Absolutely not.
Minimally invasive total knee replacement with control of small bleeders during surgery has proven very successful in decreasing blood loss. The amazing effect of tranexamic acid—a generic and little-known medication—has substantially decreased blood loss as well. In fact, surgeries of all types—not just orthopedics—are given tranexamic acid intravenously or applied locally. It promotes local clotting where bleeding is occurring, but there is no risk of general thrombosis. A most recent study looked at the success in more than 800,000 patients!
These efforts—minimally invasive surgical technique and tranexamic acid—truly decrease blood loss. Decreased bleeding means less swelling. Decreased swelling translates to less postsurgical pain.