my nurse told me to take them 3 days before 3 days after but i saw posts on here about it being bad for you before your op so i asked my pharmacist and he said your not supposed to take them before your op only after it. He advised me to take them the day of my op or the day after as they think your blood and this is why they help stop bruising and swelling. Started mine the day after my op and no bruising apart from very slight yellowing in the middle and no pain either. xx