Are you using medication to lower your cholesterol, such as a statin? Good news: this medication generally has little direct influence on an eyelid eyelid surgery. Even so, it is important for us to know this, because it tells us something about your general health and cardiovascular risk.
Which medication does this concern?
- Statins: simvastatin, atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), pravastatin
- Ezetimibe (Ezetrol), often in combination with a statin
- PCSK9 inhibitors (injections): evolocumab (Repatha), alirocumab (Praluent)
- Fibrates: fenofibrate, gemfibrozil
Why is this relevant?
Statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs have no direct influence on blood clotting or wound healing, and can simply be continued around an eyelid correction.
The use of this medication is, however, a signal for us: it often points to an increased cardiovascular risk profile (for example high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease that has been experienced, or diabetes). We take this into account in the overall assessment of your health prior to the procedure, together with other factors such as blood pressure and any blood thinners [1].
Discuss it in a personal consultation with plastic surgeon David Jairath, at our clinic for eyelid surgery in Haarlem. A first consultation can usually take place within a week.
Points of attention
- Statins and ezetimibe can simply be continued
- The use of cholesterol-lowering drugs can point to other relevant medication (blood pressure medication, blood thinners); we always ask about this
- Rare, but known: statins can cause muscle complaints; report this if you experience it, particularly if this has started recently
Our protocol at Kliniek het Bolwerk
1. Medication inventory as part of the overall medical history
We ask about all your medication, including cholesterol-lowering drugs, as part of the complete overview of your health [1].
2. Continuing medication
Cholesterol-lowering drugs are simply continued, on the day of the procedure too.
3. Broader risk assessment
Use of this medication can be a reason to pay extra attention to blood pressure, blood sugar or blood-thinning medication use, because these often occur together.
4. No adjustments needed
For the procedure itself, no adjustments are, as a rule, needed on the basis of cholesterol-lowering medication alone.
Important: cholesterol-lowering drugs such as simvastatin, atorvastatin (Lipitor) or rosuvastatin (Crestor) are not a contraindication and can simply be continued around an eyelid correction.
When do we advise against the procedure (for the time being)?
- Not on the basis of cholesterol-lowering drugs alone
- But if underlying cardiovascular diseases (for which this medication is used) are insufficiently under control. See also our blogs on hypertension and diabetes
Our advice
Are you using cholesterol-lowering medication? Simply mention this on your medication list during the intake consultation at Kliniek het Bolwerk; it helps us to get a complete picture of your health.
Literature references
The publications below form the medical-scientific basis of this article:
- Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf. 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537078/
