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Patient Guide · Before Surgery
Medications and Supplements to Pause Before Surgery
A medication list may seem like paperwork, but it is one of the most important safety conversations before surgery. This guide explains the reasons, so you can have that conversation well.
Before surgery, many patients are asked to pause products that can increase bleeding, such as aspirin, certain anti-inflammatory painkillers, fish oil, vitamin E and some herbal supplements. Prescription medicines are different: never stop them without advice from the doctor who prescribed them. Always follow your own surgeon's and doctor's specific instructions.
An important note before you read
This page is general education, not personal medical advice. Never stop, reduce or change a prescribed medication without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it. Some medicines, including blood thinners, heart and blood pressure medicines, anti-seizure medicines, diabetes treatments and psychiatric medications, can be dangerous to stop suddenly. Your surgeon and your own doctor will decide together what, if anything, should change and when. Their instructions always take priority over anything you read here, including on this site. See also the medical disclaimer.
Why medications and supplements to stop before surgery matter
The question of which medications and supplements to stop before surgery comes down to three concerns.
- Bleeding. Some substances reduce the ability of platelets, the tiny cells that start a clot, to stick together, or they affect clotting proteins. In the delicate tissue of the face and eyelids, even small extra bleeding can increase bruising, swelling and the risk of a hematoma, a collection of blood under the skin that may need treatment.
- Anesthesia and interactions. Certain medicines and herbs interact with sedatives and anesthetic drugs, altering their effect or affecting heart rhythm and blood pressure.
- Healing. Nicotine and some other substances reduce blood flow to healing tissue.
Understanding these principles helps you see why a complete list matters, including products you may not think of as medicines.
Products commonly discussed before cosmetic surgery
Surgeons often ask patients about the following. Whether you are asked to pause any of them, and for how long, depends on your health and your procedure. Timings of around one to two weeks are commonly used for non-essential products, but your surgeon will give you the exact instructions.
Over-the-counter pain relievers
Aspirin and many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, affect platelet function. For short-term pain relief, surgeons often suggest alternatives. If you take low-dose aspirin because a doctor prescribed it for your heart or circulation, do not stop it on your own; that decision belongs to your prescribing doctor.
Supplements and vitamins
Fish oil (omega-3), high-dose vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, garlic supplements, ginseng, turmeric or curcumin, and some other herbal products are commonly discussed because they may influence bleeding. Many people take these daily and forget to mention them.
Herbal products that affect anesthesia or mood medicines
St John's wort, kava, valerian and similar products can interact with sedatives or other medications. Traditional herbal remedies, including teas and tonics, should also be listed.
Weight-loss and diabetes medicines
Newer injectable medicines that slow stomach emptying, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, are now routinely discussed before sedation or general anesthesia, because food may remain in the stomach longer. Guidance in this area continues to evolve. Tell your surgeon and your prescribing doctor well in advance; do not stop these medicines without advice.
Hormonal medicines
Some hormonal contraceptives and hormone therapies are associated with an increased risk of blood clots. Whether any change is appropriate depends on the procedure and your personal risk, and must be discussed with your prescribing doctor.
Acne and skin medicines
Oral isotretinoin and some topical treatments affect skin healing. Mention them, including recent courses.
Prescription blood thinners and heart medicines
Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines are prescribed to prevent strokes, heart attacks and dangerous clots. Stopping them without medical supervision can be far more hazardous than the surgery itself. If you take one of these medicines, your surgeon will usually need to coordinate with your own doctor. In some cases the medicine is adjusted under supervision; in others the conclusion is that elective surgery should not go ahead at that time. Both are legitimate, safety-first outcomes.
Smoking, alcohol and recreational substances
Nicotine from cigarettes, vapes, patches or gum constricts small blood vessels, which may slow wound healing and increase scarring and complication risk. Many surgeons ask patients to stop several weeks before and after surgery. Alcohol can increase bleeding and swelling and interact with medications; it is usually avoided for a period before and after surgery. Please also disclose any recreational drug use honestly. It is asked for safety, not judgment.
How to prepare your medication list
- Write down every prescription medicine with its dose and reason.
- Add over-the-counter products, including pain relievers, allergy tablets and sleep aids.
- Add all vitamins, supplements, herbal products and teas.
- Note any allergies and past reactions to medications or anesthesia.
- Bring the original packaging if possible, especially for products bought in another country, as brand names differ.
- Share the list with your surgeon early, and with your own doctor if any change is suggested.
This list is part of the broader preparing for surgery checklist.
Why a complete, honest list matters
People sometimes hesitate to mention a supplement they take irregularly, a medicine prescribed abroad, or a product they feel embarrassed about. Please mention it anyway. Surgeons and anesthesia teams are not judging your choices; they are building an accurate picture of how your body will respond to surgery, sedation and healing. An incomplete list is one of the few surgical risks entirely within a patient's control. If you are unsure whether something counts, include it. It is far easier for your surgeon to tell you that a product is not a concern than to discover it after the fact.
Restarting after surgery
Restarting is as important as pausing. Your surgeon will tell you when each product can be resumed, which may differ from item to item. Prescribed medications that were not paused should continue as normal unless you are told otherwise. If you have questions after surgery, contact the clinic rather than guessing. The guides on reducing swelling and bruising and anesthesia options offer further context.
At Will Be, medication review is part of every consultation with Dr. Kim Jun-young, representative surgeon, and is revisited before the day of surgery. The clinic's wider approach is described on the safety and anesthesia page.
Questions, answered
Frequently asked questions
Still wondering about something? Ask Dr. Kim directly — every consultation at Will Be is with the surgeon himself.
Should I stop my blood thinner before surgery?
Never stop a prescribed blood thinner on your own. These medicines protect against strokes and dangerous clots, and stopping them can be very risky. Tell your surgeon early. Any change must be decided and supervised by the doctor who prescribed it. Sometimes the safest conclusion is to postpone elective surgery instead.
Can I take paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain before and after surgery?
Paracetamol, also called acetaminophen, does not affect platelets in the way aspirin and many anti-inflammatory drugs do, so it is often the pain reliever surgeons suggest. However, dosing limits and your liver health still matter. Take only what your surgeon or doctor recommends, and check combination products for hidden ingredients.
Why do supplements like fish oil and vitamin E matter?
Some supplements may influence platelet function or clotting, which can add to bruising and bleeding in delicate facial tissue. Because they are sold without prescription, people often forget to mention them. Listing every supplement lets your surgeon decide whether a temporary pause is sensible for you and your procedure.
I take a GLP-1 medicine for weight or diabetes. What should I do?
Tell your surgeon and your prescribing doctor well before surgery. These medicines can slow stomach emptying, which matters for sedation and general anesthesia. Guidance is evolving and depends on the medicine, dose and your health. Do not stop or skip doses on your own; follow the plan your doctors agree on.
How long before surgery should I stop smoking?
Many surgeons ask patients to stop nicotine in all forms, including vapes, patches and gum, for several weeks before and after surgery, because nicotine reduces blood flow to healing tissue. The longer the break, the better for healing. Your surgeon will tell you the specific period they recommend for your procedure.
When can I restart my supplements after surgery?
Your surgeon will tell you, and the timing may differ for each product. Non-essential supplements that affect bleeding are often resumed once the early healing phase has passed. Prescribed medicines that were continued should be taken as usual unless you are told otherwise. When unsure, ask the clinic rather than guessing.
One surgeon · Consultation to follow-up
Bring your full medication list to consultation, and the clinic will talk it through with you carefully.
Consultations in Seoul and online. Dr. Kim Jun-young personally reviews every case.