Are There Required Pre-Surgical Tests Before Plastic Surgery?
If you’re getting ready for a surgical procedure and your surgeon hasn’t ordered any pre-surgical tests, that’s a huge red flag. Like “run away screaming” huge.
Any surgical procedure should be preceded by at least a few tests. This includes plastic surgery procedures. These tests help find potential problems that could complicate surgery if not mitigated early.
The required pre-surgical tests before plastic surgery vary from person to person and depend on a number of factors.
Possible Pre-Surgical Tests Before Plastic Surgery
Pre-operative testing typically occurs a couple of weeks before your scheduled procedure so you’ll want to plan accordingly. Depending on your specific situation, the following tests might be required before your surgical procedure:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) With Differential
A CBC is a requirement for everyone. This test measures various aspects of your blood and reveals a lot about what’s going on in your body. Knowing the quality and amount of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets is crucial to the surgeon.
In addition, a CBC with differential will determine your levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit in your red blood cells to identify what risks you may have for anemia and infection.
- Urinalysis
The pre-operative urinalysis is a basic diagnostic test that’s routinely performed to suss out certain conditions and ensure that there are no infections present. If the urinalysis shows a urinary tract infection (UTI), the surgery will need to be postponed until the infection is fully treated. Given that UTIs are more common in women, a urinalysis is more often ordered for women.
- Complete Physical
For younger patients in good health, a complete physical may not be necessary. Older patients and/or those with pre-existing medical conditions, however, will need to undergo a physical in order to get medical clearance for the procedure.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG)
An EKG or ECG test measures and records the electrical signals in the heart. This test is used primarily to identify any problems with the arteries and to rule out coronary issues before surgery. Primarily those with heart conditions will need to undergo an EKG/ECG.
- Chest X-Ray
For patients with heart and/or lung conditions, a board-certified plastic surgeon may also order a chest x-ray. It’s crucial that these organs are healthy enough to withstand the trauma and manage the taxing properties of the healing process.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Because a CMP examines the fluid balance in the patient’s body, it’s typically only ordered for patients who have metabolic issues (or have had them in the past.) It’s important that glucose, electrolyte, creatine, protein, and blood area nitrogen levels are balanced in order to perform surgery. If they’re not, they’ll need to be treated first.
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
Many women know all about the HCG test. The other name for it is pregnancy test. HCG is the hormone that shows up in urine when a woman is pregnant. So if there’s any chance that a woman might be pregnant, she’ll need to be tested for HCG.
- Mammogram
Women who’ve elected to have breast augmentation surgery will need to get a mammogram (known less lovingly as the boob crusher) to ensure there are no abnormalities or cancer.
- HIV
There are extra precautions plastic surgeons need to take in treating patients who are HIV positive. Because of this, an HIV test may be ordered to ensure safety for both the surgeon and the patient.
- Nicotine
There’s nothing like nicotine in the body to increase scarring and slow wound healing. This is one of the big reasons that surgeons require you to quit smoking at least four weeks before surgery. Thus, the surgeon may order a test for nicotine to ensure that his or her work has the optimal outcome.
Pre-Surgery Testing Is Completely Individualized
Just as each patient is different, so too is every surgery. Pre-surgical tests before plastic surgery for your procedure may differ from those of others you know who’ve had procedures. Even if it’s the same procedure.
That’s why it’s important to choose surgeons who will take the time and do the footwork to be sure you have the best and SAFEST experience possible.
We’ve got you covered. Contact us today to set up your free and comprehensive consultation so you can begin your journey.