Should I stop aspirin before eyelid surgery?
Blood-thinning medicines such as aspirin raise bleeding and bruising risk around surgery, but never stop them on your own — timing is a decision for your prescribing doctor and surgeon together.
Aspirin reduces the ability of platelets to form clots, which is exactly why it is prescribed — and why it complicates surgery on thin, vascular eyelid tissue. The common-sense rule is simple: disclose it early, and let the doctors set the plan.
Why self-stopping is the wrong move
Many people take aspirin to protect the heart or brain after a stent, stroke, or clot, and quitting abruptly can carry its own serious risk. That is why surgeons coordinate with the prescribing physician: some patients pause the drug for a defined window, others continue it and the surgical plan adapts instead.
The safe window and the decision itself vary by individual — the reason for taking the drug, the dose, and overall health all weigh in. List every medicine, including over-the-counter painkillers, at your pre-operative consultation and follow the schedule your specialist and prescribing doctor agree on.
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.