Is it safe to get surgery and general anesthesia after binging and purging in the recent past?

 Congratulations on your weight-loss. You mentioned that you started binging and purging two months ago and did so for two months. Does that mean that you just stopped? Recent studies show that wound healing is decreased in massive weight-loss patients (undergoing tummy tuck) and can be  significantly repaired by correcting protein metabolism. This is easiest to measure with a pre-albumin. Total protein and albumin are often tested in common lab panels. Pre-albumin needs to be requested Studies showed that if the pre-albumin was corrected prior surgery then the wound healing was improved. I suggest that you test your protein studies and at the very least, take in adequate amounts of protein prior to your surgery.  

Thank you for your question. My first question would be what was the method of your weight loss? Did you use binging and purging to achieve the weight loss or was it by another method? If so, I would encourage you to seek some professional help prior to proceeding with any sort of cosmetic surgery. With your recent episode and your rapid weight loss, I would make sure you are honest and open with your surgeon. He or she may want to get some nutrition labs pre-op to make sure there are no issues with wound healing. From a strictly scientific standpoint, the purging should not really affect the general anesthesia, but it would also be best to be honest with your anesthesia provider at the time of your procedure.Best of luck!

A history of purging should not add any significant risk for surgery as long as the behavior is in the past.  Make sure to tell your surgeon as he/she may want to order additional testing prior to surgery.  Also, be sure to inform your anesthesiologist prior to your procedure.  Good luck.

Thanks for your very candid post. I would definitely let your surgeon know on Monday about what's been going on. However, if you are back on a healthy diet w/ plenty of nutrients, and keep that up w/ out any more episodes prior to surgery, I would doubt this would have a major affect on your healing. Best wishes.

you should let your surgeon know and that allows him/her to refer you to other doctors if he/she feels it is beneficial to your outcome and ability to have this elective procedure.

I would suggest seeing your primary MD for a preop evaluation.  Chances are that with two months having past, there would be no persistent issues that add to the risk of surgery.  However, a check of electrolytes and nutritional parameters might be suggested by your doc. Having this done in advance of surgery will lessen the chance of a cancellation by either your surgeon or anesthesiologist. All the best. 

Thank you for the question and if concerned see your internist prior to surgery and get appropriate blood work performed and be fully examined.  That said your surgeon should also be informed so he too can do an additional workup if neededDr. Corbin

Obviously this is something you need to discuss with your surgeon, but if you have been on a healthy diet for 2 months I doubt there will be a problem.

Dear Ms. HannaBanana000,Congratulations on your weight loss and I am sorry to hear about your "stressful event".Undergoing surgery (while for good reasons) is both physically and emotionallystressful. You need to be in the best/optimal physical and emotional condition.I would definitely contact your Plastic Surgeon and frankly discuss your situation with him/her. Delaying your surgery may be disappointing but your safety and long term results are what are really important.I trust you have chosen a Plastic Surgeon who is a experienced and Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In addition ideally he/she is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (denoting by membership as having met additional criteria and a focus on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery).My best wishes, R. A. Hardesty, MD, FACSDiplomate and Certified by the Am. Bd. of Plastic Surgerywwwimagineplasticsurgery.com4646 Brockton AveRiverside, Ca 92506(951) 686-7600