Elective cosmetic surgery is an exciting step toward achieving your aesthetic goals, but your health on the day of surgery plays a critical role in both your safety and your final results. Even symptoms that may seem minor—such as a cold, sore throat, fever, cough, congestion, stomach illness, or a skin infection—can increase the risk of complications during surgery and slow the healing process afterward. If you experience any new or worsening symptoms before your procedure, it’s important to notify your surgeon as soon as possible.

At PRACC, we believe that successful outcomes begin long before you enter the operating room. A postponed procedure can be frustrating, but delaying surgery is often the safest choice when your body needs time to recover from an illness or infection. Being transparent about your health and following your surgeon’s recommendations helps protect your well-being and supports a smoother recovery. In this article, we’ll discuss common symptoms that may delay cosmetic surgery, why they matter, and what you can do to prepare for the best possible surgical experience and recovery.

Preparing for surgery involves more than scheduling a procedure and following pre-operative instructions. Your surgeon’s primary goal is to ensure you are healthy enough for surgery and positioned for the safest possible recovery. Even symptoms that seem minor—such as a fever, persistent cough, sore throat, chest congestion, vomiting, diarrhea, or signs of a skin infection—can increase surgical risks and may lead your healthcare team to postpone your procedure until the underlying issue has resolved.

While a delay can be disappointing, it is often the safest decision for protecting your health and achieving the best possible surgical outcome. Being honest with your surgeon about any new or worsening symptoms before your procedure allows your care team to evaluate potential risks and determine the appropriate next steps. Understanding which symptoms should be reported can help you avoid preventable complications and ensure you’re ready for a safe surgery and a smoother recovery.

Dizziness

Any unexpected symptom can impact your safety under anesthesia, and your medical team needs to evaluate whether it is safe to proceed or if your procedure needs to be delayed.

Dizziness can be a sign of low blood sugar, dehydration from fasting, or an underlying cardiovascular issue. The anesthesiologist must know your exact physical state to safely manage your vitals.

Fall Hazards

Medical facilities require you to be steady on your feet during pre-operative check-in and post-op discharge.

Medication Interferences

If you took any home medications or supplements the morning of your surgery in order to manage dizziness, this could dangerously interact with surgical drugs.

What to do right now?

• Sit or lie down. Do not try to walk around or drive yourself to the surgical center while you are lightheaded.
• Check your paperwork. Look at your pre-op instruction sheets for the direct telephone number to the Same Day Surgery unit or the on-call clinician.
• Call the number and explain exactly how you feel, when the dizziness started, and whether/when you consumed any food, water or medication.
• Do not eat or drink. Even if you suspect low blood sugar is causing the dizziness do not break your fasting (NPO) instructions without explicit permission from a nurse or doctor involved in the surgical procedure. Doing so will postpone your surgery.

If you are already on your way to your surgical center, inform the very first triage nurse or receptionist that you see at the center. They will take it from there.