How long before a facelift surgery do you have to get off hormones??

If your procedure is preformed under local anesthesia and oral sedation you do not need to stop your hormones. However, facelift under general anesthesia is associated with more complication such as DVT that can be exacerbated with hormones. I have performed well over 2,500facelifts under local anesthesia with oral sedation for the past ten years. Withoutdoubt it is safe and well tolerated by patients. Compare to the traditionalfacelift procedures that are performed under general anesthesia, the postoperative complications associated with local anesthesia cases are lower andrisk of bleeding is minimized. Please visit our website to become more educated about various anesthesia options for facelift surgery.

If you are on a regimen of hormone replacement therapy, you do not need to discontinue them prior to a face lift, in my opinion.  Some surgeons may ask you to stop them to reduce the risk of vein clots.  You should do whatever your surgeon recommends.

In my practice we do not routinely advise the patients to stop hormone
therapy. Patients on hormone therapy are thought to have higher risk of Deep
Venous Thrombosis during surgery. There are many ways to mitigate that risk in
most patients, such as selection of proper anesthesia, proper positioning and
other anti-thrombotic devices. But the most important factor is choosing the
right surgeon that will keep the surgery time within a safe limit while still
performing all the necessary surgical maneuvers to achieve the optimum
result.

In general I don't think there's any reason to stop hormone therapy prior to the facelift. The issue will be discussed with your own plastic surgeon however.

there is no need to stop hormonal treatments prior to a facelift surgery.  reasons why you may require hormones should be discussed with your surgeon, as well as any other medical conditions for which you take any medications

Laura,The concern with hormone therapy and surgery is the increased risks of vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli. While some surgeons may recommend stopping hormone therapy, most do not. We rely on compression devices to prevent clots from first developing in the legs and this has worked well.Of more importance with facelifts is bleeding problems. It is important that all medications with thin your blood (such as aspirin and ibuprofen) are stopped at least one week before. In addition, many supplements and vitamins(ginseng, ginko, vitamin E) can increase the risk of bleeding and should be stopped as well.Dr. Hamilton

Prior to any surgery, including an elective surgery such as a facelift, a compete review of your medical history, including your medications should be completed. Of course other tests (blood work, EKG, etc.) and a physical examination should be performed.Typically, hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, for example) are not stopped prior to a facelift procedure. However, your surgeon or primary care physician may alter the schedule or the intake of your hormones based on your medical history or family history or the procedures being performed.  These recommendations should be strictly followed.Typical medications that are stopped include aspirin, all products similar to ibuprofen, and herbal supplements, including fish oils.  Most surgeons will provide a list of medications and herbal supplements to stop prior to surgery and its important to strictly adhere to their list and instructions.More information on facelifts can be found through the link below.I hope this helps.

Facelift surgery may last a few hours and requires the patient to be
immobilized for that period of time, which increases the risk of blood clots. Hormones
may also add to the risk of blood clots forming during or after surgery. In our
practice we always take preventive measures during surgery such as applying
compression devices to the legs to stimulate blood flow. Depending on the dose of hormones you are taking
as well as your medical comorbidities, we would make a decision as to whether
or not you need to stop taking your hormones preoperatively. It is important to discuss your upcoming
surgery with the prescribing physician (PCP or endocrinologist) because the
indication for hormone therapy, duration of therapy, and the adverse effects of
stopping the medication will vary from patient to patient. If you have other medical conditions that
could increase your risk for blood clots or other complications, we would
likely have you undergo evaluation by an anesthesiologist who can best assess
these risks and assure you a safe surgery and recovery.

Dear Laura:It is interesting to see the polarity of answers provided by other surgeons regarding discontinuing hormones prior to surgery.I recommend discontinuing estrogen therapy 2 weeks prior to surgery to diminish the risk of blood clots to the legs and lungs. In the interest of safety, there are manageable options to decrease the risk of complications during surgery. These will include the following:stop all unnecessary medications and supplements which may cause you greater risk as recommended by your Plastic Surgeon and Primary Care Physician.hydrate yourself prior to and after the procedure.maintain warmth before, during and after the surgery.bend the knees and waist (chaise lounge - like position) to allow unobstructed venous flow.use sequential venous compression devices on the legs. ambulation soon after the procedure.I wish you all the best!

The pros and cons of going off hormones is open to debate and should be discussed with your plastic surgeon. There here are no firm guidelines about his issue and most plastic surgeons do not require a patient to stop hormones before surgery.Safety should always be the primary concern
in any elective surgery. Since it is known that taking hormones increases the risk of developing deep
venous thrombosis (DVT) which can travel to the lung and be potentially life
threatening, especially in a patient having a surgical procedure, it is
recommended in some of the valid scientific literature that hormones should ideally be stopped for 1 month prior to surgery
and for 2 weeks postoperatively. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon certified by the
American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society
for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with.
You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person. Robert Singer, MD  FACSLa Jolla, California