Can I still get a tummy tuck with normal hemoglobin, mcv etc but high RDW?

Patient safety is always a priority and takes precedence over cosmetic concerns. An elevated RDW should not preclude surgery but this decision will be made by your surgeon. He or she may also chose to consult with your hematologist or primary care physician before clearing you for the procedure.

Hello and thank you for your question. As long as you have a normal Hb, it should be fine to proceed. If your RDW is too high, it could be an indication of a nutrient deficiency, such as a deficiency of iron, folate, or vitamin B-12. I
would seek consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon for a full
evaluation and advice. Best,
Pejman
Aflaki, M.D.
Johns
Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon

Great question!  It all depends on your surgeon.  Also depends on how much higher it is.  If its not too far off then it maybe okay to proceed. But again, this will all be determined by your surgeon.Best of luck and hope this information helps!- Dr. Roger Tsai  @DrRogerTsaiBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon

A RDW test is usually carried out as part of a CBC, which provides a more comprehensive picture of a person's health. Results can indicate the presence of anemia and help to pinpoint the underlying cause. Your PCP or board certified plastic surgeon can determine if the high RDW will cause you to postpone your TT.

It will be up to your physician whether anything further needs to be done. The options are to repeat the blood lest or, if it’s only slightly off, go ahead with the surgery without worrying about it. But that will be up to your surgeon.

Dear c4ssandraa,
Every plastic surgeon has his preoperative protocol. My guess is that you will get the green light from your surgeon to proceed with srugery. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MD

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Safety is always the number one priority with your surgery.  Chances are good that you will be able to proceed with surgery if the RDW is slightly elevated.  The decision ultimately will be made by your surgeon based on the the specifics of the test results.

As long as your hemoglobin and hematocrit come back normal, you should be fine to have surgery. If RDW looks at Hello and thank you for your question. As long as you have a normal Hb, it should be fine to proceed. RDW looks at the sizes of your red blook cells.Usually if your RDW is high, then you may have a vitamin or nutrient deficiency however you can still undergo safe surgery with non-problematic vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. Hope this helps!Johnson C. Lee, MDBoard-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Hi and welcome to our forum!An elevated RDW may indicate a vitamin deficiency. As you are not anemic, it appears to be of no clinical significance. However, your surgeon will make the final decision based upon his deeper understanding of your present status. Best wishes...