Breast Augmentation and High Blood Pressure, Okay For Surgery?

If your blood pressure is well controlled and within normal limits on medications, you can have surgery without reservations. Some patients experience high blood pressure on doctor visits due to stress.

A blood pressure of 120/83 is not particularly worrisome.  Surgeons become more concerned when the blood pressure gets above 140/90.  You are right, just being nervous (such as on the day of surgery) can raise your pressure temporarily.  So just inform your surgeon that your pressure may be a little borderline and the medication you are taking.  They will keep an eye on your pressure before, during, and after surgery.

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. Hypertension is one that is known to have an increased risk during a procedure. There are a number of both systemic and local host factors that can contribute to high blood pressure. Hypertension itself is not a true contraindication to having any surgical procedure, but it should always be controlled. Risks that coincide with high blood pressure, such as coronary artery disease, pulmonary issues, varicosities, etc. can certainly be worrisome as the risk for other issues including MI, stroke, etc. can be severe. Complications such as bleeding and postoperative hematomas may be increased and hemostasis obtained well.  Your pressure appears within normal limits - it is not uncommon to have "white coat syndrome" and your pressure can be elevated. With your pressure, it should be safe to proceed. That being said, well-controlled high blood pressure should equate a minimal increased risk for the above and surgical procedures still safe and a reasonable decision. You should ensure adequate blood pressure control always, but also obtain medical clearance from your primary care physician that you are at an acceptable risk for undergoing a surgical procedure. For elective or aesthetic procedures, your surgeon may want to get you to a baseline level prior to consideration for a procedure. Discuss all of your medical comorbidities and medication with your surgeon prior and discuss these risks. Also, discuss this with your anesthesiologist as proper monitoring and medications will be watched closely. 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 pressures that you are listing are not dangerous in the operating room. Minor hypertension is easily managed during the operation.

Thank you for the question. Blood pressure may be raised for any number of reasons- nervousness, caffeine, or something intrinsic. As long as your blood pressure is under control and your doctors are satisfied, you should do well. Ask your board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck!

If you truly have high blood pressure and it is well controlled under a physician's care then breast augmentation is perfectly fine.

Dr. ES

Good morning!

 A person with properly controlled blood pressure issues can most certainly have a breast augmentation.  Preoperative care must be taken to insure that your BP is in fact controlled and most physicians want you to take your BP med the morning of surgery with a sip of water.

 

I hope this helps
 

I'm glad to hear that you are being followed closely by your primary care physician for your blood pressure.  The pressures you shared are normal.  Continue following up with your PCP as scheduled.  Best wishes.

Dr. Basu

Houston, TX

as long as you are recording your own pressures at home.  You should take a weeks recordings with you to your doctor before starting your medications if you truly believe your have 'white coat syndrome' and let your doctor interpret them as to whether you need to be medicated for this problem.  Also, high blood pressure, if controlled, is not a contraindication for elective surgery.

Thank you for the question. It will be important that your blood pressure be well-controlled before, during, and after the breast augmentation procedure. The blood pressures that you mentioned in your question would not be prohibitive of proceeding with surgery in our practice.

Sometimes, patients can experience a “white coat syndrome” where their blood pressure increases when in physicians offices etc.

 To make sure, you may wish to be reevaluated by your physician again prior to surgery. Ask your plastic surgeon how to manage your antihypertensive medication prior to surgery as well.

 I hope this helps.