Tummy Tuck While on Blood Pressure Medication?

Thank you for your question regarding having a tummy tuck while taking blood pressure medication. The short answer is yes, you can still have a tummy tuck while on blood pressure medication, as long as your blood pressure is well-controlled and you are in good overall health.

Before undergoing any surgery, including a tummy tuck, your plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist will review your medical history, including your blood pressure condition and the medications you are taking. If your blood pressure is managed and stable, the surgery can usually proceed without issues.

However, certain precautions may need to be taken:

Preoperative evaluation: Your plastic surgeon may request that your primary care physician or cardiologist provide clearance for surgery to ensure your blood pressure is under control.
Medication adjustments: Some blood pressure medications may be adjusted temporarily before surgery. Your surgeon will advise you on whether to continue or adjust your medication leading up to the procedure.
Monitoring during surgery: Your blood pressure will be closely monitored during the surgery to ensure it stays within a safe range.
It's important to maintain open communication with your surgeon and healthcare team. If your blood pressure is not well-controlled, it's critical to manage it effectively before considering surgery to reduce the risk of complications.

I recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your specific situation and ensure you’re a good candidate for surgery while on blood pressure medication.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Well controlled hypertension is not a contraindication to tummy tuck surgery and/or other elective plastic surgical procedures. Always best to check with your primary care physician for “medical clearance” prior to surgery. Managing your anti hypertensive medications around the time of surgery will be important. In my practice, I prefer the use of general anesthesia provided by a board-certified anesthesiologist. I hope this, and the attached link, helps.

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. 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!