I have an irregular heart beat; can I have a tummy tuck? Can I have general anesthesia?

Irregular heartbeat comes in many "flavors" and some varieties are benighn, where iothers can be more serious. It is not a reason to avoid surgery, but as the other doctors have posted, it will be important to understand the cause of the heart irregularity and be sure your suregry is done with proper clearance AND in a facility that is properlya ccredited and equipped.

An irregular heartbeat may or may not be a contraindication to elective cosmetic surgery. It depends upon the source of the problem as well as the treatment such as Blood thinning therapy .

Possibly, the irregularity would have to be defined, and the cardiologist would have to give medical clearance.Find a board certified plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of tummy
tucks and body contouring procedures each year. Then look at the
plastic surgeon's
website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can
deliver the results. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

There are many different types of irregular heart beats. Prior to surgery it would be important to have you seen by your family doc, Internist, or Cardiologist. That is routinely done as part of your pre-op evaluation. After that information is know it can be better determined what if any risks you would have with any type of surgery. 

Whenever elective surgery, or non-elective for that matter is performed we have to judge a patient's overall health status. Your surgeon should have you see your cardiologist to risk assess you. Then you and your surgeon together have to look at your risk and decide if surgery is a safe idea or not. Many patients with irregular heartbeats safely have surgery every day.

There are many reasons for an irregular heart beat.  You may or may not be a candidate for surgery and anesthesia depending upon cause of your irregularity. Start with a consultation and take it from there.  

I'm glad to hear that you are thinking about your overall health status prior to opting for cosmetic surgery.  Given your history of an "irregular heart beat", I would recommend that you visit with your cardiologist to make sure you have been properly worked up and to get clearance to proceed with your tummy tuck.   Please visit with a board certified plastic surgeon to learn more about your options.Dr. BasuHouston, TX

There are many causes of irregular heartrate. Some are dangerous to combine with surgery, others are not. The guidance of your cardiologist and a thorough discussion with your surgeon will help tease out which category you fall into.Best,Dr. Pyle