Surgery & Birth Control?

Birth control medications increase your risk of blood clots.  Typically we recommend that patients stop birth control medications two weeks before surgery and resume it two weeks after surgery.  The increased risks of blood clots is not great, so some patients will choose to remain on birth control.  Discuss your options with your surgeon.  Anticoagulation postoperatively is an option you might want to consider with your surgeon.

Thank you for your excellent question.  In most cases patients either receiving Depo, or using oral contraceptives, do not need to stop or delay their use for surgery purposes.  Be sure to let your surgeon know so that they can best advise you.

I see no issues with your current birth control regimen as long as appropriate prophylactic measures are taken with regard to deep venous thrombosis. Best of luck!

I personally don't see a problem with your birth control injections in anticipation of your mommy makeover surgery. However your surgeon may have a different ideas so this question must be specifically addressed to that surgeon.

Birth control medications can increase the risk of developing blood clots, but the risk is fairly low.  I encourage you to discuss the situation with your surgeon.  It's likely that you'll be able to continue with surgery as scheduled.

Thank you very much for your question.In general, progesterone-only birth control doesn't cause an increase in DVT risk (compared to birth control containing estrogen).  The exception to that progesterone-only formulation may be depo-provera, which has been shown to increase the risk of DVT.I wouldn't have a problem doing your surgery with you having received depo-provera, but I would make sure to implement prophylactic measures (which I would do anyway), and watch you closely.  However, I recommend you discuss this with your surgeon, as your surgeon's thoughts may be different than mine.  Best of luck!

Both birth control tablets, IUD, injectable therapy (Depo-Provera) as well as #hormone replacement may be associated with thrombotic events (clotting disorders, such as Deep Venous Thrombosis and/or Pulmonary Embolism) during long ops, such as a MM .  In preparing for a MM, all PS require suspension of drugs which can affect bleeding and/or clotting, such as Aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (Motrin, Advil, Aleve, etc), vitamins such as Vit E, Fishoil, etc.  Continuation of hormonal therapy may predispose to clotting, not bleeding.  Disclose all medications and discuss a plan of care with your PS.  Most PS will have a definite plan to avoid clots, such as the use of thromboembolic stockings (TED hose), sequential compression devices (leg squeezers, during the operation) and early ambulation, post-op.  Good luck!

Hello dear, thanks for your post, Birth
control should not interfere with your surgery, but I recommend to to
make a consultation with your gynecologist and then with your plastic
surgeon to talk about this and your goals. Good luck :)

Many plastic surgeons ask their patients to stop taking birth control pills, out of concern for the increased risk of forming blood clots like DVT (deep vein thrombosis) or PE (pulmonary embolism) during or after surgery.  It can be somewhat more difficult to stop other hormone-based birth control therapies like the Depo-Provera injections or Mirena IUDs.Many plastic surgeons, including myself, allow their patients to continue with their normal birth control routine but take extra measures to prevent DVT/PE.  Compression devices during surgery, compression stockings during recovery, and most importantly, gentle walking starting on the day of surgery can help reduce the risk of developing clots.Check with your surgeon to see what he/she recommends.  Hope this is helpful, and best of luck with your mommy makeover on the 18th.Dr. Lim