Frequently Asked Questions

Aspirin: when to stop and restart?

 

Stop aspirin 5 days prior to surgery

Many people take an aspirin daily as a blood thinner. The aspirin has an effect on the platelets in the blood which slows clot formation. For decades the standard protocol has been for the patient to stop taking aspirin 5 days prior to surgery. This is because the aspirin effects the platelets for 5 days so it takes the platelets 5 days to recover their function.  This is what we do, just like everybody else.

Start again the day after surgery

You can start the aspirin again the morning after surgery. No big deal at all. It will not affect your healing or increase your risk of bleeding. No worries!

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