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Are Blood Tests Mandatory Before Surgery?

asked 2 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 6,946 times
Tags: abdomen, breasts

From reading other stories i was under the impression that i would have blood work done at my pre-surgical appointment. But when i went the nurse went over my history, checked my blood pressure, lungs, heart, etc. and looked down at her paper and said ok your all set to meet with the anesthesialogist your Doctor didn't order any blood work. Is that ok? Should i be concerned? My Tummy tuck and breast augmentation surgery is next week and i am starting to get really nervous.

19 answers to Are Blood Tests Mandatory Before Surgery?

Preoperative testing will vary with your surgeon and the facility

Hi there- For healthy young women (under age 30 with no medical problems) having short procedures with limited blood loss and anesthesia time (breast augmentation), most surgeons and facilities would not require any testing at all, other than a pregnancy test done in timely fashion. Similarly, most would agree that patients over 40 or 50, or those with medical problems, would benefit from testing before undergoing surgery. The gray area therefore, is between the ages of 30 and 40.... How to best more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Your age and health status is relevant

Not every body need to have blood work and anesthesialogist will follow guide lines based on the surgery, age and risk factors. You should be able to discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon rather than asking other doctors. You are about to let your surgeon operate on you and you should be able to talk to your doctor freely about any concerns that you have.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Blood tests are often unnecessary for tummy tuck and breast augmentation

If you are healthy and relatively young a blood test is not necessary for a breast augmentation or a tummy tuck procedure. Those who are on medication or have a history of anemia deserve a check beforehand, and those with a medical condition may require a checkup by their doctor for a medical clearance for surgery. A 'clearance' means that your medical condition is stable and well managed at the time and will not conflict with your procedure. Chest x-rays are a thing of the past. We do... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Blood Tests Before Surgery

Many agree that routine blood testing prior to surgery in young, healthy patients (say less than 30 years old) is not necessary. While to a certain extent that may be true, I feel otherwise. I require a CBC (complete blood count) prior to surgery on ALL patients. This is to check for anemia (uncommon but I probably advise 10% of patients to begin iron supplements before surgery) but also to check the white cell count (an indicator of infection) espcially... more

Scott Greenberg, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

It is better to be safe than sorry with pre-operative blood work

I have all of my patients get blood work if they are having anesthesia. This is true for someone 18 years old to someone 75 years old. A simple work-up is easy to do, minimally inconvenient and can potentially pick up a problem that could be exacerbated by a surgical procedure or anesthetic. It is better to be safe than sorry!

David Rankin, MD
Jupiter Plastic Surgeon

Blood work often times is not necessary

In healthy patients under the age of thirty-five, without significant past medical problems, routine blood work isn't usually indicated. Assuming the patient hasn't had a tubal ligation or hysterectomy, the only lab work that we will require is a pregnancy test and that's usually obtained on the morning of surgery. Hope this helps. Best of luck.

Sam Jejurikar, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Pre-operative blood tests

In healthy patients younger than thirty a pregnancy test is usually all that is required. However, some hospitals and surgical centers often require more extensive testing. For patients older than 30, we generally require a CBC, BMP, and PT/PTT. If you have any respiratory or cardiac issues, then we require a medical clearance from your medical doctor and also an EKG and a chest Xray. Your medical doctor may also decide to order more extensive tests as well.... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Blood Tests Prior To Surgery?

Thank you for the question. You'll find that every practice has a different routine when it comes to pre-operative appointments. This includes blood tests that are ordered. For most young, healthy patients minimal to no blood work is necessary. For example, often a hemoglobin check and a pregnancy test may be all that is indicated for a young healthy patient undergoing “mommy makeover” surgery. In our practice, during the preoperative visit ( typically done... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Preoperative blood tests

I insist that all patients about to undergo surgery have recent blood tests. Although there is most often no abnormality, the rare finding of something unhealthy such as anemia or a blood clotting defect is worth the mimal cost of the exams and can prevent unforseen complications.

Howard T. Bellin, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Required lab work

Unless a particular hospital has "required" labs, for most small surgical procedures (such as breast augmentation) in a young healthy woman, the only necessary lab study is a pregnancy test. For procedures where a large potential space is created (such as a tummy tuck, or any intra-abdominal operation), I like to check the patients blood count to be sure a wide safety margin exists. (If bleeding were to occur after surgery, in procedures where a large space exists a significant... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Blood work prior to surgery

If you are the average healthy individual on no medications that may alter blood work, laboratory studies prior to surgery are not indicated. If you were on a blood pressure medication that may affect your potassium, I would order potassium.

Roger J. Friedman, MD
Bethesda Plastic Surgeon

Usually yes

If there is a chance of blood loss - and there is with the surgery you are having, I order a blood count to make sure you are not anemic. Some doctors do pregnancy tests too. Other than that, if you are healty, take no medications and have no medical problems, few other tests are required.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Preop labs

For a healthy person who is female and young, we require a HCT, urinanalysis and culture if indicated, and a urine pregnancy test. This is for your safety before anesthesia.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Blood tests are usually not necessary in elective surgery if you are healthy

In general, we limit our blood tests to patients that have a reason to have them. For example, the vast majority of patients who take no medications and are deemed healthy by their doctors have no reason for a blood test. Even with a combined tummy tuck and breast augmentation our expected blood loss is modest at best. Getting a blood count would make sense if you have a history of anemia, if you have a medical condition, or if you have had gastric bypass . Without definite medical... more

Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

Pre-op labs before cosmetic surgery

Thanks for the question - Generally people who are healthy and under the age of 35 do not need specific blood work. There can be bloodwork required based on previous medical history (diabetes, bleeding disorders, etc.) or sometimes based on complexity or length of the operation. In addition, if your surgeon is performing the operation at a hospital or surgery center that the doctor doesn't own, there may be protocols required that your surgeon doesn't have control over. As always, if you... more

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Blood work a safety issue for abdominoplasty surgery

While preoperative blood tests rarely reveal any issues of concern for young healthy patients, it is a generally accepted practice to do at least a blood count to ensure that you are not anemic before a major surgery such as abdominoplasty and breast augmentation together. That is not to say that it is a standard of care. If liposuction is to be done as well, I would usually order electrolytes (sodium, potassium, etc.) since the fluid that is infused for lipo can afffect that balance if in... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Pre-op labwork

I routinely order Anesthesia Guidelines for my pre-op testing. This usually results in fewer tests than I would personally order. Many young and healthy patients do not require blood tests, X-rays, etc. I do agree with Dr. Aldea that all women of child-bearing age should have a pregnancy test.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Pre-Operative Testing; Necessary or a Waste of Time?

99.99% of pre-operative lab testing in healthy people under 35 years of age is a total waste of resources. We usually limit it to doing a pregnancy test to make sure that general anesthesia is not given to a pregnant woman lest her fetus be POTENTIALLY damaged in its formative stages by any of the medications. So - in your case and I am assuming you are a young and healthy woman - no pre-testing is really needed. The other questions should be - just how much effective scrutiny do we want... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Pre op blood tests

A full preoperative work up is manditory. This is done by your internist (Family physician) along with Complte blood work, depending on your age an electrocardiogram is needed. These are the requirement in any hospital or surgical facility. for a surgical facility to be accrideted these preop workup is manditory or the surgical facility will NOT be ACCRIDETED

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

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