How Soon Can You Drink Alcohol After Surgery? What Doctors Recommend

After surgery, doctors recommend that patients follow a strict healing regimen: drink plenty of fluids, practice relaxation techniques to reduce stress, keep the surgical incision clean and dry, and avoid alcoholic drinks for several weeks.

The first few instructions are easy to follow, but what exactly does “several weeks” mean when it comes to avoiding alcohol?

This article answers how soon you can drink alcohol after surgery and other important questions, such as how alcohol affects healing, how different surgeries influence recovery timelines, and what risks come with drinking too soon.

How Soon Can You Drink Alcohol After Surgery?

Ideally, you’ll want to wait at least two weeks before consuming alcohol. Even then, the amount shouldn’t exceed one or two drinks.

However, this timeline doesn’t apply to everyone and can vary depending on your overall health, the type of surgery you went through, and whether you’re still taking prescription medications like painkillers or antibiotics.

Here’s a general guideline of how long you should wait before drinking alcohol after common surgical procedures, assuming there are no complications and you’re of good health:

Cosmetic Surgery

• Rhinoplasty (nose job): At least 2 to 3 weeks, as alcohol can increase swelling and impede healing.
• Liposuction (fat removal): 7 to 10 days, depending on the extent of the procedure.

Orthopedic Surgery

• Total Knee Replacement (TKR): At least 4 to 6 weeks, as you’ll likely be on pain medications that interact negatively with alcohol.
• Total Hip Replacement (THR): At least 4 to 6 weeks. Alcohol can interfere with balance and mobility during healing and may increase the risk of dislocation or delayed bone integration.
• Arthroscopic surgery (knee or shoulder): At least 1 to 2 weeks, depending on pain management and swelling.

Abdominal Surgery

• Hernia repair: At least 2 days post-anesthesia.
• Appendectomy: At least 2 days; longer if taking pain medications.

Heart or Brain Surgery

• Coronary bypass surgery: At least 2 weeks; longer if taking pain medications. However, you may need to quit alcohol entirely as it has negative effects on the heart. 
• Brain surgery: Consult a doctor. Healing can take up to a year or more, depending on the complexity of the surgery. You may need to quit alcohol entirely during this period as it can impair cognitive recovery and exacerbate symptoms.

Dental Surgery

• Simple tooth extraction: At least 48 to 72 hours.
• Wisdom tooth removal: At least 72 hours to 1 week.
• Dental implants: 72 hours minimum, ideally 1 to 2 weeks.
• Root canal treatment: 48 to 72 hours minimum, until inflammation subsides and medication clears.
• Bone graft/sinus lift: At least 2 weeks. Alcohol impairs new bone growth and healing.

Liver Surgery

• Liver resection: At least 3 months after surgery. During this time, the liver is growing to replace what has been lost.
• Liver transplant: Not recommended to drink alcohol, even after healing. This is especially true if the transplant was due to alcohol-related liver disease.

Note that the guide above should be taken only as a general guideline. Some people heal faster than others, allowing them to safely resume alcohol consumption sooner, while others may need a longer recovery period before it’s advisable.

To be safe, consult your doctor or surgeon before drinking alcohol after surgery. You may feel okay on the outside, but your body might still be healing on the inside. 

What Are the Risks of Drinking Alcohol Too Soon After Surgery?

Drinking alcohol shortly after surgery isn’t recommended for various reasons:

Delayed Healing

Alcohol can impair the body’s ability to form new tissue and blood vessels, which are essential for wound healing.

Increased Bleeding

Alcohol can trigger excessive bleeding, hemorrhage, or blood loss, either internally or externally through a natural opening (mouth, ear, nose, urethra, vagina, anus, or the surgical site). Alcohol is a blood thinner, preventing blood cells from clotting.

Negative Interactions With Medications

Alcohol interacts negatively with pain medications, antibiotics, and sedatives. If the body has traces of these medications, you may experience nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, liver stress, respiratory depression, and even overdose.

Weakened Immune Function

Alcohol suppresses the immune system, making your body less able to fight off infection. A weakened immune system increases the risk of post-operative infections, especially at incision sites or internal surgical areas.

Higher Risk of Falls and Injury

Many people experience poor coordination or balance after surgery, especially if the surgery is orthopedic or neurological in nature. Alcohol further impairs mobility and increases the risk of re-injury or surgical failure.

Other Complications

Alcohol consumption impacts various internal organs and systems, including the heart, lungs, and liver. Drinking alcohol post-surgery can result in complications like high/low blood pressure, irregular heart rate, aspiration pneumonia, or digestive bleeding.

Alcohol can also result in dehydration due to its being a diuretic, which can slow healing and increase fatigue.

Tips for a Safe Recovery

Here are some tips to follow to help your body heal efficiently and reduce the risk of complications after surgery:

• Follow your doctor’s instructions closely. Take medications exactly as prescribed, attend follow-up appointments, and ask before resuming alcohol, exercise, or specific foods.
• Eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet that includes protein, leafy greens, and whole grains. Avoid processed foods and excess sugar, as they can cause inflammation.
• Drink plenty of water, especially if you’re on pain medication or antibiotics.
• Keep the surgical area clean. Change the dressing every day or as needed. If you notice signs of infection (redness, warmth, pus, or a fever), contact your surgeon immediately.

Can Alcohol Withdrawal Affect Recovery?

If you experience symptoms like sweating, agitation, disorientation, or headache, you might be experiencing alcohol withdrawal. The intensity of these symptoms can increase depending on the severity of the withdrawal, and can make post-surgery healing take longer.

However, this doesn’t mean that you should drink alcohol to abate these symptoms. In fact, doing so can make things even worse and increase your risk of serious health complications.

If you think you’re experiencing alcohol withdrawal post-surgery, talk to your doctor right away. Other ways to ease withdrawal symptoms include:

• Drink plenty of water, juices, and sports drinks containing electrolytes. Avoid overly sugary drinks like sodas and caffeine.
• Find ways to relax and distract yourself. Read a book, listen to music, or go for a walk if you’re able.
• Perform deep breathing exercises to re-engage your prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that helps with reasoning and critical thinking.
• Medicate to keep yourself balanced and relaxed during your withdrawal.
• Surround yourself with supportive friends and family who can encourage you to push through your cravings.
• If all else fails, seek professional help from an addiction treatment center like Allure Detox. Behavioral treatments like alcohol counseling can help you develop the skills needed to abstain or at least manage cravings associated with long-term alcohol consumption.

Unlike other addictive substances like opioids, physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal tend to ease after 24 to 48 hours and disappear after 72 hours. Psychological symptoms, however, may persist for a couple of months.

Adhering to prescribed care protocols is key to reducing the risk of complications and maintaining a commitment to sobriety. Keep in mind that drinking alcohol while healing from surgery is strongly discouraged due to the inherent risks it poses, and abstaining or at least significantly reducing alcohol consumption is one of the most effective ways to heal quickly.

If you or a family member is struggling to abstain from alcohol, regardless of whether they underwent surgery or not, we can help. Contact us today to find out how Allure Detox can help you manage withdrawal symptoms and put you on the path to healing.

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Published on: 2025-06-30
Updated on: 2025-07-03