What happens if I have my period on surgery day?

At the Mommy Makeover Institute of Hawaii, we do 9-15 procedures per week, and I have performed over 20,000 procedures (separate surgeries) in my career.  I have never concerned myself with whether a patient was having her period or not on the day of surgery, and I have not seen any increased bleeding or other problems related to the proximity of one's menstrual period with surgery.From a technical point of view, we recommend our patients place a tampon in their vagina before surgery, the nurse removes the tampon at the end of surgery, and replaces it with a pad.  This prevents embarrassing leakage, and the removal of the tampon at the end of surgery decreases the chance of the well documented complications associated with forgotten tampons left in after surgery.  Each patient has to make her decision in consultation with her Board Certified plastic surgeon with reference as to what to do if one's period falls on the day of surgery.  Personally, I see no problem technically or medically.

This is a very commonly asked question. It seems that many women do have their period on surgery day. Sometimes stress can change the menstrual cycle, and for many women it seems like everything just happens when you don't want it to. Regardless, it has no effect on the surgery. If a woman usually uses a tampon, I have them use the restroom right before the procedure and they can change it again after surgery. 

It shouldn't be a problem that you have your period. Just make sure to wear a pad rather than a tampon. You may feel a little more "out of it" after surgery just because most people tend to be a little more sensitive while they're on their period.However, please let your surgeon know.