What Women Should Know about Breast Implants and Cannabis

marijuana breast implant surgery

The cosmetic surgery industry is massive: it’s predicted to be worth $66.96 billion come 2026, and there are no signs it’s going to slow down anytime soon.

After all, if you have the money, why wouldn’t you get cosmetic surgery? For as long as you also are in good health and are completely aware of any risks of the procedure, go ahead. For women, breast augmentation surgery is the number 1 cosmetic surgery in the United States. Data shows that in 2018, it was conducted over 300,000 times nationwide.

And in a majority of cases, one surgery won’t mean the final surgery: with breast augmentation for example, this requires a replacement less than a decade after the first surgery. So with all that is at stake, it’s important for women to come in the operating room prepared.

Proper preparation for breast augmentation requires many things, including a rethinking of your cannabis consumption habits.

Before Breast Augmentation Surgery

If you consume CBD or cannabis in any shape or form, tell your plastic surgeon about it as early as possible. Your doctor, who should be a Board Certified surgeon, may or may not approve of its use. Depending on your doctor’s reaction, you may want to go with a reputable cosmetic surgeon who is also knowledgeable and supportive of cannabis use the right way for your procedure. Keep in mind that your doctor’s views may also be influenced by the fact that cannabis is still illegal in your state.

According to Dr. Nathan Castillo of Atlanta, Georgia, patients should “refrain from smoking marijuana at least 4-6 weeks before surgery.” Studies have shown that cannabis or CBD consumed before major surgery could result in some complications during the procedure. And considering that ANY surgery already poses some risks of its own even though you are completely healthy, you don’t want to jeopardize it by smoking pot right before surgery.

Sure, we do know that cannabis can calm your nerves. It’s totally normal to feel anxious before surgery especially if it’s your first. But toking before surgery is just one of those rare situations where it’s better to abstain and wait until the procedure is completely finished.

The same goes for CBD: since CBD does relax the body through vasodilation, this can cause blood pressure failure and a spike in heart rate during surgery. It should also be noted that cannabis tends to slow down the flow of oxygen throughout the body, which can slow down the healing process especially if present during surgery.

Anesthesia Plan

Though cannabis use itself will not affect the outcome of your cosmetic surgery, it can have an effect on how much anesthesia you’d be needing. Studies have shown that cannabis users require more anesthesia for surgery. No matter how you consume, it will have an impact on your body’s reaction to anesthesia.

If you don’t disclose to your surgeon that you’re a cannabis user, they could easily underestimate how much you would be needing in order to be fully sedated for the procedure and for you to stay asleep and comfortable. And the reason why you should abstain from cannabis for as long as possible before surgery is that more anesthesia means more risk for complications, arising from decreased blood pressure, or a slower awakening from the sedation.

After Surgery / Follow-Up Care

Your doctor can also advise you when you can resume cannabis consumption after the surgery has been completed, and how much you can take. In most cases, it’s safe to consume both THC and CBD after breast implant surgery especially since it would help reduce inflammation and manage the post-operative pain.

However, you may want to be selective about your chosen method of consumption. Even if you’re a seasoned cannabis smoker, you might want to opt for edibles, tinctures, or sublingual oils to help with follow-up care. When you cough after a toke, this will cause your abdominal and chest muscles to become tense, and this may have unforeseen complications if you have just had a breast augmentation surgery. Besides, tinctures and edibles will be able to mitigate the pain for much longer (hours) compared to smoking (half an hour or an hour).

Following surgery, cannabis and CBD oil can promote restful sleep which is necessary to help speed up wound healing. Breast implant surgery can be extremely painful for the first few days, and in some cases it can be too much to even get some decent shut eye. CBD is also rich in anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce the healing around the operated area, while boosting your immune system.

What To Do Before Your Breast Implant Surgery

It’s completely normal to be worried about your procedure, but don’t let that overtake your decision to consume before your surgery. The risks outweigh the rewards. According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, preoperative fasting requires that patients scheduled to undergo surgery should fast at least 6 to 8 hours from solid food before anesthesia. For cannabis use, it should be at least 4-6 weeks.

Additionally, don’t just use any cannabis or CBD product after surgery. Be sure that you are using only products of the highest quality because it could still lead to complications if you consume tainted products.

Conclusion

Cannabis has a tremendous healing benefit for the body, but things are different when there is surgery involved most especially because cannabis can interact with other drugs – in this case, anesthesia. These can compromise your safety and cause issues for both you and your surgeon. This is why it can’t be emphasized enough to speak with your certified surgeon if you’re a cannabis user who wants to have breast augmentation surgery, or any kind of surgery done for that matter.