Risks from Breast Augmentation for Diabetics?

Diabetics are known to be at increased risk of complications and wound healing issues. Having said that, if your blood sugar is in good control, (we are usually guided by your HbA1C blood test), your risk of untoward events is low. We usually would check with your regular doctor to make sure that you are a good candidate for surgery.

The risks are comparable to any other individual of a similar age with possibly and increased, but unquantifiable risk of infection and possible diminished sensitivity as well as peri-operative difficulties in managing blood sugars.

Although diabetics are at a higher risk for wound healing as well as neuropathies, kidney disease, and eye disease, that risk is much less when the blood sugar is within the normal ranges. Most plastic surgeons place their patients on antibiotics routinely for breast augmentation surgery. Discuss this with your plastic surgeon so that he is aware of your diabetes and also discuss the pending surgery with your endocrinologist. Sometimes they will alter your medication regimen in the... more

As long as your sugars are well controlled, you should be fine for surgery.  Although, having diabetes does put you at a slightly higher risk for wound healing problems.  Make sure your endocrinologist or primary care physician is also aware of this and clears you before your surgery.  Good luck!

As a diabetic your risks for infection and anesthesia are generally slightly higher than non diabetice. You should have a thorough evaluation by you internal medicine doctor with special attention to the heart. Many diabetics can have silent heart disease. Otherwise your risk increase if minimal.

It all depends on your general health. If your diabetes (blood sugar) is in excellent control and you have no complications of diabetes like heart disease, uncontrolled hypertension, kidney or vascular disease then your risk may be very manageable. You will want to get an opinion from your primary care doctor or internist who knows you best and helps you manage your diabetes. If your diabetes has been managed and controlled well and you have the concurrence of your internist then there... more

Hello We have done breast implants successfully on insulin-dependent diabetics. They do not appear to have any additional problems related to their diabetes. However, there are risks to anesthesia and also risks of infection that are likely higher in a diabetic. Make sure you have medical clearance from your diabetes doctor and make sure the anesthesiologist is aware of your diabetes ahead of time.

It all depends on your general health. To be safe, I would suggest you have a recent through examination to eliminate any other potential risk factors. If your diabetes is well controlled and you have no other health issues, the fact that you have diabetes should NOT impact how you would do with a breast augmentation. Good Luck.

Diabetics generally have suppressed immune systems and less ability to heal wounds than non-diabetics, especially if the diabetes is not controlled. I am not aware of any specific studies that compared complication, infection and wound healing rates of diabetics and non-diabetics for this operation. I counsel all my patients to have their diabetes well controlled prior to undergoing any cosmetic surgery.