I'm scheduled for a tummy tuck tomorrow. I did not stop birth control pills. Should I be worried?

Question

I'm scheduled for Tummy tuck tomorrow, but I never stop taking my birth control because my doctor did not say to stop ,, but I’m reading now that I should ? stop 3 weeks before , should I be worried ?

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

You might want to let your surgeon know about your concerns as soon as you can. Each surgeon has their own pre-op instructions so you should follow those provided to you by your surgeon.

Christopher Pannucci, MD, MS · Answer

Estrogen containing oral contraceptives can increase your risk for blood clots in the legs or lungs (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus, respectively). As such, surgeons often recommend stopping them, and three weeks before and three weeks after is a reasonable timeframe.
However, stopping oral contraceptives can have other ramifications....like unintentional pregnancy. As such, for patients at low risk for clots, I prefer to discuss the risks and benefits of medication cessation and allow patients to participate in the choice.
Talking about your birth control should be part of a larger plan on your surgeon's part to decrease your risk for blood clots in the legs and lungs...I am attaching a supporting link with a review article on blood clot prevention in the aesthetic population that may be helpful.
Best,Chris Pannucci MDSpokane WA

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

It depends upon the amount of estrogen in the pill. Your plastic surgeon's preoperative instructions would have told you if you needed to stop them.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Sambry,
every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. Most plastic surgeons recommend their patients to stop taking birth control. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question. Best to ask this question of your surgeon as soon as possible as they know your full medical history to provide you the best answer.

Scott C. Lindsay, DO · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.
You do not need to stop taking birth control pills prior to surgery. Contact your surgeon if you are concerned or have any questions. Best wishes!

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Each surgeon has his/her own protocol about which medications should be stopped or avoided prior to surgery.  It is best for you to contact your surgeon for how to proceed.

Russell Babbitt, MD · Answer

I generally have patients stop birth control two weeks before surgery, but your surgeon may have a different protocol. It would be best to notify your surgeon immediately to discuss the risks and determine the best course of action. A low dose blood thinner could be used postoperatively to minimize your risk of clots as well, but obviously this would need to be discussed with and prescribed by your surgeon. Best of luck!

I'm scheduled for a tummy tuck tomorrow. I did not stop birth control pills. Should I be worried?

Answers (8)

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