What is pre- and post-surgery IV support?
It is fluid and nutrient support administered before and after a planned surgical procedure. It carries no promise of faster healing; the aim is to support the fluid and nutrition side of the process and — just as importantly — to review the things that can affect your safety under anesthesia. It is planned with your surgeon’s knowledge and after an assessment by an anesthesiology specialist.
Many of our clients travel to Istanbul for cosmetic surgery, hair transplants or dental work. Whether you live here or are visiting for a procedure, the same rules on this page apply — starting with the most important one.
First Things First: Tell Your Surgeon
If you remember one thing from this page, make it this.
Tell your surgeon and your anesthesia team about every supportive treatment, vitamin and supplement you take or plan to take. All of them, without exception.
The reason is simple: many supplements alter bleeding tendency and the effect of anesthetic drugs. If your team doesn’t know, they can’t account for it. If you wish, we will share the details of our protocol directly with your surgeon or their clinic.
Which Supplements Should Be Stopped Before Surgery?
This section is an anesthesiologist’s home ground — and it is often missed because nobody mentions it.
A consensus statement from an organization specializing in perioperative assessment lists, among the substances recommended to be stopped about two weeks before surgery:1
- Vitamin E
- Garlic, ginger, turmeric (in supplement form; the amounts used in food are not a problem)
- Ginkgo biloba, ginseng (American, Panax and Siberian)
- Resveratrol
- Horse chestnut, flaxseed, hyssop, cat’s claw, bromelain, aloe, arnica
- Saw palmetto, guarana, danshen
For glucosamine and chondroitin, a shorter window — about 48 hours — is recommended.
A detail that may surprise you: the same statement recommends — contrary to common advice — that fish oil / omega-3 preparations be continued.1
This list is not exhaustive, and every operation is different. The right move is to write down everything you take and show the list to your surgeon and anesthesia team.
As for our own practice: in the pre-operative period we do not put components that could affect bleeding tendency into the protocol. That is also the answer to why the pre- and post-surgery formulas are different.
What Actually Matters Most in Preparing for Surgery?
Let’s say it up front: the preparation steps that influence surgical outcomes most are the following.
1. Detecting anemia and iron deficiency. Pre-operative anemia is one of the most important correctable factors affecting surgical outcomes. If you have a planned operation, your blood count and iron status should have been checked. That is worth far more than any infusion. If these tests haven’t been done yet, we can arrange the blood count and ferritin assessment at our clinic as part of the pre-treatment evaluation.
2. Stopping smoking. Quitting weeks before surgery makes a marked difference to wound healing and respiratory complications.
3. Blood sugar control. In patients with diabetes, pre-operative glucose control is critical for infection risk and wound healing.
4. Nutritional status. Poor nutrition directly affects healing.
5. Following your surgeon’s and anesthesia team’s instructions — especially fasting times and medication adjustments.
These are the foundation of preparation. Our place is on top of that foundation, and narrower: supporting the fluid and nutrition side of the process.
The Two-Phase Approach — and Why Different Formulas?
The period before surgery and the period after it have different priorities, which is why we do not administer the same contents in both phases.
Before surgery
Priority: safety. In this phase, components that could affect bleeding tendency are avoided. The protocol includes:
- Fluid and electrolyte support — sterile isotonic sodium chloride solution
- B-vitamin complex — for its cofactor role in energy metabolism
- Vitamin C (not high-dose) — at a standard supportive dose, for antioxidant contribution
High-dose vitamin C is not used in this phase; before surgery, vitamin C appears only at a standard supportive dose.
After surgery
Priority: tissue repair and recovery. The protocol includes:
- Fluid and electrolyte support
- Vitamin C — a cofactor in collagen synthesis
- Zinc — for its role in wound healing and tissue integrity
- Amino acids — the building blocks of tissue repair
- B-vitamin complex
In both phases, contents and doses are set for you individually, with your surgeon’s knowledge.
Why aren’t doses listed here?
Doses depend on you, the type of operation and your surgeon’s recommendations; we do not publish a standard dosing chart on the website.
Potential Benefits
- Fluid and electrolyte support — especially in the post-operative period, when oral intake is limited
- Support for nutrients involved in tissue repair — through vitamin C, zinc and amino acids
- A contribution to energy metabolism — through B vitamins
Effects vary from person to person. This treatment does not speed up healing, does not reduce swelling, is not a painkiller, and does not replace the treatment your surgeon has prescribed.
Who Might Consider This Supportive Treatment?
- Adults preparing for a planned surgical procedure who want support with their surgeon’s knowledge
- People whose oral fluid and nutrient intake is limited in the post-operative period
- People whose eating pattern has been disrupted in the run-up to surgery
Note: The person managing your surgical decision, your preparation and your follow-up is your surgeon. This treatment should be planned as part of that process, with their knowledge.
Who Is It Not Suitable For?
- Anyone without their surgeon’s approval — no pre-operative treatment should happen without your surgeon knowing
- The final 24 hours before surgery — fasting rules and anesthesia preparation require it
- Active infection or fever — the operation may need postponing; tell your surgeon first
- Kidney failure
- Heart failure and serious heart disease — because of the risk of fluid overload
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant use — assessed separately against the surgical plan
- Known allergy to any component
Tell us about every medication and supplement you use.
Possible Side Effects
- Temporary redness, tenderness or bruising at the IV site
- Nausea or dizziness with a fast infusion
- Temporary nausea or a metallic taste from zinc
- Allergic reaction to a component (rare)
Equipment to respond to a possible allergic reaction is kept ready, and the treatment is carried out under the supervision of an anesthesiology specialist.
Timing
Before surgery: the session is scheduled 24–72 hours before the operation. We do not administer within 24 hours of surgery — fasting rules and anesthesia preparation require it.
After surgery: timing is entirely your surgeon’s decision. It can usually be considered 24–48 hours after the operation, but this varies with the procedure and your course. Do not start without your surgeon’s approval.
After Surgery, Contact Your Surgeon If You Notice Any of These
Some findings in the post-operative period need urgent assessment. If you have any of the following, contact your surgeon or a hospital directly:
- Fever — especially above 38 °C
- Increasing pain — pain that intensifies when it should be easing
- Discharge, redness, foul smell or opening at the wound site
- One-sided swelling, pain or warmth in a leg — a possible sign of deep vein thrombosis
- Shortness of breath or chest pain — a possible sign of pulmonary embolism
- More bleeding than expected
- A marked drop in urine output
None of these situations is addressed with an infusion. Go to a hospital — not a wellness clinic. If you call us first, we will point you to the right place.
References
- Cummings KC 3rd, Keshock M, Ganesh R, et al. Preoperative Management of Surgical Patients Using Dietary Supplements: Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) Consensus Statement. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2021;96(5):1342-1355. mayoclinicproceedings.org
Written and medically reviewed by: Ömer Fatih Şahin, MD Specialist in Anesthesiology & Reanimation — Last updated: 27.08.2026
The content on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical treatment. Your surgical preparation and follow-up are managed by your surgeon; this treatment should be planned with their knowledge.
