COVID-19 AND PLASTIC SURGERY
“Plastic and cosmetic surgery, like other relationship activities between people, is no exception and in the following article we will explain what things have changed.”
By LEFNY DÍAZ
The question that arises is: Can plastic and aesthetic surgery interventions be carried out in times of Covid-19 and while the current situation persists? The answer is yes, provided all necessary precautions are taken. Everything remains the same, but with security measures and specific protocols to avoid contagion. In this article we will analyze in detail all the steps to follow in order not to expose ourselves to a risk of contagion.
The coronavirus pandemic that causes the disease known as Covid-19 has meant a radical change in our lives that just a few months ago we could not imagine. And this change affects, and will continue to affect us, in many facets of ordinary life, both in our way of relating to others and in our interaction in different areas of our daily lives (shops, hotels, travel, etc.). If we want to continue living in society, we have no choice but to accept it like this, being prudent and even meticulous in maintaining measures against contagion. It is what has been called the “new normal.”
The effects of confinement and hygienic measures that were widely publicized by the media resulted in a drastic decrease in the rate of infections and, therefore, in the number of patients needing hospitalization and admission to intensive care units.
The number of deceased patients is tragic and, as we all know, it was the majority among the elderly, especially all those with previous pathologies that made them more vulnerable. The number of health professionals affected, particularly in our country, constitutes an unforgivable loss for our health authorities. But we must not forget that, although in a very minority, very serious cases have also been seen among young people even without previous pathologies.
All of this should keep us on guard until this risky situation passes, either due to the decrease in virulence or due to the appearance of vaccines that protect effectively. Unfortunately this will take quite a few months.
The reality is that the risk of contracting the disease exists in all activities in which there is contact or proximity with other people. In this sense, it would make the same sense to ask whether a person can go to the supermarket or to the bank in these circumstances. The important thing is to take all possible measures to avoid contagion.
“What safety measures have been adopted in the consultations and in the plastic and aesthetic surgery interventions to avoid contagion by Covid-19?”
In the case of patients who are going to undergo surgical treatment, in addition to the usual analytical determinations, tests for both viral detection, the famous nasal swab PCR, as well as serological tests with the capacity to detect specific antibodies that indicate whether a person is having the disease or, if they have, their level of immunization.
Antibodies are complex peptides of the immunoglobulin type. There are 5 different types, but for the present purpose we are interested in two classes: Immunoglobulin M (IgM) indicates an active infection and is the body’s first line of defense against disease. The level of IgM decreases as the process is overcome and another type of antibodies appear in the blood, immunoglobulins G (IgG). A decrease or disappearance of IgM and, synchronously, a gradual increase of IgG, correspond to the phase of overcoming the disease and establishing an immunization against the coronavirus.
Therefore, to access surgical treatment:
The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test must be negative, indicating that the patient is not a virus carrier.
Antibody tests must be either negative (indicating that there is no disease), or negative for IgM even if there is positivity for IgG (which would indicate that the disease has passed and there is immunity).
At the hospital level, the measures are, if possible, even stricter. In the hospital setting, not only is the patient’s previous condition determined, but all health personnel undergo tests with an established periodicity and more rigorous controls are maintained than in other settings.
