If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with surgery. High blood pressure can increase the risk of complications such as congestive heart failure, heart attack, kidney problems, and strokes. However, if your blood pressure is under control, there is no need to worry about having a safe and successful surgery. When it comes to cosmetic surgery, patients with high blood pressure are not at a much greater risk of complications.
It is essential that these patients are under the care of a doctor to manage their high blood pressure. It is important to discuss the risks of surgery with both the cosmetic surgeon and the primary care physician. Those who are not receiving medical care for their high blood pressure should begin treatment before considering any cosmetic surgical procedure. In general, high blood pressure is not usually a reason to postpone surgery unless you are undergoing major elective surgery or your blood pressure is poorly controlled.
We have reviewed evidence on two drugs that are used to lower blood pressure (angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers (ARA)) at the time of surgery, in order to reduce the risk of death and serious illness in adults who undergo surgery under general anesthesia. Overall, if you have high blood pressure and it is under control, there is no need to worry about having safe and successful surgery. However, it is important to discuss the risks of surgery with both your cosmetic surgeon and primary care physician before undergoing any procedure.
