If I already have low blood pressure, what are the possible problems that this could cause during breast augmentation?

Question

I am concerned about the possible problems I could have during general anesthesia if I already have low blood pressure, and the rates of any severe problems.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Your surgeon will order all tests necessary to ensure you are safe during the breast augmentation surgery. Low blood pressure should not suspend a surgery. Best,

Christopher J. Morea, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. If you are having your surgery done in a fully certified facility, and have a board certified anesthesia provider, your low blood pressure should not be any problem. Best of luck

Bhupesh Vasisht, MD · Answer

Your first job is to figure out the cause of your low blood pressure.  It is hard for us to give you guidance in this forum because we would need much more information.  Before you embark on this surgery, you should find out.  You don't NEED breast augmentation.  This is considered elective surgery.  Your medical health takes precedence. Good luckDr Vasisht

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I think that you need to let your anesthesiologist know about your low blood pressure. They will adjust their medication based upon your history.  Good luck.

Joshua A. Halpern, MD, PA · Answer

Thank you for your question. The anesthesiologist can control your blood pressure with medication. One of these medications is called ephedrine.Your board certified plastic surgeon should evaluate you prior to surgery to see if you are a good candidate for a breast enlargement. The oldest patient I ever operated on for breast implant surgery is in her 80's.

Ravi Somayazula, DO · Answer

I would like to reiterate that all the previous doctors answers in this forum are all correct in their answers. Typically low blood pressure in an otherwise healthy person is not considered dangerous for general anesthesia. As mentiond I would strongy advise having your surgery by a board certified plastic surgeon in an accredited facility or surgical center by a board certified anesthesiologist. I am not sure if your low blood pressure is causing you to have black outs or not but if so that would be a major concern. Ultimately breast augmentation is considered elective surgery so all proper measures need to be taken to ensure that the end result is safe. Your plastic surgeon may certainly refer you to your primary care doctor or cardiologist if the low blood pressure is leading to black out spells etc. Best wishes,Dr Ravi Somayazula

Paul J. Leahy, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. Provided you are otherwise healthy, and are monitored by your primary physician routinely, you should feel very safe about anesthesia. I would only have your surgery using a Board-certified surgeon at an accredited facility that is staffed by Board-certified anesthesiologists. They will evaluate your case and potential risks. You may require close monitoring of your BP after surgery as well, and so this should be established ahead of time. Best wishes.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Assuming you are a healthy young lady  you should do very well, regardless of "low blood pressure" concerns.  If you have concerns about your suitability for surgery, best to seek pre operative consultation (" medical clearance") with your internist  or family practitioner.  As always, careful selection of plastic surgeon ( that will allow for careful selection of anesthesia provider and surgery facility) will be important. Best wishes.

Sugene Kim, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for your question.Breast augmentation is a very safe procedure when performed by a qualified, experienced plastic surgeon and anethesiologist.Many women can have low blood pressure.  During the induction (of anesthesia), your blood pressure can drop down further; however, your anesthesiologist should be able to monitor and control your blood pressure.Since breast augmentation is an elective surgery, please make sure that you are cleared by your primary medical physician.  Also, let your plastic surgeon and anethesiologist of your past medical and surgical history.Good luck with your surgery and recovery.

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear youngcanadianmom,

Thank you for your clinical
post.  Many young women undergoing breast
augmentation have relatively low blood pressure.  If you don’t have symptoms of orthostatic
hypotension that is you sit up quickly, exercise and don’t get dizzy then your
low blood pressure is culminated for by fixed stroke volume of your heart and
intrinsic vascular tone of your blood vessels. 
A certified anesthesiologist in the Province of Ontario will be looking
after you during your procedure.  The
anesthesiologist will know exactly the right mixture of medications to
administer during your breast surgery to ensure that you have adequate blood
pressure to maintain profusion to the critical organs such as your brain,
kidney and liver.  The breast
augmentation procedure is generally almost bloodless with electrocautery
dissection and you should not worry about immediate or ongoing blood loss as a
source of complication for hypotension.

A careful pre-operative workup with a
cardiogram, blood tests and care of an anesthesiologist during the procedure
should maintain the safety of your breast augmentation.  Serious complications are extremely rare when
performed in a safe and certified environment. 
Ontario, unlike many of the states and America has a very tightly
controlled processes involved in who and who cannot perform surgery.  Only plastic surgeons can perform breast
augmentation in the Province of Ontario. 
A certified plastic surgeon will assure that you have a certified
anesthesiologist looking after your blood pressure and vital organs and
critical aspects of your health care.

Seek out the consultation of
experienced plastic surgeons in your market and I’m sure you’ll end up with and
excellent result.  Ensure that part of
your consultation is digital imaging in three dimensions that show you the kind
of outcomes that you might expect with the different size and shaped
implants.  A selection of the right
implant rather than blood pressure concerns are usually the most common source
of unhappiness following breast augment surgery.  Ensure that a 3D computer imaging process is
part of your consultation process.

I’m sure you’ll get an excellent
result and best of luck.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

If I already have low blood pressure, what are the possible problems that this could cause during breast augmentation?

Answers (12)

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