Friendly Advice for Birth Control Users

As well all know PS comes with risks and I want to just state it again.  If you are having plastic surgery and are taking birth control, it puts you at a higher risk for getting a blook clot.  If I knew that, I would have took myself off of them.  My PS said he should have taken me off of them.  Please make sure you discuss this with your doctor.

Not that you'll get a blood clot, but I got one and now on 6 months of blood thinners.  I can't do certain contact sports until I'm off of the medication (and plus still on weight restriction).  I understood the risks, just reminding you gals who might be taking the pill to discuss it with your doctor.  It doesnt guarantee you won't get a clot, but worth discussing.

I'm excited to get my thighs done, but not until next year!

My plastic surgeon didn't take me off them either but having been on and off birth control since I started having sex I take myself off them before any surgical procedure and go back on my first period after. 

Sorry you are going through this.  Continued healing.

Ms Shell

I'm surprised your dr didn't tell you to stop prior to surgery. Every plastic surgeon I consulted provided me with a huge list of medications/supplements/vitamins etc. that you have to stop prior to surgery. Ask him if he has this or where you can find it online - it's an extensive list.

that sucks that you got a blood clot - take good care of yourself and remember the contact sports will still be there when you are healthy enough to enjoy them.

Hormonal supplements and birth control pills raise the risk of leg clots and even clots to the lungs.  Travel,  prolonged sitting, and even the compression garments that limit blood from leaving the legs are other problems that add to the risk.

A tummy tuck alone is one of the higher risk procedures for clots as it is.

So bottom line is you have to minimize the "fixable" things, and also perform various preventative measures.  Equally important is to take very seriously any signs or symptoms after surgery that could indicate blood clot. 

This is a problem that is too often NOT thought about and NOT diagnosed properly.

Those of you who offered their thoughts and prayers for Sally in my office 2 years ago when she was in the ICU with a life-threatening clot know how I feel about this !