Can you have a Tummy Tuck if you are sick?

Question

I am a week away from my tt, and I have a small cold. I'm so excited for the surgery I'm paranoid if I still have the cold it will be cancelled. Under what conditions would a tt surgery be cancelled?

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  If in the unfortunate circumstance that you get sick before your surgery, you may have postpone your surgery until you are better again.  If you are feeling sick, I would discuss with your surgeon who may help you decide depending on your individual symptoms.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

It is not a good idea for many reasons to have surgery while you have a cold.  The physiologic reasons would include poor immune defense, higher infection rates, poor healing, and poor tolerance of and recovery from anesthesia.  From a simplistic standpoint, coughing after a tummy tuck can tear out the muscle plication sutures.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

You should discuss the cold issues with your surgeon so that a good decision can be made.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Erik Miles, MD, FACS · Answer

You should not have the elective surgery if you are sick.  An upper respiratory infection such as a cold can increase the risks from anesthesia.  It is also harder for your body to heal if it is trying to fight infection.  I understand your desire to have surgery on the planned date. A lot of arrangements are typically made prior to surgery. The most prudent thing however is to notify your surgeon of your illness and postpone the surgery if necessary.

Larry Weinstein, MD · Answer

Usually safer to wait until you are well. If the symptoms are mild and you are clear two days before surgery, you will probably be fine.

Frank J. Ferraro, MD · Answer

I ask my patients to let me know if they feel cold type symptoms prior to surgery. If it's severe than we wait until all the symptoms are gone and the patient feels completely recovered.

Ira H. Rex III, MD · Answer

Only your plastic surgeon can make this decision. If your cold is stable or getting worse, you will most likely have to postpone surgery. Sometimes the anesthesiologist is also part of the team to make this decision.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

If you are recovering from a minor cold it's probably okay to go ahead with and abdominoplasty. However if the cold is evolving it's probably best to let it run its course before undergoing and elective operation.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

I am sorry to hear about your concerns prior to your day of surgery. Generally speaking, patients undergoing elective surgery should be at their optimal (or close to) level of health prior to proceeding. It is especially important that there be no compromise of pulmonary function or active source of infection present.
Your plastic surgeon will be the only relevant resource when it comes to determining your ability to proceed at this time.
Best wishes.

Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc · Answer

Thank you very much for your enquiry.Generally if you have got a viral illness and
a temperature at the time of surgery your surgeon may well decide that it is
best not to operate on you at that time.

The reason for this is that viral
type illnesses can affect your lungs and surgery can make this slightly worse.

Generally surgeons would like you in
the best possible health if you do have surgery to limit the risk of you
developing complications following surgery.

I hope your surgery does go ahead and
that you are happy with it.AR

Can you have a Tummy Tuck if you are sick?

Answers (16)

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