8 Common Pre Operative Testing for Cosmetic Surgery

It is quite normal for most people to think that getting a cosmetic surgery, like a rhinoplasty or double eyelid surgery, involves just getting in to the doctor’s clinic, get the procedure and reap the results after the recovery period. But little do people know that surgical cosmetic procedure involves more than that. There is, of course, the ever-crucial consultation process, which may not necessarily involve just one session. This part of the cosmetic surgery is indeed as important as the surgical day itself for the doctor to really give you the desirable and realistic results that you are seeking for.

However, in certain cases, your doctor may require you to undergo pre operative lab work and tests prior to your cosmetic surgery. While there are no hard and fast rules regarding the specific tests to be conducted, these will help your surgeon assess any health factors that could possibly affect the procedure and/ or your healing after the surgery has been done. This is to also help minimize any risks that may occur during the operation. Simply, pre operative testing will help your doctor determine whether you are healthy enough to undergo your surgical cosmetic procedure.

The type of tests that will be requested by your doctor will vary depending on the initial consultation session, your medical history, as well as the type of surgical cosmetic procedure to be performed. It is even important to note that your surgeon may not even require you to undergo any of the tests indicated below, especially if you are considered healthy during your assessment and consultation.

Blood Work

The blood work is one of the most common pre operative tests conducted. In most cases, the Complete Blood Count or CBC may need to be in order. This will include count for your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet, among others, to determine whether you are anemic, have a blood clot disorder or other diseases that can affect the procedure and healing.

Ensuring that your blood health is in tip top condition is important, especially because any type of cosmetic surgery no matter how minor it is will involve incisions and some degree of blood loss. Blood work will point out any blood disorders that could result in uncontrolled bleeding. This will also help your doctor determine whether you have anemia. In this case, iron supplementation will be prescribed to reverse the condition.

The blood work will also let the doctor see if you have any infection in your body should your white blood cell count show too low or too high of the normal range. This consideration is certainly important, especially when the procedure involves the insertion of an implant like in the case of a rhinoplasty.

Any abnormality in any of your blood count could mean postponement of your procedure until the reasons are determined.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

Essentially, the ECG is a medical test that tells if your heart is in good condition through detecting any heart abnormalities by measuring the electrical activity of the heart when it contracts. Cosmetic surgery basically causes tremendous stress on the body, with the heart being one of the most important organs when it comes to stress response. That is why it is crucial for the doctor to assess whether your heart can endure the trauma during the operation. While the ECG may not be able to predict future heart attacks, it can indicate whether you have experienced any attack in the past without you knowing it. Mainly, your heart should be able to endure and strong enough to survive the stress of cosmetic surgery to your body.

The ECG can also check the heart condition or diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or cigarette. All of these can have a great in effect in performing the procedure and the healing period. In most cases, patients over the age of 40 are usually required to undergo this test.

Chest X-Ray

The Chest X-Ray is also one of the tests that may be required for your procedure. This is usually carried out to check the condition of your lungs and see whether you have breathing difficulties when you are put in anesthesia. This test is especially requested if you are a smoker or have a history of smoking. Signs of pneumonia or any breathing disorder may result to the postponement or cancellation of your surgery.

Urinalysis

While it may be less likely that you will need to undergo urinalysis, the test will help the doctor identify abnormalities or infection. Urinalysis can help detect urinary tract infection or UTI, diabetes and hypertension.

Chemical Panel Test

Apart from the Complete Blood Count (CBC), your surgeon may also require you to undergo Chemical Panel Test or also known as Blood Chemical Test. This test includes a comprehensive assessment of your blood sugar, uric acid, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, protein, iron and lipid profile, among many others. This will allow the doctor to check for any chemical imbalance, which can signify an abnormality of any of the major organs, like the liver and kidney.

Also, this will help the doctor prescribe the necessary medication or supplementation needed to normalize the levels of chemicals in your body. This will help ensure a smooth operation and speedy recovery.

Pregnancy Test

This test is reserved for women who are considering undergoing cosmetic surgery and suspect that they are pregnant. It is important to take note that cosmetic surgeons will not operate on pregnant women, unless absolutely necessary. However, since most cosmetic surgery are non-vital, it is best to postpone the procedure after giving birth. It may even be wise that you do a pregnancy test even before going for a consultation schedule.

Mammogram

The mammogram is typically required for women who want to get breast augmentation or breast lift done. This is to help detect signs of breast cancer.

Psychological Screening

Undergoing a cosmetic surgery is not just about preparing your body for the procedure, but patients also need to be mentally prepared, as well. According to an inquiry posted in the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), a certain Dr. Gary R. Culbertson said that, “No, psychological evaluation are not a requirement for plastic surgery. However, certain practitioners find them very useful in patients they consider may have psychological or psychiatric issues. Some examples would be a patient that appears to have an exaggerated concern over a minor or nonexistent problem or a patient that has undergone repeated surgical procedures by other surgeons/ physicians. The concern is over what is called Body DysmorphicSyndrome.  Often the reason why these surgeons are performing these psychological evaluations is in the best interest of their patients. Body Dysmorphic Syndrome is most appropriately treated by medical treatment not surgical intervention.”

