Will Diabetes/high Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol Affect a Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Most Diabetics can have plastic surgery safely. To minimize risks, you, your diabetic doctor along with your plastic surgeon need to make sure that your diabetes is under good control before and after the procedure. Although some complications may be increased, such as infection, the odds are generally in your favor that you will do OK

Hello! Thank you for your question! There are a few medical comorbidities that contribute to a higher risk during any surgical procedure including infections, wound complications, delayed wound healing, bleeding, anesthetic risks, etc. Diabetes is one that is known to have an increased risk for infections and wound healing issues. There are a number of both systemic and local host factors that can contribute to infections. Whether or not diabetics are truly at greater risk and the magnitude of the effect of diabetes on the risk of infection remain controversial. However, there is a known increased propensity to develop infections and delayed healing. Some of the hyperglycemia-related impairments on the immune response include vascular insufficiency, sensory peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, and skin and mucosal colonization with pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Candida species. That being said, well-controlled diabetes should equate a minimal increased risk for the above and surgical procedures still safe and a reasonable decision. You should ensure adequate glucose control always, but also obtain medical clearance from your primary care physician that you are at an acceptable risk for undergoing a surgical procedure. Laboratory results such as HgbA1C is a good measure of control. Discuss all of your medical comorbidities and medication with your surgeon prior and discuss these risks. Measures will be taken to check levels as well as maintain proper glucose control with appropriate fluids and medications. This procedure should still be very safe for you and hope for an uncomplicated course with an excellent result! Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

The medical conditions you describe place you at some increased risk but do not necessarily mean that you can't have a tummy tuck.

It is important to discuss all of your medical conditions with both your plastic surgeon and your medical doctor.

It will be important to have your diabetes, BP, and cholesteral under control and monitored.

Only proceed with elective surgery when have medical clearance from your health care providers and follow their instructions to a T.

Medical conditions pose risks. It all depends on how you manage those risks and how much risk you are willing to take.

Hello there!

It's nice to meet a fellow El Paso-an here on Realself! 

While there is no question that your particular medical conditions increase your risks with abdominoplasty, this does not necessarily mean you could not safely have the procedure... Just that careful and deliberate steps need to be taken in the planning of your surgery with close communication between your surgeon and your medical doctor.

 

Having these types of medical issues should not present a problem unless they are not under control. Medical clearance from your primary care physician is required. Anesthesia will run a fasting glucose and take a look at your blood pressure the day of surgery-if all is well surgery will proceed. It is worth mentioning that if you have diabetes; the possability of having complications with wound healing is a concern. Close monitoring by you and your PS will minimize problems in the post op period. Best wishes, Dr. H

Thank you for your post. Diabetes is a disease that should demand a healthy respect from both surgeon and patient in plastic surgery. It is a disease that affects the immune system and can increase the risk of infection, a disease that affects the healing potential of a wound and can cause opening of a wound, and is a disease of the circulation that can lower the blood flow to the operated tissue and cause necrosis or tissue death. This needs to be managed as follows:1. Tight blood glucose control with diet, exercise, and medication. You need to see your internal medicine doctor regularly and make sure your diabetes is well controlled. 2. If you are overweight, then losing weight decreases your risk in tummy tuck surgery or any other surgery for that matter.3. If you have high blood pressure, this needs to be managed and well controlled by your internal medicine doctor as well.4. ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING!5. Consider with your surgeon HyperBaric Oxygen therapy pre- and post-op.6. Make sure you understand from your surgeon and anesthisiologist what medications you should take or not take prior to surgery.It is very possible to have a great outcome as a diabetic following tummy tuck surgery, but minimizing the risk is the most rational way of accomplishing this.Best Wishes, Pablo Prichard, MD

Great question!  Though medical problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure increase the risks factors, it does not prevent you from having an abdominoplasty.   If you are being treated by your primary care physician and have a medical clearence you may be a candidate for a tummy tuck.  It is important to let both your plastic surgeon and your primary care physician know of all health issues.

Diabetes and high blood pressure will absolutely increase your risk for problems but will not necessarily prevent you from having a tummy tuck. If both are well under control and you don't have other major risk factors, you could potentially have the surgery though medical clearance is mandatory.

This is elective surgery so you want to make sure that everything is in your favor. Other important issues to consider which you did not mention are age, weight - BMI/obesity, cardiac status and even history of smoking.

YES! Read all the expert posters here. Your risks increase with any medical problems. Best to check with your doctors to obtain a FULL medical clearance. 

The question should best be directed to your internist and/or endocrinologist. Medical clearance is required for an abdominoplasty and this is a call that must be made by your treating physician based on whether your blood pressure and sugar are controlled. If your medical situation is well controlled, then your plastic surgeon will discuss the potential risks applicable to a diabetic, in terms of wound healing, or a hypertensive patient, including embolism.