Which Medications and Supplements Should Stop Before Surgery?
Blood thinners, some pain relievers, and a surprising list of supplements can raise bleeding risk, so disclosure and timing matter weeks ahead.
Aspirin and other blood-thinning medications are the obvious entries, but the pre-surgery stop list often includes ibuprofen-type pain relievers, high-dose vitamin E, omega-3 fish oil, ginkgo, and some herbal products. All of them can nudge bleeding risk upward during and after augmentation.
Disclose first, stop on schedule
The critical step is disclosure: hand the team a complete list of prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements. Stopping times differ by drug — some need a week or two, others only a day — and prescription blood thinners should never be stopped without the prescribing doctor involved.
How long a given drug lingers in the body varies between individuals, and chronic conditions can make stopping riskier than continuing. Let the surgeon and your prescribing physician set the timeline together at the consultation instead of following a generic checklist.
MediIndex articles are for general information only and are not medical advice, diagnosis, or advertising. Outcomes vary by individual — consult a board-certified specialist for personal decisions.