If you and your doctor determine that surgery is needed to correct your ectropion, you will receive detailed pre-surgical care instructions. It is important to follow your doctor's instructions. These are meant to reduce your surgical risks and improve your body's ability to repair itself. If you smoke, cessation will be a top priority. You must strictly avoid smoking for several weeks before surgery as well as during your surgical recovery. In the weeks leading up to your procedure, you will also need to avoid products that thin the blood. If you take prescription blood thinners, talk to your ophthalmologist and the prescribing physician about recommendations prior to surgery. Over-the-counter products that have blood-thinning effects include aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, garlic, and ginseng, to name a few.