Taking ibuprofen before surgery increases bleeding after the operation.

Is it true that taking ibuprofen before surgery increases bleeding after the operation?

Partly. Evidence is mixed and partial: a plastic surgery meta-analysis and a tonsillectomy chart review found no increased bleeding with ibuprofen, while a GI-bleeding meta-analysis and a cosmetic surgery manual indicate ibuprofen carries bleeding risk. No item settles the general claim about preoperative ibuprofen and postoperative bleeding.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 3 sources for, 2 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Majeed, D. F. A. D. M. I. D. N. Q. D. M. (2019). A PROSPECTIVE STUDY TO KNOW THE EFFECTS OF IBUPROFEN ON BLEEDING TIME DURING PERIODONTAL SURGERY. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3267402

IBUPROFEN DOES NOT INCREASE BLEEDING RISK IN PLASTIC SURGERY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000002027

AG, T., A, G., G, D. F., K, K., KE, T., T, R., A, J., & DC, M. (2026). Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.70054

Bisaccia, E. & Scarborough, D. A. (2002). The Columbia Manual of Dermatologic Cosmetic Surgery. books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=3WFsAAAAMAAJ&dq=Taking+ibuprofen+before+surgery+increases+bleeding+after+the+operation.&hl=&as_pt=BOOKS&source=gbs_api

Esce, A. R. & Meiklejohn, D. A. (2022). Ibuprofen prescription following adult tonsillectomy reduces postoperative opioid use.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103436