Should I Stop Aspirin ?, and How Long Should I Stop It Before Surgery?

Question

I took aspirin everyday for 3 years old by Lupus, but want to get liposuction, What do I do? Should I stop aspirin ? and how long should I stop it before surgery?

Ramin Behmand, MD, FACS · Answer

Aspirin is recommended on a daily basis by many primary care physicians and cardiologists to help prevent heart attacks and emboli related to blood clots. Aspirin's effectiveness comes from its ability to inhibit proper function of the platelets that are circulating in your blood system. Platelets are one of the main ways your body stops prolonged bleeding and help blood to clot. Without them, bleeding can be persistent. Once you take Aspirin, all the circulating platelets in your body become disabled. Then, your body needs to make new platelets which are functioning properly when there is no exposure to Aspirin. Your body will make new platelets at such a rate that it takes about 10 days to replace all the disabled platelets. That means, once you stop taking Aspirin, the proportion of functional platelets in your body changes by 10 percent a day. The first day you have 10% normal functioning platelets and the third day you have 30% normal functioning platelets. Until day ten, when all (100%) of your platelets are functioning normally again. Therefore, a patient preparing to have surgery, would want to stop taking any Aspirin 10 days before a surgical procedure to avoid potential bleeding complications either while in surgery or after surgery. You may want to discuss this with your rheumatologist ahead of time.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

You should talk to your surgeon about this. Aspirin shouldn't be taken for at least 2 weeks before your surgery.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

You should definitely stop aspirin 7 to 10 days before surgery. The greater concern is that if you take other Lupus medications they may cause issues. Particularly if you're taking prednisone or some type of immune suppressing medications.  You should visit with several BC PS to see if you are a suitable candidate for cosmetic surgery.

	Dr. ES

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Aspirin should be discontinued two weeks prior to elective surgery.  Whether this is advisable given the status of the SLE should be coordinated with your medical doctor or rheumatologist.  Localized fatty deposition can be improved with liposuction and your shape can be dramatically improved with the right surgeon.  Liposuction results are highly surgeon dependent.  Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of liposuction procedures each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.

	 

	Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Remus Repta, MD · Answer

Hello,

	Thank you for the question.  There is no exact timeframe to stop aspirin before surgery as a little might help to prevent blood clots, a lot of aspirin will cause unnecessary bleeding and bruising.  A few weeks before surgery for tumescent liposuction is probably fine.

	All the best,

	Dr Remus Repta

Anureet K. Bajaj, MD, FACS · Answer

Aspirin, as well as many other common over-the-counter medications, affect the ability of platelets to function. Platelets help your body form blood clots when you bleed. If you take aspirin before surgery, there is a very high risk of having problems with excessive bleeding during surgery and hematoma formation after surgery -- because your body will not be able to form clots. Most surgeons will want you to stop taking aspirin two weeks prior to surgery. I would suggest that you discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon. Good luck!

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

To avoid an excessive amount of bruising after liposuction, aspirin should be stopped two weeks before the procedure. Your aspirin could be resumed within a week after surgery. It would be good to let the doctor managing your lupus know of this change in your medication schedule for your surgery.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

Aspirin interferes with platelet aggregation, and therefore blood clotting. Beginning 7-10 days before elective surgery it is advisable to stop aspirin, and not to resume until cleared by your surgeon. You would do well to run this by the doc who manages your lupus. All the best.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

It's best stop aspirin at least 2 weeks prior to surgery, but 6 weeks is better. Your Plastic Surgeon may want a medical clearance from the doctor managing your lupus. Be sure to discuss aspirin, and all medications with your doctors.

George Commons, MD (retired) · Answer

All aspirin must be stopped 100% 14 days before any surgery. Aspirin cotes the platelets and blood clots much more slowly. The result is bleeding and bruising and complications that ensue. Not sure what the lupus you states means but this needs explored before any surgery is considered. My Best, Dr C

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