Medical Conditions And Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is a serious medical procedure, and just like any other type of surgery, you need to be physically fit in order to have it done and then recover from it.

For this reason you may find that even though you want to have cosmetic surgery, an existing medical condition, illness or disease prevents you from having the cosmetic surgery you want because your surgeon feels that you are not physically capable of coping with it.

Below you will find some of the things which could potentially stop you having from cosmetic surgery.

High Blood Pressure & Cosmetic Surgery

If you have high blood pressure and your doctor is giving you medication to control it, most surgeons will agree to operate on you.

If however your medication is not successful at controlling your blood pressure, most surgeons will probably not operate on you because of the increased risk of bleeding which could cause complications.

Heart Disease & Plastic Surgery

Lots of people who have heart disease undergo plastic surgery, so just because you may have problems with your heart doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to undergo surgery.

However, if you do have heart disease, your surgeon will probably require clearance from a cardiologist first before they agree to operate on you.

Mitral Valve Prolapse & Cosmetic Surgery

Mitral valve prolapse is a heart valve problem that typically causes a murmur when your doctor listens to your heart with a stethoscope.

Having this condition makes you more susceptible to infection of the affected heart value, so your surgeon will usually give you some antibiotics to take for several days before the procedure.

Smoking & Plastic Surgery

Smoking causes blood vessels to constrict and increases the risk of developing breathing and heart problems. As a result, smokers have poorer blood circulation throughout the body and in their skin which subsequently reduces the ability of the body to heal itself.

Many surgeons will refuse to operate on smokers as they are unlikely to get the best results from surgery and may suffer from complications both during and after the surgery.

Diabetes & Cosmetic Surgery

Although it is generally safe for type II diabetics to have cosmetic surgery, type I diabetics usually require special arrangements to be made with the anesthesiologist and the insulin that will be required.

Before surgery your normal diet will change which may leave type I diabetics at risk of developing hypoglycemia, so precautions need to be taken for this.

Severe diabetics are also at greater risk of developing postoperative infections, so whether or not a surgeon will agree to operate on you really depends on the severity of the diabetes and whether or not they feel they can manage it.

Breathing Problems & Plastic Surgery

If you have difficulty breathing when walking or climbing up stairs you may be refused cosmetic surgery due to the risk this posses during surgery.

However, you may receive clearance for a minor procedure, but for major procedures where you will be unconscious, the surgeon will evaluate your condition and then let you know if they will operate on you or not.

Anemia & Cosmetic Surgery

As cosmetic surgery involves the risk of blood loss, if you suffer from anemia you will most likely be required to take iron supplements before your surgery to get your blood count within a normal range.

Some surgeons may refuse to operate on anemic people because of the possible requirement of a blood transfusion should severe blood loss occur during surgery.

Bleeding Disorders & Plastic Surgery

Bleeding disorders can make cosmetic surgery very dangerous. For example, hemophiliacs who lack clotting factors in their blood will bleed profusely when cut which means extra precautions need to be taken before and during the procedure. Some surgeons may feel it is too risky and will refuse to operate on such patients.

Infectious Diseases & Cosmetic Surgery

If you have an infectious disease such as hepatitis, HIV or AIDS, then you may find that a surgeon will be unwilling to operate on you because of the risk to themselves and their staff.

You may however be accepted for certain non invasive procedures.

Multiple Sclerosis & Plastic surgery

Providing you receive clearance from a neurologist, a cosmetic surgeon will most likely agree to operate on you.

Obesity & Cosmetic Surgery

Obesity can cause breathing problems and also put more tension on incision lines. If obesity makes it difficult for you to walk, most anesthesiologists will not give you an anesthetic except in an emergency.

Since obesity can cause complications with surgery, most surgeons will ask you to lose a certain amount of weight first before they agree to operate on you.

Drug Use & Plastic Surgery

If you take illegal drugs for recreational purposes or drink alcohol on a regular basis, most cosmetic surgeons will ask you to stop for several weeks before your procedure.

Taking drugs and alcohol can both cause dangerous interactions with the drugs your surgeon prescribes such as pain killers, so it is best to be honest about this when asked.