Surgery Delay Period After a Cold?

Question

I'm 55 and plannimg for a mommy makeover. I have been fighting this cold off and on about 2 weeks now. My surgery date is in 3 days. How long should I wait to be strong enough for this surgery. I feel a little better but don't know if my body is ready yet. Please advice me as to how long is safe to wait till I go under the knife?! Thanks. Melody

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  If in the unfortunate circumstance that you get sick before your surgery, you may have postpone your surgery until you are better again.  If you are feeling sick, I would discuss with your surgeon who may help you decide depending on your individual symptoms.

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

The Mommy Makeover is one of the largest procedures
performed by cosmetic surgeons.Because
of the magnitude of this procedure, it’s essential that patients be in optimal
health before proceeding with surgery.The presence of a persistent cough may indicate a more serious problem
and should be evaluated by your primary care physician.Until this issue is resolved and the cough
has disappeared for at least two weeks, surgery should be delayed.In the
post-operative period, pre-existing upper respiratory infections can progress
to pneumonia.This can lead to severe
coughing which can lead to severe abdominal pain.In some cases, this can even result in
disruption of the abdominal muscle closure. Although
it appears to be a minor cough associated with a cold, it could have big
consequences.For this reason, it’s
important to delay surgery and evaluate the problem.

Naveen Setty, MD · Answer

Generally, waiting at least 2 weeks from when you are fully recovered from your illness would be recommended prior to undergoing any elective surgery. You should see your primary care physician to make sure there are no other issues. You want to make sure your lung function is optimal prior to any general anesthesia.

Sacha Obaid, MD · Answer

I strongly recommend that you see your primary care doctor and have him/her listen to your heart and lungs and make sure you are okay before surgery. Otherwise, you may make all the arrangements for surgery and have the procedure cancelled by your anesthesiologist. Worse yet, would be to have the surgery aggravate your illness causing you a problem. Good luck.

Jaime Perez, MD · Answer

Hello. It would be risky to have an elective surgery while sick in any way. Having any kind of infection prior to surgery greatly increases the risk of a surgical site infection so it is best for you to postpone your surgery for at least two weeks to avoid any unnecessary health issues.

	 

	Jaime Perez, MD
	Mommy Makeover Specialist
	Plastic Surgery Center of Tampa

Surgery Delay Period After a Cold?

Answers (10)