With the holidays approaching, many people are giving themselves the gift of cosmetic surgery.  According to the December 2005 issue of medical journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, men who wish to have a face lift should have their blood pressure checked before plastic surgery.  According to medical researchers, men are twice as likely as women to develop a type of blood clot called hematoma following facial surgery.  This risk is especially great for men with high blood pressure. 

To explain the problem, Dr. Daniel Baker, the study’s author, says, “Blood vessels are like plumbing.  If the pressure is too high in your water pipes, they are going to start leaking.  It is the same in people.  After surgery, if a person’s blood pressure is too high, it will cause the little vessels in the area to bleed.”

Skin differences are a major reason men are more likely to develop hematomas after plastic surgery than women.  Men’s facial skin is thicker and contains more blood vessels.  The hair follicles on a man’s face require a significant blood supply, as they are responsible for producing the fastest growing hair on a man’s body. 

A hematoma is a localized abnormal collection of clotted blood.  While hematomas are one of the most common side effects of a face lift, this condition is not life threatening and rarely interferes with the final results of plastic surgery.  Hematomas are easy to correct if addressed by a plastic surgeon within 24 hours.  If addressed appropriately, hematomas do not generally affect healing time. 

In order to reduce the risk of hematomas following facial plastic surgery, experts recommend all patients have a careful pre-operative evaluation by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon.  Patients with blood pressure problems should also manage and stabilize their blood pressure, with the help of their primary doctor, before undergoing plastic surgery.  Discontinuing use of medications like aspirin, St. Johns Wort, ginko, and NSAIDS before surgery is recommended but only if your doctor approves. 

By controlling blood pressure before plastic surgery, men and women can greatly lower their risk of post-surgical hematoma.  Your plastic surgeon can also discuss other ways to mitigate the risk of other post-surgical complications to make your plastic surgery experience the best it can be.