High Blood Glucose Levels Affect Wound Healing After Plastic Surgery

According to a recent study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), patients with high levels of blood glucose, and poor control of overall long term diabetes, are more than three times at risk for wound complications after plastic surgery. The research links high blood glucose levels to a high risk of wound complications. Thus, controlling sugar levels, particularly in diabetic patients, is an important part in preventing post-surgical complications and ensuring a patient heals well.

It is important to know that blood glucose level or the amount of sugar present in the blood, can be a determining factor of how a patient’s wounds heal after surgery. High levels of blood sugar before or directly after plastic surgery can lead to wound infections, delay healing, and or potentially cause other post-surgical complications.

In the ASPS study, patients’ blood glucose levels were monitored 5 days before and after plastic surgery. Ultimately, results showed that high sugar levels and poor diabetes control increase risk factors for wound infections and the potential for repeat surgery. For example, patients with a high glucose level of over 200 points are four times as likely to undergo surgery for a second time due to post-surgery wound complications.

Thus, glucose management in diabetic patients undergoing plastic surgery significantly affects wound healing and should be well controlled. Tight control of blood glucose levels before and after surgery have shown a wide improvement in wound healing outcomes.