I have sickle cell anemia. Can I have a liposuction done?

Dear regie12,Thank you for your question. Whether or not it is safe to perform liposuctions depends on the severity of your sickle cell disease and any other medical problems you may have. I would request clearance from your primary care doctor and hematologist prior to proceeding with surgery. No surgery is risk free, but being prepared and obtaining the necessary clearances make it as safe as possible.Best regards,Nirmal R. Nathan, M.D.
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons

To some extent this depends upon overall health and previous problems during surgery or other periods of stress.   Your board certified plastic surgeon may require a screening by a hematologist prior to scheduling your surgery, but having the trait should not prevent the liposuction from occurring.
Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles, CA

Anemia alone is not a disqualifying diagnosis for surgery. What needs to be done is management of your hemoglobin level with iron supplements for a month. You should be cleared prior to the operation with a thorough physical from your PCP and blood work.

Dear Regie,
Hello and thank you for your excellent question. For my sickle cell patients, I require a clearance letter from a hematologist. But in nearly every case, surgery can be performed safely and without issues. You may want to look into a body contouring procedure that combines liposuction with laser, radiofrequency (RF), and acoustic therapy to produce the best balance of fat reduction and skin tightening and smoothing for your body type and anatomy. We use a proprietary liposuction technique, combined with Emsculpt to help each patient reach his or her desired result. First off, all devices and instruments used are FDA-approved. We start your treatment with Emsculpt to help strengthen your abdominal muscles, augment your buttocks, and reduce any diastasis or abdominal muscle laxity that you may have. This is particularly important for patients who want convert a “round” abdomen to a “flat” abdomen. Emsculpt has been proven to be able to do this based on peer-reviewed research. We then use Smart / Laser Liposuction or VASER (ultrasound) to reduce dense, fibrous fat, and stimulate collagen formation; Radiofrequency-based skin tightening to maximize skin contraction; and Ultrasound, RF, or subcision (Z Wave, Venus, Cellfina) to treat cellulite, maximize fat reduction, and smooth out any irregularities postop. These procedures are usually performed in the office, with only local anesthesia. Patients go home the same day as surgery, do not need any narcotics postop for pain control, and can return to light exercise and work two days after their procedure. In my practice, we select the appropriate treatment for each patient based on their skin quality, amount of fat and surgical goals. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. Preoperative visualization with Crisalix can simulate what your body will look like after surgery and can help you make your decision. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. Good luck!

Best,

Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS