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Can Someone with Lupus Undergo Tummy Tuck surgery?
I have SLE (lupus), but it has been under control for the past year and I'm no longer under medication. Is it safe for me to undergo Tummy Tuck surgery?
A qualified yes.
Great question Lilliupy - 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. Hope this helps. Steven Williams, MD
