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Breast Lift at the Time of Tummy Tuck?

I wanted to have my breasts lifted and breast implants at the time of tummy tuck. Because I am heavy, and my tumyy tuck was going to be lengthy my plastic surgeons suggested doing it later. what do you think?

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19 Doctor Answers | Asked by amyross in Bakersfield, CA

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Cosmetic surgery limited to 6 hours

I do not recommedn you undergo a breast lift with implants and abdominoplasty at the same time. You state that you are heavy and that puts you at a higher risk. Multiple procedures requiring more than 6 hours puts you at a risk for pulmonary problems and blood clots. Best Wishes, Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Timing of Multiple Surgical Procedures

Thank you for your question. Whether those procedures should be added at the same time or not is really up to your surgeon. Typically one tries to avoid going over 6 hours under anesthesia as this will increase your risk of a complication. The fact that you are, as stated in your question, heavy and undergoing an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) these are factors that increase your chances of deep venous thrombi (clots in the deep veins of the legs). These thrombi can break loose causing a... more

Mommy makeover

Breast augmentation with lift and tummy tuck is a very common combination surgery in mommy makeover. It usually takes 5-7 hours depending on your size and complexity of surgery. it is a very safe surgery as long as you are healthy. You can visit another board-certified plastic surgeon for second opinion; however, you should follow the advice/recommendation of plastic surgeon that you choose to go with for surgery.

Breast Lift with Tummy Tuck

A breast augmentation/lift with tummy tuck is one of the more common procedures performed. I generally recommend an overnight stay in a hospital, such that a registered nurse can ensure your safety and comfort as you begin your recovery. Depending on your medical history and body mass index, your surgeon may limit your overall surgery time/procedures for safety reasons. If you have any concerns about your treatment plan, I would... more

Tummy tuck

Breast lift and tummy tuck are a common combo procedure. I feel it is perfectly safe to combine these procedures. However, if your tummy tuck is a large one and anticipated to take much longer than usual, I might also elect to perform them separately. Either approach is fine.

Combination Surgery

It is always convenient too be able to combine procedures into one surgery. But safety comes first. Sometimes it is wise to separate them. There are many issues that go into this decision, including the length of the surgery, and general health of the patient. If you are happy with your choice of surgeon, trust him/her. Good luck.

Breast lift and tummy tuck

Thank you for the question. I think your plastic surgeon has a point. However, you may want to get a second opinion. The decision to do everything at the same time or different procedures depends in part on examination findings and your medical history. Your plastic surgeon may have a valid point for splitting the procedure. Best wishes.

Tummy tuck with breast lift & augmentation

This procedure can be done safely in my opinion as long as both procedures individually are not complicated by exceptionally large amounts of loose skin and/or fat to be removed. I generally limit my cases to 5 hours to minimize serious complications of lengthy surgeries (ie: blood clots). In your case it sounds like it might be safer for you to break it up in two surgeries. This is definitely not unreasonable and it sounds like your surgeon is more cautious. ... more

Mommy makeover sequence

Breast and abdominal surgery can be safely combined, especially for 'mommy makeover' type of procedures. However, this is not always the case, and there are instances that they must be done at different times for reasons of patient safety. After talking to your surgeon, you should be able to understand his reasoning, and seek a second opinion from a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area if not. Hope this helps, Dr. Hall

If you are a low risk for surgery and the surgery is not extensive, then tummy tuck and breast lift with implants can be done at

Thank you for your question. If you are a low risk for surgery and the surgery is not extensive, then tummy tuck and breast lift with implants can be done at the same time. If you are a high risk for the surgery or the surgery is more involved, then it may be safer to separate the surgeries by 3-6 months. You do not want to get a DVT. If you are everweight, then you are at risk of DVT or even worse an pulmonary embolus. To be sure, see two or more board-certified plastic surgeons... more

Breast lift at the time of Tummy Tuck

Although it is possible to do a breast lift at the time of a tummy tuck, but a plastic surgeon and patient have to consider the risks especially if the tummy tuck is going to be a long procedure due to patient's weight, or significant excess skin. It always ok to do these two large procedures separately.

Combining a breast lift and tummy tuck

Certainly a breast lift and tummy tuck can be performed at the same time in the right patient. It is always safest to stage them to minimize OR time.

Steven Wallach, MD

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Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift at the Time of Tummy Tuck?

This is not an uncommon combination of procedures to do. It is safe when chosen for the appropriate patient. As a general rule, I try to keep by procedures to four hours unless a hospital stay is planned, which in my community becomes prohibitively expensive. Your surgeon knows your history and has examined you, and his/her opinion has more basis than those you may get on this site. But this is an area of some controversy, and you will get varied opinions on line and in person. If... more

Breast lift and tummy tuck at same time

Whether to combine procedures or not, depends on your overall health and the length of the surgery. A healthy patient can tolerate this combination of procedures if it's done in a reasonable amount of time. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends limiting the total surgery time to under six hours for outpatient surgery. Your surgeon may want to obtain medical clearance from your primary care physician prior to your surgery.The longer the surgery, the higher the risk for DVT... more

Breast surgery is commonly performed with tummy tucks during mommy makeovers but there are certain reasons to do them separately

In my practice, breast augmentation, breast lifts, or breast reductions are commonly performed together with tummy tuck procedures. When done together in the right setting including a certified surgery center with a board certified anesthesiologist and an experienced crew of plastic surgeon, surgical tech, and nurse, this surgery can be done absolutely safely. There are certain considerations for certain patients however. If there is a lot of work to be done in the abdomen, such... more

There is no harm in staging the procedures

Hello, Other than additional time for recovery there are no negatives from staging your procedures. Some plastic surgeons might feel more comfortable doing both at the same time and other would prefer staging the procedures. If your plastic surgeon feels you would be better off by doing two surgeries separately then it might be wise to agree on that plan especially if you feel he/she is the right plastic surgeon for you. Dr. Remus Repta

Your Job To Choose The Surgeon - The Surgeon's Job To Make Technical Decisions

You are going to get a lot of different opinions from a lot of plastic surgeons, but it is not your job to filter through all these plastic surgeon's opinions. It is your job to pick the Board Certified Plastic Surgeon you can trust, who you can feel comfortable with, who has shown you before and after pictures that represent the results you are looking for, who operates in a certified surgery center or hospital, who picks a Board Certified anesthesiologist to deal with your anesthesia... more

Breast Lifting at time of Tummy Tuck?

Assuming you have chosen your plastic surgeon carefully, he/she will be in the best position to advise you after a detailed history and physical examination. Given that you mentioned that you are “heavy”, I hope that you have been advised that it will be in your best interest to achieve a long-term stable weight prior to undergoing any type of elective surgery. Achieving this weight prior to undergoing the procedure will help minimize the risk of complications peri-operatively.... more

Combined procedures are safe

Depending on your overall health status, if you are healthy, it should be fine to proceed with a combined breast and tummy procedure. However, given the length of the procedure, an overnight stay may be required. Please visit with a board certified PS to learn more about your options. Dr. Basu Houston, TX