Tummy Tuck: Q&A

Ask a Question

Can Post-op Bleeding Occur from Use of Advil?

I'm almost 6 weeks post-Tummy Tuck. I had a spot on the scar that was healed, but 2 days ago, it started bleeding a little when I removed the Epi-Derm Scar Sheet strip. Prior to this, my doctor had recommended just placing a band aid over any spots that were not healed and continue using the strips, so that is what I did. When I took the strip off again tonight, it was bleeding a lot, and a portion of remaining scar looked like there was blood close to the surface. I've been taking Advil the past couple of days because of the discomfort and tightness. Could Advil have caused this bleeding? Should I also stop using the scar strips?

Tags:

Comment on this

18 Doctor Answers | Asked by beaches2961 in Georgetown, USA

Doctor Answers (18)
Community Comments (1)

Postoperative bleeding from Advil in a tummy tuck

Tummy tucks are a popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. After any such surgery, your surgeon should provide you with the list of medications that you should avoid. In our practice, we recommend that patients use Tylenol for mild to moderate pain. Although you used Advil, it is unlikely that this cause excessive bleeding. Your skin change is most likely from a mild trauma or found a small amount of blood that worked its way to the surface of the skin. During your healing... more

Advil probably not the cause of post-op bleeding

Generally, we tell our patients to avoid aspirin or aspirin-containing products, such as Excedrin, for at least 10 days prior to surgical procedure. Other NSAIDs, such as Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen, are less dangerous, although these also can be associated with excessive bruising and bleeding. Therefore, unless there is reason to rush to surgery, we would like patients to stay away from these for at least one week. They can restart Advil 24 hrs after surgery. The bleeding you... more

Advil not likely the cause of the bleeding

Bleeding at this stage in the recuperation is more likely related to the scar strips. But it will go away on its own as time progresses.

Yes but....

At 6 weeks, your skin should be healed, no breaks in it at all. Not uncommonly however, sutures that should dissolve, can become infected or irritated and work theselves to the surface causing "stitch abcesses". If a stitch abcess forms, it can drain with fluid that has some blood, some pus, some tissue fluid. Another possible cause is a seroma, which is tissue fluid with a little bit of blood. In any event, your wound is not healing normally. Don't panic, but you should see... more

Advil not the culprit

Advil is probably not the culprit. Advil inhibits platelet function, but should only be an issue immediately before or after the surgery. More likely is a suture "spitting"; a quick visit to your doctor should sort that out. Usually the errant stitch is removed and that solves the problem.

Bleeding from incision

I concur. The bleeding is probably due to trauma from removal of the streri-strip. Allow it to heal without further taping. Be patient and it should heal well. If not, see your plastic surgeon.

Blood thinners, Advil, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, and Motrin before surgery: Not a good idea

There are several classes of blood thinners that should be avoided before and immediately after surgery. These include: Aspirin Ibuprofen NSAIDS Coumadin, Plavix These medications are not immediately metabolized in the body, so that they may last up to one month after you take them. It is advisable that you do not take blood thinners as listed above one month before surgery but this should be individualized by your physician himself. Our office in Santa Monica routinely gives a list... more

A combination of factors

From your description is sounds like there was either a small separation at the incision or you are having a small reaction to the sutures. Either way that area of your body is undergoing some inflammatory changes. This can cause a temporary increase in circulation and delicacy of the tissue. When you removed the dressing some of the superficial blood vessels bled. Advil may be contributing to how long it takes those small vessels to stop but typically at 6 weeks Advil should not cause... more

You sounds like a suture is "spitting" out

You are right at the point postop when dissolvable sutures can sometimes "spit" out the incision. These can look like a pimple and can bleed a bit also. The Advil didn't cause the bleeding but might have made it a little bit worse. The suture issue will either resolve as the material comes out or is removed by your doctor.

Silicone sheets for healed scars

Use of silicone sheeting is for healed wounds. If your incisions are not fully healed or have opened up, you should stop using the sheeting until they are closed. Advil may contibute to bleeding problems but I doubt if this is the reason why your scars started to bleed.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Advil can make the bleeding harder to stop, but it's not the cause

Advil belongs to an anti-inflammatory group of medications that can have adverse effects on the ability of platelets to stick to each other. These platelets are actually the little cells that aggregate together to form a clot, and seal off bleeding when it occurs. In your situation, there is likely some chronic irritation from the stitches in the incision, that should slowly improve as the absorbable stitches are dissolved by your body. When these areas get superficially irritated,... more

It's probably the stitches and not the Advil

Stitches are foreign bodies that your body tries to get rid of by absorbing them or raising them to the surface. This is similar to what happens when you get a splinter that works its way to the surface of your skin. Given the timing (6 weeks) it is likely that your body is in the process of absorbing your sutures which are usually gone completely by 3 months. Sometimes the stitches don't get completely absorbed and the partially decayed suture opens up on the surface of your skin causing... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Stop the scar strips and the Advil

Beaches, It sounds like the scar strips are traumatizing your scar for whatever reason. Once traumatized and bleeding the Advil is prohibiting your blood from clotting quickly and prolonging it. Stop both and get in to see your surgeon. Good luck!

Advil and bleeding

Advil is not likely to cause bleeding this far out.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Probably not Advil

Hi there I agree--you're too far out from your surgery for it to be likely that the Advil caused your problem. It's much more likely that you have a suture that hasn't dissolved or some other (usually minor) healing problem. The important thing is to notify your surgeon and go in for an evaluation to be sure that nothing needs to be done, and get his/her recommendations on what to do, given their better understanding of how your surgery was performed.

Ibuprofen should be ok at 6 weeks

Many plastic surgeons advise against the use of anticoagulant medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil) before and after surgery so as to minimize the risk of bleeding complications. However, by a week or two after surgery, it is not usually a problem. It sounds like you have some healing issues but I wouldn't balme the medications.

Sounds like you are spitting a stitch

It is very typical at 6 weeks after a tummy tuck to spit a stitch or two. The spitting stitch may appear as a little blister. The advil certainly stirs up bleeding and can contribute to the spitting stitch. The silicone sheeting also does not help in this case. I advise stopping the sheeting and advil and go back to your doctor to rule out a spitting stitch.

At 6 weeks Advil is probably OK

Hello, Delayed wound healing after a tummy tuck is occasional, but can be troublesome. Advil would not have been a good idea earlier on, but at 6 weeks is probably not contributing to the problem. One way or the other, you should be following up for any changes with your surgeon. We all do things differently and often base recommendations upon the status of the wound and knowledge of what we did for you in surgery. Best Regards

Doctors will not see your comments on their answers. If you'd like to follow up, please go here to ask another question.

Comments (1)

mml 16 Apr 2013

I just took off a couple of steri strips that I had put on my incision just to give it some structure and I had it on for a couple of weeks. When I took it off blood came to the surface in little beads . I attribute it to how fragile my skin is. I had a LBL, spiral thigh lifts with lipo and buttock ffat transfer. I am 59 years old and my skin quality was not the best to begin with but the 5 hour surgery really took a toll on my body. I am a very healthy athletic woman and had never been allergic to anything in my life especially latex or tape but had a bad reaction to the latex tape they used during surgery consequently I have discolored skin on several places on my body as a result. So perhaps this is just a skin quality issue as a result of stress to your body. You should discuss the problem with your doctor. Good luck and make sure you are getting enough protein and taking your vitamins!

Ask a Question