Avoiding Vitamin E Before Sugery?

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 doesn't matter, but mention it to your doc just to be clear.

 

Here are some references supporting my position:

 


J Surg Res. 2006 May;132(1):121-9. Epub 2005 Dec 9.
Short-term, moderate dosage Vitamin E supplementation may have no effect on platelet aggregation, coagulation profile, and bleeding time in healthy individuals.
Dereska NH, McLemore EC, Tessier DJ, Bash DS, Brophy CM.
Source

Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, USA.



Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009 Nov;124(5):1696-9.
Preoperative use of alpha tocopherol does not increase the risk of hematoma in the face lift patient: a preliminary report.
Ristow B.
Source

California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, Calif 94115, USA.



 

All the best,

 

--DCP

Pearson Facial Plastic Surgery™

You should follow your surgeon's advice. If they said 10 days, then that's what you should do. If you have any concerns, please ask your surgeon. They may provide you with an explanation.

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 with it. Of course the 14 days before scenario is ideal for the surgeon and for the patient.

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.

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.