.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
In Dr. Ashley Guthrie's Words
"Here's a question I get on an almost daily basis now for my patients who are getting prepped for their surgery: can I continue my peptides in the pre- and post-op period?"
On why patients use peptides:
"Many of my patients are very health-conscious. They eat well, they exercise, and they're frequently on various supplements, which now include injectable peptides. People tend to get very attached to these supplements and peptides because they feel like they're helping them feel better and look better. I have no issue with that whatsoever. I think it's wonderful to take care of yourself, and if that's well for you then that's great."
On the research gap:
"However, peptides have not been very well studied in a scientific way, especially not in relation to surgery, and definitely not in relation to plastic surgery. Also, the sourcing of these peptides is not always very clear. I'm not always sure that we are guaranteed what's exactly in your peptide or what exactly it is doing in your body, despite what a lot of the claims are for them.""Here's a question I get on an almost daily basis now for my patients who are getting prepped for their surgery: can I continue my peptides in the pre- and post-op period?"
On what she's seeing anecdotally:
"Amongst colleagues there are definitely some anecdotal reports of some strange complications or healing issues in patients taking peptides. It's hard to prove that they're beneficial. It's also hard to prove that they're problematic, and therein lies the issue I have with them, particularly in relation to surgery."
On controlling variables during surgery:
"When I operate on someone, I want to be able to control every variable that I can control. There are some things that are not in my control, like your particular tissue quality, your skin quality, any underlying medical conditions you have, any prior surgeries you've had, any prior procedures you've had, and just in general how your body tends to heal. Those things can really impact your results."
On her general recommendation:
"For me, anything I can control, I want to control. If you're on supplements that thin your blood, like vitamin E, turmeric, and fish oils, and you can safely stop those, I want you off of those so I can reduce that risk of bleeding or excessive bruising. I feel the same way about peptides, because I have not seen enough well-designed research showing that they are safe, or even any studies including them in the perioperative period. I'm going to recommend, in general, that you stop them."
On the future:
"This may change in the future as peptides continue to be studied. I may in the future require my patients to be on them, but I think the safe thing for now is to take a short break from them when you are having plastic surgery. I want to be able to control all the variables that I can control to give you the best and safest result possible."
PEPTIDES & SURGERY
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stop taking peptides before plastic surgery?
Dr. Ashley Guthrie generally recommends pausing peptides during the pre- and post-op period. She notes that peptides have not been well studied in relation to surgery, and pausing them helps her control variables that affect healing and results.
Why do doctors ask patients to stop peptides before surgery?
Peptide sourcing and effects on the body are not always well documented, and there is limited research on how they interact with the surgical healing process. Some surgeons, including Dr. Ashley Guthrie, have heard anecdotal reports of unusual healing complications in patients taking peptides.
Will I always need to stop peptides before surgery?
Not necessarily. Dr. Ashley Guthrie notes that as more research is done on peptides, her recommendation could change in the future.
What other supplements are commonly paused before surgery?
Dr. Ashley Guthrie mentions blood-thinning supplements like vitamin E, turmeric, and fish oil as other examples of substances she asks patients to pause when it's safe to do so, in order to reduce bleeding and bruising risk.
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Dr. Ashley Guthrie is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon at Guthrie Facial Plastic Surgery in Brentwood, Tennessee, serving patients throughout the greater Nashville area.
