Do I have to stop taking my birth control before I have my breast augmentation?

The major risk of taking Birth Control Pills (BCP) around the time of your surgery is that it increases the possibility that clots that can form in your veins (deep venous thrombosis) and can travel to your lungs (pulmonary embolus) which is very serious and can even cause death. The biggest risk is if you have your surgery withing the first year of (re)starting BCP, and especially if you have risk factors for clotting - such as a genetic tendency, smoker, certain medical conditions, prior history of a clot, etc). In my own practice I would instruct you to not take BCP if within a year prior to your surgery and use an alternate method of birth control. If you have been on them more than a year without risk factors, I would still make you aware of the increased risk and recommend that you discuss this risk and ask advice from your gynecologist or PCP who prescribed this medication#preop#breastaugmentation

Taking birth control pills (BCP) slightly increases your risk of getting a blood clot in your calf (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) during surgery. In order to decrease the risk from BCPs you must stop taking them 30 days prior to surgery. I typically don't recommend my patients stop taking their BCPs as a BA is a short low risk procedure. I consistently use calve compression devices and encourage ambulation early after surgery to minimize any risk of developing a blood clot. If you need more detailed information, please contact your OB/GYN physician. Best of luck.