What Should Your Hemoglobin Be for a TT?

Hi there-

For some people, a hemoglobin of 10 is normal, while for others normal is 12-13...

The number is not as important as your overall health, whether or not you have symptoms or limitations from your blood count, and the details of your planned surgery.

Your best bet is to meet with your chosen plastic surgeon about the surgery and discuss whether you are healthy enough to proceed or if further testing and optimization of your condition may be appropriate.

As long as your levels are 12 or higher, you should be okay.  Check with your internist if you have any questions about this.

The accepted value for a hemoglobin level will vary based on age, gender and certain other factors.  I have no issue on operating on a below normal patient as long as they are non symptomatic and the reason for the low H/H is explained. I lose minmal blood during the surgey. Many women suffer from chronic anemia which minimal effect.  These people are still candidates for surgery.  Most gastric bypass patients find it extremely challenging to get close to a normal hemoglobin prior to surgery.  Ususally we put the anemic patients on B12 shots, iron pills and vitamin C(after we know the reason).

 

Good luck and thank you for your question.

 

Sincerely,

 

Los niveles indicados de hemoglobina de cada persona dependen en la edad, sexo y algunos otros factores. Yo no tengo ningun problema en operar a un paciente que tenga bajo nivel de hemoglobina siempre cuando no sea sintomatico y haya una razon que justifique los numeros. La sangre que se pierde durante mi cirugia es minima. Muchas mujeres sufren de anemia cronica sin que les afecte demasiado. Estas personas son todavia candidatas a cirugia. La mayoria de los pacientes bariatricos encuentran extremamante dificil llegar al nivel normal de hemoglobina antes de su cirugia. Usualmente les prescribimos a estes pacientes inyeccionens de B12, pastillas de hierro y vitamina C (despues de conocer la razon de la baja hemoglobina)

 

Suerte y gracias por la pregunta.

 

Atentamente,

Anire Okpaku MD

The optimal hemoglobin level for any type of surgeries specially if it is done under general anesthesia is above 12 grams. If the hemoglobin level of any given prospective patient is around 12 grams we routinely ask our patients to take iron pills to elevate their hemoglobin as a preventive measure, not to compromise their healing and  not to prolong the recovery time.

 Yes, there is a increased risk of complications with to low of a Hemoglobin with an Abdominoplasty especially, a Lipo-Abdominoplasty. Many plastic surgeons utilize crtical pathways to check such matters. We start all our Abddominoplasty patients on Iron & Folic acid 3 to 4 weeks pre-operativily BEFORE the procedure. Normally, this will boast the patients HGB to an acceptable level before surgery and help decrease the risk of perioperative DVT/ PE.

 Hemoglobins of 10 to 12 or higher are normally considered acceptable for an Abdominoplasty. But, this can also depend upon how extensive a procedure you are requiring/ requesting. Conside discusing the matter with your surgeon. Best,

 

Gary R Culbertson, MD, FACS