Why is bloodwork/labwork necessary prior to Breast Augmentation? And why do you have to stop drinking 2 weeks prior to surgery?

Hello,Thank you for your questions. It is best to have these answered by your chosen clinic- perhaps there is paperwork to accompany these instructions? Many Plastic Surgeons will request simple blood work to be done prior to surgery which ensures that your blood clots normally, that you aren't pregnant and have no infections. As well, avoiding supplements and certain medications will reduce the risk of bleeding issues during/post surgery. Alcohol can cause you to bleed more easily as well. Each practice will have their own, preferred protocols and they differ somewhat. All the best

Blood work is standard before surgery.  Abnormalities in electrolytes or cells can make surgery unsafe. Thankfully, finding abnormalities in patients undergoing elective surgery is rare. Vitamin E can make one bleed during surgery, as well as other herbs and supplements.

The lab work I require differs depending your medical history. A 25 year old healthy woman probably does not need any blood work done if the review of systems is negative for any problems and the preoperative exam is normal. Most will require a pregnancy test before any anesthesia the morning of the procedure. Having said that, many anesthesiologist require more than the basics. Every center is different on the requirements. As far as the vitamins and drinking, we know that alcohol thins the blood making your bruising and risk for hematoma higher. This effect does not carry over a week, so in my opinion 2 weeks is a little long, but vitamins and supplements sometimes have doses of things can make you bleed or react poorly with anesthesia so to avoid any problems just be on the safe side and hold them for 2 weeks. The risk of breast hematoma is higher in people that are drinking within a few days of the surgery and since this is an elective procedure we want to minimize any extra risk. I hope this helps.  

It's fair game to ask your doctor's nurse to explain the reason for testing before surgery as well as the ban on alcohol. We normally advise against alcohol for several days post surgery because alcohol dilates the blood vessels and can cause more bruising, even contribute to postop bleeding.

We do not ask our breast augmentation patients to stop drinking alcohol prior to their breast augmentation. Additionally, we do not routinely get bloodwork/labwork on our breast augmentation patients.If a patient has any major health issues, or if there is a question about her cardiac or pulmonary status, then we would get labwork or an EKG, but this would be unusual. You'll have to ask your plastic surgeon why he/she recommends abstaining from drinking alcohol and why he/she is obtaining lab tests. Best of luck to you!

and I'm sorry to hear that.  There are many surgeons that will screen their own patients prior to surgery to ensure they are healthy for surgery... and they don't depend on medical doctors to do that.  Lab work is needed to ensure your platelet count is adequate for clotting (and it should be) and that you don't have an elevated white blood count that could suggest an infection or some other problem.  Urine is checked to ensure no UTI.  As for Vitamins and alcohol, its really up to your surgeon and your surgeon doesn't want patients using that.  In my practice, its not that big a deal but that is my opinion and I am not your surgeon.

Thanks very much for your question. It's important to make sure you're healthy enough to have surgery, which is why your physician wants you to see your primary care doctor. Certain laboratory values will show if there are any concerns. For example if you have a problem with blood clotting, you could have excessive bleeding which would be unsafe.  More concerning is your report that the patient Cordinator is short with you and not answering questions. This is not something that seems like it is commensurate with a good doctor patient relationship. You might want to consider another consultation to make sure you're comfortable with the office as well as the physician.

Pre-op lab work requirements are on an individual basis.  The need is determined by your age and/or past medical history.  I ask that my patient's refrain from alcohol for 2 weeks before surgery as this will thin the blood and increase post-operative complications. 

Hi
Your doctor wants you to get blood work to make sure you are healthy for surgery. For example, one of the things I will look at is to make sure your blood clotting factors are within the normal range. I also want to make sure my patients are not pregnant. So as you can see it is a necessary step prior to surgery. Alcohol can make you bleed more during surgery so I advise my patients not to drink 2 weeks prior to surgery as well. Certain vitamins and supplements can also affect bleeding. Maybe try calling your doctor's office and speaking with someone else if you are feeling rushed. Best wishes!

We like to have patients avoid alcohol for two days before surgery as it has been know to cause more bleeding. The medical literature is full of studies showing preop labwork for healthy patients under 60 is a waste of the lab's time and the patient's money. Be wary of an office that actually owns the equipment that does the lab work because it may be nothing more than an income generator.