I had a spleenectomy. Would I be able to have a rhinoplasty procedure? (Photo)

Hi Noemi33,I do not think that the splenectomy should have any effect on the safety and outcome of the rhinoplasty procedure.Good luck!

Very good question and the answer is complicated. The spleen is recognized as the host for immune cells essential for antibody production and elimination of blood-borne pathogens, particularly encapsulated bacteria. Splenectomized patients are predisposed to overwhelming fulminant infections caused by encapsulated bacteria that are refractory to the usual treatment, with a case-fatality rate of 40% to 54%. Therefore prevention of infection by vaccination is a key feature of the management of splenectomized adult patients. You should not undergo any elective surgery unless all of your immunization vaccines are up to date. Strep pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae vaccines are usually given 2 weeks before elective surgery.Since blood flow in the portal system is altered by splenectomy there is also risk of clot in the portal vein to the liver during the low blood flow states associated with anesthesia, surgery and recovery from surgery. Therefore a blood thinner should be considered around the time of surgery.The next important factor is why you had the splenectomy. If it was performed because of trauma that is all you should require. If it was removed because of lupus, sickle cell, ITP or other blood disorder vaccination alone will not be enough. Further precautions required before elective surgery would depend on what the exact reason for splenectomy was.This is clearly something you should not do without careful planning, appropriate specialist input and making sure every t is crossed every i is dotted.I hope you realize that this format of posting questions and receiving answers lacks the face to face direct communication required for you to make an informed decision regarding your surgery.My response to your question/post does not represent formal medical advice or constitute a doctor patient relationship. You need to consult with i.e. personally see a board certified plastic surgeon in order to receive a formal evaluation and develop a doctor patient relationship in order to know if this assessment is valid.

This should not be an issue. With regard to the infection risk of surgery, having had a prior splenectomy should not put you at greater risk for post-operative infection or complications. However, given your medical history you would need to be cleared for your surgery by your primary care doctor and ensure that surgery will be safe for you. Consult with a rhinoplasty specialist who chooses to focus on this highly complicated facial procedure. Best.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon