Can I have a facelift if I'm on blood thinners (Xarelto)?

I believe that being on anticoagulation is a direct contraindication for facelift/necklift surgery. The biggest problem that could happen is significant bleeding (hematoma) that could cause airway compression, skin necrosis, significant blood loss requiring fluids/transfusion/iron supplementation, and even possibly death. There are some select patients that can be operated on with the help of a hematologist/oncologist to ensure that the blood thinner can be held for surgery and properly resumed when deemed an adequate time frame (by both the plastic surgeon and heme/onc MD). In general, I would recommend avoiding any unnecessary risk, but as long as everyone is aware of the potential risks/complications/complications, it is a possibility.

Xarelto is an especially potent blood thinner affecting the extrinsic and intrinsic clotting system. During surgery severe bleeding would occur. Some patients are on Xarelto temporary for a "minor" medical problem. In that case, please wait until your treatment is finished. However, the medical reason you were prescribed Xarelto might be a risk factor in itself undergoing an aesthetic surgery, like a facelift in your case. Don't take this topic lightly, and discuss it with your different medical providers.

You do need to be off of blood thinners to have safe surgery. Many surgeons will work with your Dr. who is prescribing the blood thinners to develop a plan. Sometimes, physicians are ok with you being off of them for a period of time, or they may switch you to a different blood thinner that gets out of your system quicker.

Having a facelift while you are on blood thinners certainly increases your risk of having a hematoma in your face after your surgery. You should check with the physician who put you on Xarelto and find out whether you could pause the medication for a short period of time around the time of your surgery so that your surgery is safer, it decreases your risk of having a hematoma, and you can resume it relatively shortly afterward.

You would need to discontinue your blood thinners for a period of time before and after surgery, typically you would need to get the okay from your primary care doctor or whoever put you on it begin with.

Yes, blood thinners should be stopped few days before surgery per your cardiologist or PCP recommendation and continues after surgery. Good luck.

It's not so much that facelift surgery would be impossible on blood thinners, so much as it would be much riskier if your medication plan cannot be adjusted. The main concern with taking blood thinners is that it makes it more difficult to control bleeding during surgery and puts you at a significantly higher risk of developing hematomas (pools of blood under the skin) during your recovery.

In some cases, patients can coordinate with their prescribing physician and surgeon to temporarily adjust or pause anticoagulation, but this has to be done very carefully and only if it’s safe for your underlying medical condition.

I encourage you to talk to your doctor first to see if you are medically a good candidate for elective surgery and whether you can develop a safe perioperative plan for your medication.

Simple answer is no! Any surgery is an incision and dissection causing bleeding if you’re on blood thinners to cause delayed clotting therefore, the surgery would be not indicated your issue is finding a board certified Plastic Surgeon willing to even entertain your request let alone and anesthesiologist willing to provide anesthesia for this request both options are very doubtful. Best to seek in person consultation with the board certified Plastic surgeon for more detailed explanation. Good luck.

If you are on blood thinners, then you’re most likely at some risk for blood clot events.
You’ll need to be off blood thinners to have facelift surgery so there is some potential increased medical risk.
Talk to your primary care, doctor or hematologist about the indication for the blood thinners and what it would entail to be off of them for elective cosmetic surgery.
You’ll need medical clearance for this.
In regards to plastic surgeons perspective, it’ll vary from one provider to the next.
Just realize it’s not the plastic surgeon who’s going to have the complication if one happens it’s you.
Do you feel like taking increased risk?
Sometimes it’s worth it and sometimes it’s not.
To give you a quality answer we really need to understand why you’re on blood thinners and what the implication would be upcoming off of them.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD