Avoiding Vitamin E Before Sugery?

I am scheduled for a rhinoplasty in 9 days, and I was told to stop taking Vtamin E 10 days before surgery; however I see now other websites are recommending stopping 2 weeks prior to surgery. I stopped taking Vitamin E ysterday (10 days exactly before). Normally, I would take daily supplements of Vitamin E (400 IU) along with zinc, B-multivitamin and primrose evening oil. I am a little concerned about any adverse effects. Should I talk to my doctor and try to delay the sugical procedure? Thanks!

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by ppan

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Avoid vitamin E for 10-14 days before and after rhinoplasty

It is best to avoid vitamin E for approximately 10-14 days before and after a rhinoplasty. The nose is quite vascular and it is always best to get off herbal supplements and vitamin E prior to surgery to prevent a nosebleed. If a nosebleed should occur in the postoperative period, packing would need to be placed inside the nose, which is extremely uncomfortable.

You should be OK but check with your surgeon

There are certain supplements and medications that patients need to stop 2 weeks prior the surgery. Vitamin E is one of them because it is a blood thinner. We try to prevent the situation where patient is excessively bleeding during the procedure. I understand that you stopped your vitamin E intake 10 days before and that should be long enough prior the surgery. That said every surgeon and anesthesia group has its own guidelines, so definitely you should ask your surgeon if he is Ok... more

Vitamin E before rhino?

Historically we stop this because of the bleeding risk that can be associated with taking Vitamin E. The amount that this is taken has been looked at in the medical literature and most likely you do not take enough for it to even matter. I would tell you that 10 days is plenty of time but probably wouldn't matter if you were still taking it. If you have a bleeding complication I can promise you it is not due to the Vitamin E. You might bruise more but most likely it makes no difference at all. more

Vitamin E and its effects on surgical bleeding.

Since vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) can be a mild blood thinner, we usually suggest patients stop it a week to two weeks before surgery to minimize bleeding and bruising. But several recent studies have shown that typical vitamin E supplementation--such as you seem to be taking--makes no difference with respect to bleeding complications and likewise has little effect on platelet function or bleeding time in controlled clinical trials. So 10 days? Two weeks? 24 hours? Probably... more