Did not get cleared for surgery because of my blood pressure reading. How long will it take to get it under control?

Question

Hello, I had my eyelid surgery scheduled for next week but was not cleared by my primary care because of my blood pressure reading was high at the time of my physical exam. How long does it take to get the blood pressure under control with medication so that I can have my upper eyelid surgery...days, weeks, months? Thank you!

Anthony Corrado, DO · Answer

It is imperative that you get good control of your blood pressure prior to Blepharoplasty surgery.  High blood pressure can lead to hematoma, a dangerous complication.  It is difficult to say how long each individual will require to get pressure under control after anti-hypertensive medications have been started.  I suggest you followup with your primary regularly to monitor your condition.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

That question has no definitive answer. Every patient is different. You will have to have a continue monitoring by your  primary care physician and he or she will determine when your blood pressure has been stable enough to proceed on with cosmetic surgery

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

It can simply be a matter of changing the dose of your medication (or taking your medication is you have a habit of skipping the drug).  This might be a day, a week, or longer.  Then of course you need to get fit back onto the surgery schedule.  We generally try to have our patients schedule a surgery clearance with their primary care physician about 3 weeks ahead so if easily manageable issues do come up, they can be handled prior to surgery.  Every once in a while a new issue is discovered like a more serious heart condition that needs to be addressed and this is really why we do these health screenings prior to surgery.  They are really for your benefit, to discover conditions that my adverse affect your health and even increase the risk for surgery.  You need to communicate with the physician taking care of you and also have that doctor communicate with your surgeon so every one knows the plan.

Josh Olson, MD · Answer

Without knowing all of your medical history and how long you have had high blood pressure it will be impossible to answer your question. Many patients present for cosmetic surgery assuming they are healthy but have not seen their primary care physician for years. There are typically no symptoms with high blood pressure and diabetes so it's best to keep up on your doctor visits. If you are in otherwise good health with only mildly elevated blood pressure I would think a month would be enough time to correct but this may take longer to get whatever medications are needed dialed in. Good luck.

Gregory L. Combs, MD · Answer

It is critically important to have medical clearance by your primary care physician prior to having surgery.  Elevated blood pressure can lead to complications post operatively.  Your primary care physician will guide you as to when it is safe to proceed with surgery and when your blood pressure is properly controlled with medications.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS · Answer

There is no definite answer for this question. Moreover, each anesthesiologist and surgeon have their own guidelines regards when to operate in this situation. Your primary care physician may be able to guide you better as he or she knows the specifics about you.

Francisco Canales, MD · Answer

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to many intraoperative and postoperative problems, so it is best to wait until your blood pressure is relatively normal before having elective surgery. Your primary care doctor will know when you are ready.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

It is important to be medically cleared by your primary care physician for elective cosmetic surgery such as  a blepharoplasty. Sometimes, it takes a few weeks to get blood pressure under control and several different medications may be required to be tried to find out which works best for each individual patient.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

You need to be sure to continue to see your primary care physician.  He/she will most likely give you medications to control your B/P.  Your primary care physician will decide when it is safe for you to be cleared for surgery.

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Luli68, Typically blood pressure can be under control with medication in approximately two weeks. Your primary care physician should speak with your scheduled anesthesiologist upon clearance for surgery. You will want to continue to monitor your blood pressure after the procedure and remember to take your medication as directed. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Did not get cleared for surgery because of my blood pressure reading. How long will it take to get it under control?

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