This is statement supported by a few other board-certified plastic surgeon-members of the organization. That is why there is a great importance and emphasis of always having realistic expectations of your results. A credible cosmetic surgeon will objectively discuss with you recommendations based from your expectations and at the same time consider that overall harmony and balance of your other features. In the case of rhinoplasty, the new and enhanced nose should not overpower the face, but complements the entire face instead.

If you are looking for an excellent rhinoplasty and double eyelid surgery surgeon in Australia, you can trust that Dr. Ahnsup Andrew Kim of the Advance Beauty Cosmetic Surgery will be thorough in his evaluation during your consultation. Dr. Kim is known for his attentiveness in his patients, so make sure that you disclose any medical conditions so that the proper pre operative tests will be recommended to ensure a safe procedure and speedy recovery.

Call us now and schedule your free consultation with Dr. Kim now!

Pre – Rhinoplasty Questions and Answers

Every year, half a million people seek consultation for enhancement of the appearance of their nose.  

In 2012, rhinoplasty is the top surgical procedure performed most often on both women and men under age 35, according to American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AFFPRS) 2012 Statistics Survey.

There are various reasons why individuals opt for this procedure. Some are unhappy with the nose with which they were born or the way aging has changed their nose. For others, an injury may have distorted the nose and in many, there is the additional goal of improving breathing. As the nose occupies a central position on the face, the size and shape of the nose has a great impact on an individual’s appearance.

If you are interested in getting rhinoplasty or nose job, here are the answers to frequently asked questions before getting the surgery.

1. What is rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty or a nose job is a cosmetic surgery that reshapes the nose by removing, reshaping, or rearranging the nasal bone and cartilage. This can change the shape of the tip or bridge, increase its size or reduce it, narrow the nostril, improve the angle and remove a bump.

2. What is involved in a rhinoplasty surgery?

The surgical techniques used in nose surgery may vary, and this would depend on the surgeon’s preference and the patient’s request. However, rhinoplasty generally involves the separation of the skin that covers the nose from its framework. 

There are two approaches in doing this, the open or closed method. An “open” procedure will require an external incision and provides a better view of the internal structures. A closed approach may be limiting because incisions have to be done inside, but it provides better aesthetic outcome because scars are well hidden. 

3. What are the benefits of rhinoplasty?

A nose job can have aesthetic and functional benefits.

The most common reason for nose surgery is because the patient is not happy with how her nose looks. The aesthetic benefits of rhinoplasty include the removal of bumps and crookedness in the nose, improved shape, and proportional size and facial symmetry. Its functional benefits include improvement in breathing and the correction of birth defects.

In addition to its aesthetic and functional benefits, a nose job can also help a person feel better and improve one’s self-esteem. An improved size and shape can make a self-conscious individual feel more confident about their appearance.

4. What are the risks associated with rhinoplasty surgery?

Just like any other surgery, rhinoplasty also carries the same risks like bleeding, infection, and untoward reactions to medications or anesthesia. Scarring can also become a problem, whether if it happens on the outside or underside of the nose. In some rare occasions, a hematoma may also occur, and surgical intervention may have to be done to remove it. 

There are also times when septal perforation may occur. This is when a small hole in the septum is created resulting to a whistling sound whenever the person speaks or sings.

Related: Post- Rhinoplasty Questions and Answers

5. What type of anesthesia may be used for rhinoplasty?

This would depend on the preference of the surgeon or the patient. But this would be largely dependent on what the surgeon finds out after evaluation. Based on the surgeon’s assessment rhinoplasty can performed under local or general anesthesia, this could run for as long as 2-3 hours.

6. What are the qualifications of a good rhinoplasty surgeon?

A reliable nose surgeon should have the proper training and board certification in nose surgery.

The best choice is a facial plastic surgeon. This type of doctor has been trained fully in ENT, so she or he knows how to make the nose breathe well. Facial plastic surgeons have had additional or fellowship training to focus on the aesthetic and reconstructive aspects of the face and neck. They can address all parts of the nose to achieve the best result possible.

Rhinoplasty is one of the most technically challenging procedures, and should be performed by a surgeon who has experience with rhinoplasty.

Further, he should have the ample experience in performing this procedure as evidenced by the extent of his client base. You can check the quality of his work through before and after photos which most surgeons are willing to show you today. It is not enough that a doctor is a surgeon; he should be a nose surgeon. This means that he is well-versed with the intricacies of the nasal structure and the necessary procedures that can help improve aesthetic and structural problems.

A nose surgeon with a low revision rate is also a definite plus. This means that he has a low failure rate which saves you money and the possibility of a corrective procedure.

7. What type of facility will I be operated in?

A nose job can be performed in a hospital operating room or a clinic setting. What is important is that the surgical area is well contained so that the possibility of infections caused by environmental factors is significantly reduced.

8. What are the protocols used in case of unexpected surgical complications?

A cosmetic surgeon should have their own protocol for emergency situations. Usual problems that arise include reactions to anesthesia or severe bleeding. Fortunately this can be remedied with the use of emergency medications.

9. Is it possible that I can achieve the nose that I want?

Yes, it is possible to get your ideal nose with proper communication with your surgeon. It helps if you bring a photo with you so that he can get a good idea of what you really want. But this will also be subject to the surgeon’s assessment on your unique case. Together you will discuss this closely so that you are both on the same page. 

For any other questions, please make an enquiry by calling (02) 9280 3632. We offer patient financing and free consultation to our valued patients.