SURGERY PROGRAM FAQS
Indications/Contraindications
1. Who should use the Surgery Program?
2. Is the Surgery Program appropriate for an individual who has had gastric bypass surgery?
3. Who should not use the Surgery Program?
Product Benefits
4. What is the primary benefit of using the Surgery Program?
5. What makes VitaMedica’s Surgery Program product unique?
Product Formulation
6. What products comprise the VitaMedica Surgery Program?
Product Timing & Dosing
7. When do I begin taking and when do I stop taking the VitaMedica Surgery Program?
9. Why is the Surgery Program only a one-month program?
1. Who should use the Surgery Program? Any individual undergoing a cosmetic or reconstructive procedure can benefit from taking the Surgery Program. These procedures include liposuction, eyelid surgery, breast surgery, nose reshaping, forehead/face lift, and abdominal surgery. The Surgery Program is also beneficial for patients undergoing more aggressive peels such as a TCA or phenol peel.
2. Is the Surgery Program appropriate for an individual who has had gastric bypass surgery? Yes, but the dosing may need to be lowered to allow for the proper absorption of nutrients and to prevent gastrointestinal upset. Following gastric bypass surgery, many patients have a difficult time obtaining a sufficient quantity of the micronutrients (vitamins & minerals) required for good health. At the same time, a dramatically reduced stomach size makes it difficult to take certain supplements, especially tablets. This becomes important should the gastric bypass patient elect to have surgery down the road (e.g., body contouring), as nutrient deficiencies delay the healing process. For this reason, the Surgery Program is ideally suited for these patients. Even though the S is available in a tablet formulation, many gastric patients have been able to comfortably take the product system.
3. Who should not use the Surgery Program? Nutritional supplements have an excellent safety track record. However, certain individuals should seek the advice of their doctor before beginning any nutritional supplement program particularly diabetics and pregnant or lactating women. Please refer to the individual products which comprise the Surgery Program to determine the contraindications. See Clinical Support for Surgery, Bromelain with Quercetin and Arnica Montana 30X.
4. What is the primary benefit of using the Surgery Program? The Surgery Program is a comprehensive pre-operative and post-operative nutritional supplement system designed specifically for patients undergoing operative procedures. The Surgery Program provides nutrients to speed wound healing, support the immune system, prevent infection, minimize inflammation and reduce bruising.
5. What makes VitaMedica’s Surgery Program product unique? A combination of high-quality, targeted ingredients, at dosing levels that support healing. The targeted nutrients in the Surgery Program were selected based on extensive use of the best evidence and research, currently available in the nutritional science literature. What is unique about the Surgery Program is that it provides nearly all of the key nutrients that are beneficial for surgery in a single convenient kit. At the same time, it excludes those nutrients such as vitamin E, which should not be taken during the peri-operative period.
6. What products comprise the VitaMedica Surgery Program? The Surgery Program is comprised of three products: Clinical Support for Surgery, Bromelain with Quercetin and Arnica Montana 30X.
7. When do I begin taking and when do I stop taking the VitaMedica Surgery Program? The Surgery Program is begun 14 days prior to surgery and is continued 14 days following surgery (one month program). An instruction card provides detailed instructions are on how to take each of the products in the Surgery Program.
8. Why is it recommended that a patient stop taking all other nutritional supplements 14 days prior to and 14 days following surgery? While nutritional supplements are quite safe, the use of certain supplements around the time of surgery is not recommended. For example, considerable research has shown that vitamin E plays a role in the prevention of heart disease. Part of the reason for this, may lie in its ability to thin the blood. While this is a benefit overall, it can be problematic during surgery. Other supplements such as fish liver oil, ginkgo, garlic and ginseng also thin the blood, which in turn can promote bleeding. Supplements such as St. John’s Wort, while beneficial for mild depression, can intensify the anesthetic effect. Stopping all supplements 14 days prior to surgery provides enough time for these nutrients to be eliminated from the body. These supplements are not necessary 14 days following surgery because the Surgery Program provides all of the nutrients needed for healing and repairing the body.
9. Why is the Surgery Program only a one-month program? The Surgery Program includes nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Bromelain and Arnica Montana in appreciable amounts to optimize the surgical outcome. While these nutrients are beneficial during the peri-operative period, it is not recommended that they be used on a long-term basis or in such high dosages. Conversely, while the Surgery Program excludes certain nutrients such as Vitamin E, it makes sense to take this important fat-soluble antioxidant on a daily basis because it plays such an important role in the prevention of heart disease, cancer and stroke.
10. What other VitaMedica products can be used after the Surgery Program to maintain my surgical results and support overall health & wellness? The visible aspects of surgery, namely bruising and swelling, typically disappear after a few weeks. However, the body’s effort to repair and rebuild itself often extends 3-9 months following a surgical procedure. While the Surgery Program is intended to assist the healing process during the peri-operative period (2 weeks before and 2 weeks following surgery), a number of VitaMedica nutraceuticals are designed to provide the essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids required for long–term support after a surgical procedure. VitaMedica’s high-potency Multi-Vitamin & Mineral provides all of the essential vitamins & minerals necessary for optimal health and wellness. VitaMedica’s Omega-3 supplements, including Flax Seed Oil and Super EPA/DHA Fish Oil provide an excellent source of these important polyunsaturated fats. As the name implies, Broad Spectrum Antioxidant, provides a broad range of antioxidants to protect different organ systems from free-radical damage including the skin. And, DermalNutrients is a specialized protein powder that is fortified with dermal nutrients to support collagen & elastin development and to boost the immune system.