cosmetic-surgery-safetyYou are having your cosmetic surgery consultation and you couldn’t wait for the surgery, or more accurately, the results of your surgery. Except you can’t have your surgery … because of a medical issue. Imagine your disappointment. I feel very strongly about cosmetic surgery safety and I would like to share with you the health considerations of importance.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a important factor to consider. If it has been treated by your physician and is well controlled, its impact can be minimized. One of the main concern of cosmetic surgery safety is increase risks of bleeding after surgery. obviously excessive bleeding is never desirable. In facial operations, it is particularly dangerous.

Cardiac conditions need to be disclosed as much details as possible. Some of the conditions are relatively benign and do not need further work up. Others may need cardiologist consultation. If the conditions are disclosed too late, it may delay or prevent your surgery. One of the more common treatment of heart vessel blockage is to open the vessel with a stent. Many people are treated with stent instead of bypass grafting (open heart surgery). There has been significant concerns with cosmetic surgery safety in the anesthesia literature because of certain risks of clotting of the stents. Futures development of stents may render ambulatory surgery safer, For the time being, however, we generally do not perform ambulatory general anesthesia in patients with coronary stents.

Respiratory problems are important in cosmetic surgery safety too. Asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), sleep apnea can be potential problems for the anesthesia provider. Make sure you inform us accurately and completely.

Bleeding or clotting abnormalities are important to know as well. Congenital bleeding or clotting issues often need evaluation by hematologist and sometimes management with medications around the time of surgery is needed for maximal cosmetic surgery safety. Often these patients have history of either blood clots or unusual bleeding have already been evaluated by the hematologist. If you have similar problem but have not been so evaluated, make sure you tell us in details.

These are just some of the medical issues important to tell us for cosmetic surgery safety. At your consultation, I will evaluate the issues more closely. Remember, I want your surgery to be as safe as it can be.