Plastic surgery has the ability to alter your life forever for the better, providing newfound confidence and self-esteem and a better outlook on life. At Mia Aesthetics, we want every patient to look and feel their best, and to leave our facilities feeling confident, beautiful, and above all, cared for. Because patient care is our top priority, important safety measures and regulations must be utilized before, during and after a patient undergoes plastic surgery.
One of the requirements Mia Aesthetics has in place in order to ensure the utmost safety for patients is lab testing ahead of surgery. Patients are required to undergo lab tests in order to be cleared for surgery. Lab tests reveal important information that allow our surgeons to know if you are in good health or have any special conditions that may pose complications during surgery.
As you approach your surgery date, Mia Aesthetics will send you a lab order that will contain all the tests you are required to have done ahead of surgery. Many patients are curious about what tests are required and what specific attributes they monitor for.
Below is a list of tests patients must have done before surgery, and what the tests reveal:
1. CBC Differential
CBC Differential stands for “Complete Blood Count with Differential.” This test gets a lot of information from your blood sample. It is done to make sure you are not anemic and also checks for other types of illnesses in your blood. The following information can be pulled from a CBC Differential:
The number and types of white blood cells (WBCs) – Your body has five types of white blood cells, and all play a role in fighting infections. High numbers of WBCs, or of a specific type of WBC, may mean you have an infection or inflammation somewhere in your body. Low numbers of WBCs may mean you are at risk for infections.
The number of red blood cells (RBCs) – RBCs carry oxygen throughout the body and remove excess carbon dioxide. Too few RBCs may be a sign of anemia or other diseases.
How the size of your red blood cells varies – This test is known as red cell distribution width (RDW). You may have greater differences in red blood cell size if you have anemia.
Hematocrit – This means the portion of red blood cells in a certain amount of whole blood. A low hematocrit may be a sign of too much bleeding or may signal that you have iron deficiency or other disorders. A higher than normal hematocrit can be caused by dehydration or other disorders.
Hemoglobin – Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells. It carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of the body. Abnormalities can be a sign of problems ranging from anemia to lung disease.
The average size of your red blood cells – This test is known as mean corpuscular volume (MCV). MCV goes up when your red blood cells are bigger than normal. This happens if you have anemia caused by low vitamin B12 or folate levels. If your red blood cells are smaller, this can mean other types of anemia, such as iron deficiency anemia.
A platelet count – Platelets are cell fragments that play a role in blood clotting. Too few platelets may mean you have a higher risk of bleeding. Too many may mean a number of possible conditions.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin – This test measures how much hemoglobin your red blood cells have.
2. CMP
The comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) shares information about the body’s fluid balance, levels of electrolytes and how well the kidneys and liver are working. A CMP is done to learn information about the levels of:
Glucose – Glucose is a type of sugar used by the body for energy. High glucose levels may point to diabetes.
Electrolytes – Calcium, sodium, potassium, carbon dioxide and chloride are electrolytes found within the body. Calcium plays an important role in how muscles and nerves work. Sodium, potassium, carbon dioxide and chloride help control the body’s fluid levels and its acid-base balance. Normal levels of these electrolytes help keep cells in the body working as they should.
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine – These are waste products filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. These levels show how well the kidneys are working.
Albumin and total protein – These are needed to build and maintain muscles, bones, blood, and organ tissue. Low levels may be seen with liver or kidney disease, or nutritional problems.
Liver tests – Levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin are tested for. When these levels are high, it can be a sign of a problem with the liver.
3. HCG
HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is the hormone secreted during pregnancy. This is tested for in women in order to ensure they are not pregnant during the time of their operation.
4. HIV
Those who test positive for HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or not automatically ruled out for plastic surgery. However, doctors must take extra precautions with these types of patients, and additional tests may be required to ensure the patient is still a good candidate.
5. Coagulation Panel
A coagulation panel is a series of tests that determine how well your blood clots. It includes tests such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and an iron test.
6. Urinalysis
This is a basic urine test. It is done to make sure you have good kidney function and are free of any infections.
These tests can help determine if you are in good health and are a good candidate for plastic surgery. If you have any longstanding health issues or conditions, we may ask for additional tests. This will help ensure your safety and comfort throughout your plastic surgery journey.