One doctor I consulted with says I need to have a full physical exam with EKG before smart lipo procedure, not sure that the insurance will cover this so soon after my prior physical. I am in excellent health, but I am 55 years old, about 130 lbs, 5'3", size 4 pants, size 6-8 medium tops. I don't see the need for such an exam, am I correct?
January 6, 2015
Answer: Preop exam and work-up Many doctors require patience to get blood work and sometimes medical clearance prior to surgery, It really depends upon the patient's medical history.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
January 6, 2015
Answer: Preop exam and work-up Many doctors require patience to get blood work and sometimes medical clearance prior to surgery, It really depends upon the patient's medical history.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
April 14, 2015
Answer: Safety is always number one With all of the data available, you would think all of us surgeons would have some uniform set of standards for who needs EKGs, lab tests, etc., prior to elective surgery. There are a few variables.I personally do most of my liposuction with patients awake with mild sedation.Many plastic surgeons still prefer to use general anesthesia for liposuction.A request for blood work or an EKG is usually covered by insurance regardless if it's for a self-pay or insurance-based procedure.If you recently had a full workup, that may be sufficient.For now, each surgeon makes their own decisions.Remember that safety is always first.From the patient's perspective, I can see the concern with what might seem like an excessive workup.Try to see it from the surgeon's perspective. Over a career of doing thousands of procedures, all it takes is one fatality to destroy someone's career, reputation and create feelings of guilt remorse and regret forever.To me, it says your surgeon is cautious and conservative.That's better than a surgeon who is a cowboy (nothing personal against real cowboys). Always best to put safety first.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.
Helpful
April 14, 2015
Answer: Safety is always number one With all of the data available, you would think all of us surgeons would have some uniform set of standards for who needs EKGs, lab tests, etc., prior to elective surgery. There are a few variables.I personally do most of my liposuction with patients awake with mild sedation.Many plastic surgeons still prefer to use general anesthesia for liposuction.A request for blood work or an EKG is usually covered by insurance regardless if it's for a self-pay or insurance-based procedure.If you recently had a full workup, that may be sufficient.For now, each surgeon makes their own decisions.Remember that safety is always first.From the patient's perspective, I can see the concern with what might seem like an excessive workup.Try to see it from the surgeon's perspective. Over a career of doing thousands of procedures, all it takes is one fatality to destroy someone's career, reputation and create feelings of guilt remorse and regret forever.To me, it says your surgeon is cautious and conservative.That's better than a surgeon who is a cowboy (nothing personal against real cowboys). Always best to put safety first.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.
Helpful
