Breast Implants Safe After Thyroid Ablation?

Congratulations on your decision to have breast augmentation! As long as it is done for the right reasons, in an appropriate candidate, and by a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, and at the appropriate time, breast augmentation is a wonderful procedure with fabulous results! However, when you are actively treating any complex medical condition such as Graves Disease (overactive thyroid), you should postpone elective surgery until your medical situation has stabilized. Radioactive ablation... more

Hi. I don't think you should have any elective surgery for several months after your thyroid ablation.  You need to recover from the thyroid surgery, and you need to be sure that you have normal, stable thyroid hormone levels with medication.

YOu should review the care with all doctors. If they approve of you having surgery , then you will need medical clearance.  You really want to get your medications stabilized first before you go ahead with any elective surgery.

I would recommend strongly that you discuss your ELECTIVE surgical plans with all doctors.  It may be wise to hold off on the BAM until your hormone levels are stable and well regulated.  The thyroid plays a roll in metabolism, including healing.

Thyroid ablation is a hormonal insult to your body and its metabolism.  It can take some time to adjust to this and get back on an even keel so I agree with the others who believe your augmentation should be postponed for a few months until you are totally stable and have your strength back. 

I totally agree with Dr. Horton. Surgeons are often taught to think and learn to react as do pilots. Furthermore, just like pilots are not supposed to take off in a storm or take stupid chances with their passengers -- neither are we supposed to do the same with our patients. What a loss of both engines may be to a pilot, we have the several classical similar "scary scenarios" such as malignant hyperthermia, ventricular tachycardia/ cardiac arrest AND thyroid storm-the sudden... more

That is a good question. There may be some concerns with a potential thyroid storm - which is a sudden release of thyroid hormones after radiation. This is not a plastic surgeon's area of expertise and I would make sure that your radiation therapist, endocrinologist and anesthesiologist are all aware of your plans for the surgery to follow the radiation therapy.