With November being Diabetes Awareness Month, we felt it would be a good opportunity to talk about the many patients living with diabetes who are considering cosmetic plastic surgery. Diabetes is indeed a serious disease, but it does not necessarily prevent you from improving your appearance.

The first think we do at Yager Esthetics is to take a full history on each patient. The information you give helps me determine your options. Diabetics have a higher risk of certain complications such as infections and delayed wound healing due to the circulatory and glucose problems. What we do know is that taking your medicines and controlling your blood sugar carefully decreases these and other risks.

Assuming you are otherwise a good candidate for plastic surgery, and that your health is not otherwise an issue, we make sure that what you are expecting is realistic and that your motivations are well intentioned. The person who then determines your suitability for surgery is your primary care physician.

I send a letter to your doctor that explains the type of anesthesia and time of the procedure, and he/she let me know if they feel that you are at any increased risk of problems with the proposed surgery. If your testing is normal, and your doctor says it is ok, then you can have cosmetic plastic surgery.

The one thing you should never do is to lie to your plastic surgeon or primary care doctor. It is your health and safety at risk, and no cosmetic procedure is worth it. If you are motivated and honest, we will help you achieve your cosmetic goals safely.