Tummy Tuck Q&A

94%

WORTH IT RATING

2,305 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Tummy Tuck Cost: $7,950

Learn about Tummy Tuck

7,750 people and 865 doctors are talking about Tummy Tuck

Get Free Email Updates

Tummy Tuck with Low Blood Count?

asked 2 years ago by ty305 in Miami
Latest answer by Michael A. Jazayeri, MD
Question viewed 810 times
Tags: abdomen

I have three wonderful children and a loving husband who supports me 100%.I was scheduled to have surgery (tummy tuck and hernia repair) on 03/09/2010 but was cancled because my blood was low - it was 9.9. Has any one had this problem before?

I have been put on iron pills for 3 to four weeks. What should it be in order to have this type of surgery? And are there a lot of risk because i have heard some scary stories.and one of my co- workers went for lipo and she passed away the next day, she has six kids. Help!

12 answers to Tummy Tuck with Low Blood Count?

Tummy tuck and elective surgery with low blood count

You have brought up very important issues. First of all, elective surgery is ELECTIVE....there is no rush to perform the surgery. So why take any chances? You are significantly anemic and performing a tummy tuck surgery is risky with such a low hemoglobin. If you should have post-operative bleeding, which is unusual, your body does not have any reserve and you can end up requiring blood transfusion. Most patients are anemic because of iron deficiency, so taking iron supplements makes sense. H more

Michael A. Jazayeri, MD
Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon

Anemia and abdominoplasty

Generally, we perfer the hemoglobin level to be above 10.0. When presented with this issue, we look at the patient as a whole- medical history, lifestyle, etc. We usually recommend determining the cause of your anemia and treating it properly. Once this is corrected surgery can be performed. With abdominoplasty, blood loss, although minimal, can be significant, depending upon the patient and the techniques used. It is always better to be safe.

Burr Von Maur, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Cosmetic Surgery and ANEMIA

ANEMIA - the insufficient quantity of functioning red cells that carry oxygen in the blood can be caused by 3 major groups of causes1. Your are not making enough (for some reason (not enough Iron, Vit. B12, bone marrow disease) you are not producing enough red cells forcing the heart to beat faster to move the existing volume of red cells quicker).2. You are losing more than you are making (either internal or external bleeding or increased breakdown by a large spleen). While anemia in... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Anemia and tummy tuck surgery

Your surgeon has erred on the side of safety which is completely appropriate. You should see your primary care physician, if you haven't already, to have the source of your anemia evaluated. Once this is determined and your blood counts are normal, you should be ready for surgery. Good luck, /nsn.

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Preop Anemia

It sounds like your surgeon has done the right thing. You blood count is a bit low, and it would help with iron supplements to raise it before surgery. You should have your blood checked again before surgery. As long as you are a young and healthy person and have no underlying risk factors, getting your blood count up slightly would help before your surgery. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Trust that your surgeon will do everything possible to make your surgery safe

Hi there- As my colleagues have pointed out, all surgery will carry risks... Your surgery should be safe, provided that your anemia responds to your current iron supplementation. I'm not sure exactly what happened to your friend, but death after liposuction should be exceedingly rare when performed by a surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Tummy tuck with low blood count.

Surgery cannot be performed without risk. You must be willing to accept some degree of risk. Your surgeon chose to delay your surgery until your anemia is corrected because he/she felt it was in your best interests and a sign that he/she cares about your overall well being.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck with Low Blood Count

The standard for elective surgery a few years ago was at least 10gm. Hb, but has been relaxed a bit because of inherent dangers in transfusions. I would be more concerned about the cause of your anemia. If there is no serious medical reason for your low blood count, I would not be overly concerned about performing your surgery as my usual blood loss for tummy tucks is relatively low.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck with low blood count

Over 11 for the Hb and 34 for the Hct. But you should really discuss this with the operating surgeon NOT us over the net. From MIAMI

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

You need to have medical evaluation

Your doctor did the right thing by delaying your surgery. The low blood count is common in premenapausal patients and taking suplements will help. Your blood count little bit too low and you need to make sure that there is no other reason for the low blood count.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Make sure you get clearance from you internist before ANY cosmetic surgery

Hello - It sounds as though you may have an underlying cause of your anemia. Therefore, it's very important for you to be checked out and cleared by your internist and/or a hematologist. It may take some time to get you 100% ready for surgery, so please be patient.

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.BaltimorePlasticSurgery.com

Anemia before abdominoplasty

Your doctor was correct to cancel your surgery until your anemia is corrected. Also, you should try to determine the cause of the anemia. Low iron intake is one possibility but be sure other obvious causes have been looked at. If you are having an abdominoplasty without liposuction, blood loss can be kept to a minimum using a variety of safeguard and techniques. It is extremely rare to require any blood transfusion these days but it is better to be safe than sorry with elective surgery. more