Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

Hi Dr. Lam,

I have read on the Internet and via other sources that it is best to stay away from aspirin and Vitamin E before having a procedure like fat grafting in order to minimise bruising. Do typical over the counter multivitamin tablets contain enough vitamin E (say 10 Mg) to be of concern or is it ok to continue with them before fat grafting?

Also when is it alright to continue with sports activities like scuba diving (i'm an enthusiast) after fat grafting to the orbital rim. I can't imagine that a scuba mask placing pressure on that region is alright, is it?

Thank you!

Fat grafting is a pretty safe procedure when it comes to medications and exercise following the procedure, mainly because there are no incisions. That being said, I always advise you to stop ALL vitamin E for a week before if possible. Just in case. ditto with aspirin. You can actually resume taking them within 48 hours after completing the procedure.

As far as scuba, a minimum of 6 weeks but preferably 3 months is what I would say. I just don't want the pressure of the mask and water on the face. Can I say that with certainty the first 2 to 3 weeks following fat grafting would be unsafe to scuba? No, not really, just trying to be conservative in my responses for your safety.
best,
sml