Do you make your patients stop hormone replacement therapy before and after breast lift surgery?

Question

I had a total hysterectomy years ago. I've recently had 2 consults for a Breast Lift. One PS told me I'd have to stop taking my hormone replacement 2 wks before and 2 wks after surgery. I've had shoulder surgery and didn't have to stop taking it then. I'm concerned that a month off the hormone replacement will make me even more uncomfortable as I'm healing from surgery. What is your opinion please?

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

but stopping it can decrease risks for deep venous thrombosis.  In my practice, I do not ask my patients to stop and rather encourage early and frequent ambulation and the use of compression stockings in surgery and in my 20+ year history, have not had a documented (now I sound like Hilliary) venous thrombosis as many do go undetected and without consequences.  You can discuss with your surgeon and if adamant about allowing you to continue HRT, you can always find a surgeon that will not require this of you.

Lisa Cassileth, MD, FACS · Answer

If you always take hormones, I prefer that you stay at your norm. Quitting hormones can change and shrink your breast size, then your breast are changed to a different size off the hormones, then the breasts change to the wrong size after you start taking them again? Sounds like a bad idea to me. Always have surgery at your standard size doing your standard stuff for best results!!!!

Terry E. Restivo, DO · Answer

Some hormones can increase the risk of blood clots. I think that is what the surgeon was worried about. I would not ask you to stop taking hormones but I would expect you to take certain precautions to prevent (as much as possible) formation of blood clots.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

No, I do not request that of patients. There is some evidence that women on hormone therapy have a higher incidence of blood clots in there veins, and that may be what your surgeon is worried about. But in over 30 years of practice and many thousands of cases, I have never seen that to be a problem. Just see another consultant.

Do you make your patients stop hormone replacement therapy before and after breast lift surgery?

Answers (4)

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