We are leaders in cosmetic surgery, facial aesthetics, and medically supervised weight loss, serving the entire San Francisco Bay area. Whether you live in the Bay Area or are coming in from out of town, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have on your path to your new self. Book your cosmetic surgery intro call or Med Spa consultation today and take the first step towards realizing the look you’ve always wanted for yourself.
Tummy Tuck
Can Someone with Lupus Undergo Tummy Tuck?
A general guideline for any elective surgery is that general health be intact and that the risk of the operation be worth the possible benefit. Lupus - as you well know - is a chronic, multifaceted inflammatory disease that can affect every organ system of the body. Obviously lupus that is not in remission would likely cause me to advise my patients to wait until they have better control of the disease. In addition steroids can be a mainstay of management for patients with lupus - a candidate for abdominoplasty at my practice would need to be in remission and off of steroid based treatments. In addition careful consideration must be taken in consideration for the risks that lupus poses even to patients that are in remission, specifically - Are there renal issues? Are there pulmonary or cardiac issues? and are there hematologic issues that might pre-dispose a patient to bleeding, anemia or infectious issues. Also patients with lupus are prone to panniculitis (lupus profundus) - making many seek abdominoplasty or panniculectomy to manage this problem. The bottom line it is possible but a very careful review of a patient's individual health status is important and you should seek the advice of a board-certified plastic surgeon to guide you who should work in combination with the doctor managing your lupus.
Clinical Context
Lupus can affect skin healing and blood vessel health, which matters for a procedure that relies on strong tissue and good circulation to heal well. Long-term steroid use, common in lupus treatment, can also slow wound healing and weaken scar strength. Some patients with lupus develop panniculitis, inflammation of the fat layer, which can complicate surgery and recovery. This is why surgeons look for disease remission and minimal steroid use before considering abdominoplasty, rather than relying on a set waiting period alone.
Related Questions
