The 411 on Plastic Surgery With Medical Conditions
One of the most common questions plastic surgeons hear is, “Can I still have plastic surgery with medical conditions?”
The short answer is, “As long as your health is optimized for surgery, it is safe.”
That’s why highly professional plastic surgeons not only provide compassionate care, but they also conduct a pre-op screen to catch any major medical issues – such as a mammogram before breast surgery.
Performing Plastic Surgery With Medical Conditions
Cosmetic surgery can be performed on patients with many medical issues including asthma and diabetes. In fact, abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck, can actually improve diabetes and boost overall health by lowering blood pressure.
Even so, pre-op clearance is of the utmost importance in situations where there is a pre-existing medical condition.
Labs are run that include complete blood count, electrolytes, blood sugar, kidney and liver function, and coagulation profile. And electrocardiograms (EKG)s are checked for those over 40 years of age or with pre-existing conditions warranting one, such as high blood pressure.
Board certified anesthesiologists and plastic surgeons gather all of this information to assess any risk stratification the patient may have. From there, they set up a highly specialized surgical plan to treat the patient.
During surgery all patients are fully monitored and adjustments to vital signs are made accordingly. In higher risk groups, the surgeon and anesthesiologist may recommend hospital-based surgery as a precaution and keep the patient overnight for observation.
It’s also important to note that any plastic surgery performed on those with medical conditions should involve doctors and nurses with Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.
What If I Have a High BMI?
Surgeons treat elevated BMI patients all the time. With advancements in medical technology, some of the previous challenges that obese patients faced can now be mitigated – making BMI merely a number.
Patients who are overweight or obese are more likely to have sleep apnea – meaning they temporarily stop breathing while sleeping. Anesthesiologists take this into consideration and the condition is easily treated in the recovery room with CPAP devices.
And issues such as high blood pressure which are common in obese patients are closely monitored and controlled. The aforementioned EKG may also be administered pre-op to determine if there are other cardiac issues.
To reduce the risk of blood clots in patients with a higher BMI reading and when performing multiple procedures, subcutaneous heparin is given before the operation to effectively lower this risk.
Plastic Surgery and Cancer Care
Finally, it’s important to remember that plastic surgery is frequently done for medical reasons. For example, it plays an important role in cancer care for many patients.
Cancer treatment can damage the function or appearance of a body part or parts. Patients seek reconstructive plastic surgery to repair those changes; making it hugely beneficial to the health and wellbeing of cancer patients.
So while plastic surgery isn’t performed when a patient is actually going through treatments, it is often a godsend in the aftermath.
Do You Still Have Questions?
If you’re curious about having a plastic surgery procedure but need more assurance about the safety of plastic surgery with medical conditions, contact us today for a free consultation.
Our surgeons will take the time to answer any of your questions and address your concerns. They will tell you honestly and upfront about your specific situation, any possible risks, and how they will be addressed.
Then you can make an informed decision.