Elevated RBC - will this cause surgery to be cancelled?

Question

My Rbc is 5.77 and platelets is 450,000.Everything else is within range will my surgery be cancelled.My surgery is in 3weeks

Robert M. Lowen, MD · Answer

Dear Pink,
   Both tests are at or above the normal levels for women, and should be followed up by your doctor or referral to a hematologist to see if repeat blood tests are the same or higher.  Both could be normal, but adversely affect the risk of blood clots.
   If your surgery is something with a higher risk of blood clots, like a tummy tuck, or a longer surgery, or you have other risk factors for blood clots, then the elevated rbc and platelet count is even greater cause for concern.  Discuss all of this with your doctor,  follow recommendations.  Until the cause is determined, there is no reason to proceed with elective (optional) surgery.

AI Overview               A platelet count of 450,000 per microliter (μ L) of blood or higher is defined as thrombocytosis. While it is at the very top end of the normal range (150,000–450,000), it often indicates a temporary reaction to inflammation, infection, or iron deficiency. It generally signifies that your body is producing extra platelets, requiring further investigation to rule out chronic conditions.Key Aspects of a 450,000+ Platelet Count:Most Common Cause (Reactive/Secondary): Often a transient response to an underlying condition such as infection, tissue damage, surgery, or iron deficiency. These usually resolve when the underlying cause is treated.Persistent Levels (Primary/Clonal): If levels remain high or rise significantly higher, it may indicate a bone-marrow disorder known as Essential Thrombocythemia (ET).Potential Risks: While a slightly elevated count may cause no symptoms, high levels can increase the risk of blood clots, which can lead to complications such as stroke or deep vein thrombosis.Signs to Monitor: Consult a doctor if you experience symptoms like unexplained bruising, headaches, dizziness, or chest pain.Next Steps: A doctor will likely order a follow-up test, as a single high reading does not automatically indicate a serious disorder.

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

Laboratory results outside of normal must be looked at within the total picture of your overall health and your other laboratory results. The best people to evaluate this and give a judgement would be a hematologist who can tell you whether this is something to be concerned about or a normal variant from normal. If the hematologist states this is within normal limits, then this eases any concerns for your surgeon and you to safely proceed with your surgery. Best wishes.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear pinkflamingo85,

every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. 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

Vasileios Vasilakis, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,
Thank you for the question. Most likely not, but you should discuss this with both your surgeon and PCC. 
I wish you the best. 
Vasileios Vasilakis, MD, FACSDouble Board Certified Plastic SurgeonHouston, TX.

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEPOBRAS · Answer

An RBC of 5.77 and platelets of 450,000 are mildly elevated in many lab ranges, but whether surgery is delayed depends on the lab reference range, hemoglobin and hematocrit, medical history, hydration, smoking, recent illness or inflammation, medications, and the anesthesia team's protocol. These numbers do not automatically mean cancellation, but they should be reviewed before an elective tummy tuck.

Because your surgery is in 3 weeks, contact your surgeon or anesthesia team now and send the full CBC report. They may repeat the CBC, check for dehydration or inflammation, ask about clotting history, or have you cleared by your primary doctor or a hematologist if the values stay high. Tummy tuck surgery has its own blood-clot risk, so your team needs to be comfortable that the blood counts do not add avoidable risk.

If you have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, calf swelling, severe headache, or signs of infection, seek urgent care. Otherwise, do not wait until the day of surgery to ask; early review gives you the best chance of either being cleared or safely rescheduling.

Yasemin Aydinli, MD · Answer

Based on the numbers you've shared, I wouldn't assume your surgery will be cancelled. A mildly elevated RBC count and platelet count by themselves are not necessarily a reason to postpone surgery, especially if the rest of your blood work is normal.These values can sometimes be influenced by factors such as dehydration, smoking, medications, or simply normal variation. Since your surgery is still three weeks away, there is plenty of time for your surgeon to review the results and, if needed, repeat the labs or request additional evaluation.I would recommend discussing the results directly with your surgeon, as they will consider your complete medical history and the planned procedure rather than looking at these numbers in isolation.Best of luck with your upcoming surgery.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Your surgeon will review your lab values and discuss any concerns or need for further intervention.  A request to have the labs repeated for accuracy may occur.  Your surgeon is the one who will determine if it is safe for you to proceed as planned.

Elevated RBC - will this cause surgery to be cancelled?

Answers (7)

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