How long before a rhinoplasty should I stop taking Ibuprofen?

Question

I take Ibuprofen a few times a month and I was wondering when to stop taking them before surgery? I haven't chosen a surgeon yet but I am just wondering if there are any effects of taking Ibuprofen before surgery?

Thomas A. Mustoe, MD, FACS · Answer

Ibuprofen is a member of the class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which inhibit clotting by interfering with platelet function. Most surgeons recommend patients stop taking it completely for 2 weeks prior to surgery to avoid extra bruising and bleeding during surgery; but most of the extra risk of bleeding can be avoided by stopping for 1 week

Jag Chana, MD, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Ideally Ibuprofen should be stopped 2 weeks prior to surgery in order to minimise the risk of bleeding during surgery and also to minimise bruising after surgery. If you require alternative pain killers then it is best to consult with your general practitioner.

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

Two weeks. Ibuprofen is parst of the NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs). These all began as an off shoot of aspirin way back in the day. They have been refined to eliminate undesired side effects such as excessive bleeding and stomack ulcers. These mediction have an effect on platelets. Platelets are one of the main blood cells that promote clotting. The drugs inhibit the platelets ability to do it's job well and therefore make it more difficult to form a clot and stop bleeding. The effect of the drug lasts the life time of the platelet which is roughly 10 days. Your body is always replenishing your platelets. So after 2 weeks the effected platelets should be out of your system.

Dean Fardo, MD · Answer

I would make sure you follow your doctor's recommendations, but ibuprofen's effect on platelets is gone within 48 hours of stopping the medication.  So as long as you haven't taken within a few days of surgery then you should be fine.

Michael M. Omidi, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question! As long as you discontinue Ibuprofen one week or more prior to surgery, it should not pose risks to your procedure or recovery process. It's always best to disclose a complete list of your medication to your plastic surgeon, however, so I would definitely bring this up during a consultation with your surgeon. 
An in-person exam with a board-certified plastic surgeon would be the best way to assess your needs and obtain a reliable medical advice. Best of luck!

Robert H. Woods, MD · Answer

Some people are sensitive to the effects of motrin type products as it can weaken the clotting system. Knowing who that is and how long the effect lasts varies considerably, so two weeks is the safest answer. If you are in a lot of pain and just cant go that long, then a week will probably be ok. Bleeding can happen for no apparent reason whatsoever, so eliminating all potential factors sometimes helps reduce the incidence of this complication and makes the surgery easier. You just have to suffer some trying to treat problems with Tylenol.

Julian Rowe-Jones, MBBS, FRCS (Eng), FRCS (ORL) · Answer

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. It can predispose to bleeding and bruising because it thins the blood a little.  If you take it regularly I would advise stopping for two weeks before and two weeks after surgery - in consultation with the doctor who prescribed it for you or your GP.  If it is occasional use only such as once a month I would just stop it for the week leading up to surgery.

Priti Shukla, Mch - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello, Ibuprofen is a pain medication of NSAID type , and that predisposed to bleeding during surgery. I advise my patients to shift to Tylenol ( paracetamol ) 10 days before surgery.

How long before a rhinoplasty should I stop taking Ibuprofen?

Answers (8)

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