Plavix and asprin before upper eyelid lift?

Generally discontinuing these drugs is potentially life threatening. The necessity of eyelid surgery better be profound. Unless your useful visual field of your only seeing eye is profoundly blocked by the eyelids, I would advise against the procedure. Talk carefully with your internist to determine if the risks are worthwhile.

I ask that my patients be off such medication for two weeks prior to surgery.  You need to make sure it is okay with your primary care doctor or cardiologist, whoever prescribed it.

You should only stop these medications if your physician says that it is safe to do so. Ask your surgeon how long they want you to be off of the medications. I prefer that my patients be off of these meds for 2 weeks pre-op, but some surgeon only require 7-10 days. Check with YOUR surgeon and make sure it is safe to go off of these medications before doing so. Eyelid surgery for cosmetic reasons does NOT justify the medical risk of stopping these medications in certain situations.Best,

Since these both can increase the bleeding during a surgery, it is usually recommended that they be stopped at least 10 days before surgery. This is a long time for people with certain medical conditions who need these meds! So check with your internist or cardiologist to make sure that you can be off of these for that amount of time.

You will be best off communicating with your plastic surgeon's office directly; the advice you receive online may not be exactly what your plastic surgeon will recommend.  In other words, best to follow your plastic surgeon's preoperative/postoperative instructions specifically. Best wishes with your upcoming surgery.

In our practice, anytime patients are on these medications that must be discontinued, he must get medical clearance by the their internist or family physician. When given medical clearance to be off of these medications, 10 days before and after the surgery is an acceptable period of time to undergo an upper eyelid left.

You should be off both of these blood thinners 10 days before blepharoplasty surgery. But you will need to check with your own doctor to see of this is advisable.

Both Plavix and aspirin have an effect on blood coagulation which lasts for 7-10 after stopping the medication. Before undergoing any procedure, especially an elective surgical correction including an upper eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), you would need to have discontinued those medications to avoid bleeding problems.Prior to undergoing the procedure, you should have medical clearance from your primary physician or cardiologist and a full discussion about the risk factors of discontinuing them, whether it is appropriate to be off the medications, and information about whether you need any other medications or precautions in the immediate pre and post-operativeperiod. There needs to be excellent communication between that physician and your plastic surgeon prior to any procedure.Robert Singer, MDFACSLa Jolla, California

Plavix and aspirin both block adhesion of platelets, meaning they won't stick together. Your platelets usually completely turn-over every 10-12 days. So being off these medications for 10-12 days is necessary to allow new functional platelets to be produced. Always check with the doctor that put you on Plavix or aspirin before stopping it for any reason.

Check with the physician that is treating you with these blood thinners before getting off of them. Your Plastic Surgeon will want you to stop taking these for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery.