Accidentally had vitamin E prior to BA and BL surgery! Reschedule?

Question

I’m 3 days out from surgery and last night I ate 4 of my daughters gummy vitamins and just realized that they contain vitamin E! I haven’t had anything else on the list and haven’t had them prior but I’m worried that they will have to reschedule my BL AND BA. Should I be worried? Thank you!

Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHS · Answer

If you've accidentally consumed a small amount of vitamin E prior to your breast lift (BL) and breast augmentation (BA) surgery, it's generally not a major concern, especially if it was just a few gummy vitamins containing vitamin E. Vitamin E in high doses (over 400 units) can potentially impair blood clotting, which may increase the risk of bruising and hematomas during surgery. However, the small doses in an average multivitamin or a few gummy vitamins are usually not enough to pose a significant risk.
That said, it is important to let your surgeon know what you took and the amount of vitamin E in those gummies. Your surgeon will be able to assess the situation in the context of your individual case and determine if any adjustments are needed. As a precaution, some surgeons may recommend delaying surgery for a few days to ensure there's no increased risk of complications related to bleeding. 
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Jeffrey Lisiecki, MD · Answer

Talk to your surgeon!  Check how much vitamin E (and whatever else) is in the vitamins and figure out exactly how much you took when you let them know.  This will be a judgment on their part of how much of a risk this poses in your specific situation.

Jonathan Amspacher, MD · Answer

I would expect that it is only a very small increase in your risk of excess bleeding with a couple of vitamin e a few days before surgery.  Just to be cautious I would let your surgeon know and find out their opinion since they know your whole medical history and may have some additional thoughts based on your surgical plan.  Best of luck w/ your surgery.

Raymond A. Capone, Jr., MD · Answer

Taking high doses of Vitamin E has been shown to impair clotting and lead to increased bruising and hematoma complications following breast surgery.  Doses in excess of 400 units work like aspirin and Advil to impair platelet adhesion, a necessary first step in clotting.  I would advise avoiding breast surgery for ten days after taking a Vitamin E capsule in excess of 400 units.  The small doses of Vitamen E that are included in  an average multivitamen pill or safe and not a concern.

Mark T. Boschert, MD · Answer

Vitamin E in high doses can cause platelets to not function quite as well and therefore increase the risk for bleeding. However if you only had a small dose three days before surgery I would not worry about that. I would suggest figuring out how many units of vitamin D were in those vitamins and tell your surgeon. They will help you decide  whether or not that is significant. Don’t worry!, Dr. Boschert

Accidentally had vitamin E prior to BA and BL surgery! Reschedule?

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Answer: Vitamen E and Surgery

Answer: Vitamen E and Surgery

Answer: Vitamin E

Answer: Vitamin E

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Accidentally had vitamin E prior to BA and BL surgery! Reschedule?

Answers (5)

Answer: Vitamen E and Surgery

Answer: Vitamen E and Surgery

Answer: Vitamin E

Answer: Vitamin E

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Lift with Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.