Is pre-surgery bloodwork necessary for a breast lift?

Question

I have gone to several consultations & some surgeons require pre-surgical bloodwork to check for anemia, hemophilia, blood borne illness, etc. Is it a red flag that some do not require pre-surgical blood work? For reference I am an otherwise healthy 32 year old. Should I request bloodwork just to be safe? Thanks!

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

Short answer: yes. Cosmetic surgery can be a very a very rewarding procedure. However, a good Surgeon will evaluate the patient pre-operatively for safety and suitability. Suitability is determined by a very thorough and detailed consultation, including history and physical by the Doctor, as well as all of the pre-op testing. This process will not only maximize your result, but also your safety. All legitimate facilities will require labs and its associated clearances

Lane Smith, MD · Answer

Yes, labs are very important! More especially when you are looking to have a 2-4 hour long lift. You want to make sure you don’t have any underlying issues that could complicate your procedure or delay your healing process. I won’t operate on patients that won’t get pre-surgical labs done. It is not worth compromising your safety. It is absolutely a red flag that any surgeon would even consider operating without checking your labs first! If you would like to be seen for a consultation, feel free to reach out to my office. I ama quadruple board certified surgeon and I always put safety first, incredible results, 2nd. 
Smith Plastic Surgery 702-838-2455

George Volpe, MD · Answer

My answer is in contradistinction to what other surgeons I have seen posting here. Obviously it is very nice to have the information but hospital standards do not require full  bloodwork prior to this type of surgery in many cases. This is not my opinion, this is the result of numerous studies on the subject. If one is not taking medications that can alter your bloodwork, and one does not have an illness that can alter bloodwork, it has been found to be safe to perform surgery without the full array of bloodwork. Certainly a pregnancy test can be indicated. If one has for example heavy menses, a blood count be necessary. Certain medications can lower one's potassium level and for sure diabetes prompt bloodwork. It is also the responsibility of the surgeon to ask questions about the patient's health  (my feeling is one should run away from the surgeon is not asking these questions ). Question should include many topics including bleeding, breathing issues medications and recreation drugs, surgeries such as bariatric the past that can cause malabsorption and anemia, smoking history and also family history. Patient honesty is a key factor also. A typical 35-year-old healthy woman with absolutely no health issues nor family issues in good health have been shown to pose minimal risk for anesthesia. Different institutions have different standards if one is undergoing general anesthesia and a private practitioner's office, the surgeon may be more comfortable and it is certainly the right of the surgeon to ask for bloodwork.

Shaher W. Khan, MD · Answer

All of my patients are required to have a medical clearance prior to surgery. Depending on your health history, bloodwork may be required.

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Yes, pre-surgery bloodwork is typically necessary for a breast lift procedure. Blood tests are usually performed to assess the patient's overall health, including liver and kidney function, electrolyte levels, and blood count, as well as to screen for certain medical conditions such as anemia, bleeding disorders, and diabetes. It's important to follow the instructions of your plastic surgeon and provide any necessary medical information, including the results of pre-operative blood tests, to ensure the best possible outcome for your surgery.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Breast lift is usually procedure performed in general anesthesia. For that reason, set of basic labs and medical clearance by a primary care physician is necessery for preoprative surgical/anesthesia clearance. However, in some cases, breast lift may be performedin in local anesthesia; in that case,  at least a basic labs will be needed. Hope this helps.

Caner Kacmaz, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. I would like to stress how important it is for a patient to have bloodwork done prior to any surgery in which they would undergo general anesthesia. This is done to ensure that you are in good health and can handle the stress induced to your body by the surgery. If your cosmetic surgeon doesn’t require you to have any lab tests before your surgery, run the other way! It is extremely important that all surgical patients requiring general anesthesia be screened before their procedure to help prevent serious complications. Best wishes.

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Isolde15, thank you for your question. Every practice has different requirements for performing a procedure. In my practice all procedures require preoperative blood work. Our prime focus is on patient health. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD FACS Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

Derek Fletcher, MD · Answer

In my opinion, yes you should have basic bloodwork prior to surgery. Among the more common reasons to cancel elective surgery are unexpected, abnormal lab values. Electrolyte abnormalities are relatively common and can effect risk of heart arrhythmias. Anemia is also relatively common and should be diagnosed and treated prior to surgery.