Medications to Avoid Before Your Surgery
Before your elective facial plastic surgery in Denver, it is essential to discontinue the use of prescription blood thinner medication, aspirin-containing medications, and NSAIDs at least two weeks before the scheduled procedure. If you are under a blood thinner medication regimen to protect your heart, brain, or blood vessels, please inform Dr. Weber. Together with your primary physician, he will assess the safety of discontinuing these medications.
Why Should I Avoid These Medications?
To ensure your safety, we encourage you to avoid the impact of blood-thinning medications, including both prescription and over-the-counter variants, on the risk of bleeding complications following elective surgery. As our practice is dedicated entirely to elective surgery, we are committed to working with you to schedule your procedure in consideration of your ability to discontinue these medications. While there are rare exceptions, recent use of blood-thinning medications may preclude you from undergoing elective facial procedures. Your well-being is our foremost concern, and we are here to guide you through every step of your surgical journey.
What Can I Take Before Surgery?
You may continue to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) for mild to moderate pain and headaches up to the day of your surgery. It's important to note that Tylenol does not thin your blood or exacerbate bruising; you can resume taking it immediately after your surgery.
What Prescription Medications Should I Stop Before Surgery?
You should stop taking each of these common prescription blood thinner medications before your surgery:
- Aggrenox
- Coumadin (Warfarin)
- Dalteparin
- Eliquis
- Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
- Fragmin
- Heparin
- Plavix
- Pradaxa
- Ticlopidine
- Xarelto
What Other Over-The-Counter Products Contain Aspirin?
Since aspirin must be avoided, this is a critical note, and we encourage our clients to check the labels of all "over-the-counter" medications for their individual components. Many headache, pain, and cold remedies contain aspirin, known by its chemical name of Acetylsalicylic Acid.
Frequently encountered products that contain aspirin:
- ASA
- Aspirin
- Acetylsalicylic acid
- Anacin
- Alka-Seltzer
- Aspergum
- Bayer products
- Bufferin
- Ecotrin
- Empirin
- Excedrin
- Fiorinal
- Pepto-Bismol
- Salicylic acid
- Sodium Salicylate
What are NSAIDs? Should I Avoid Them Before Surgery?
As your surgery approaches, it is essential to be mindful of the impact of NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are commonly used over-the-counter medications to alleviate pain and inflammation. To support your optimal recovery, we advise that you refrain from using NSAIDs for at least two weeks leading up to your surgery date.
Frequently encountered products that contain NSAIDs:
- Advil
- Aleve
- Diclofenac
- Dristan
- Etodolac
- Fenoprofen
- Ibuprofen
- Indocin
- Indomethacin
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Meloxicam
- Midol
- Mobic
- Motrin
- Naprosyn
- Naproxen
- Orudis
- Piroxicam
- Salsalate
- Sulindac
- Toradol
- Voltaren
What About Herbals? Are Herbs and Supplements Safe to Take Before Surgery?
As you prepare for your surgery, it's essential to be aware that certain herbs and supplements have the potential to exacerbate bruising and contribute to bleeding complications. To support your healing process, we advise that you discontinue the use of all herbs and supplements before your surgery. Additionally, the following products are particularly associated with the most severe bleeding and bruising following surgery.
Common Herbals and Supplements that should be avoided:
- CoQ10
- Ephedra
- Feverfew
- Fish Oil
- Green tea
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Ginseng
- Ginger
- Garlic
- St. John's Wort
- Kava Kava
- Valerian
- Vitamin C (more than 1000 mg per day)
Let Us Be Your Guide
As you prepare for your upcoming surgery, we emphasize that your safety and well-being are our top priorities. If you have any questions or need further guidance regarding the medications to avoid before your procedure, please don't hesitate to contact us anytime.
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