What health tests are recommended before cosmetic surgery?
The answer to that question depends on your age and overall health. An overall healthy young male under the age of 50 typically requires no testing other than a thorough history and physical, and this of course is dependant upon the surgical center or hospital where the procedure is going to be performed as they may have different regulations regarding testing that they require. If a patient has a long history of various chronic medical illnesses, then they not only need a thorough history and physical by their primary care physician but they will require more extensive testing to assure that they can undergo a surgical procedure without undue risk. Ultimately, I require all of my patients to see their primary care physician for a thorough history and physical to assure that they are healthy enough to undergo the planned surgical procedure as I personally feel that a history and physical performed by myself would not be nearly as adequate as one performed by a general practitioner that is more familiar with the patient and the patient’s past medical history.
