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Safety of Having Tummy Tuck and Lipo at the Same Time?

asked 7 months ago by Hardysixpack in Sandy, UT
Latest answer by Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD
Question viewed 196 times
Tags: combination, opinion, risk, safety

I am in the process of selecting a plastic surgeon for a breast augmetation, Tummy tuck & Lipo, I have narrowed it down to 2 board certified surgeons but they have different views, both have 20 years of experience, One of them refuses to do lipo with a TT, he says there are deaths related to doing these two operations at the same time, he doesn't want any part of that. I have seen 5 different surgeon plus read many reviews where people have done both procedures, Is there cause for concern?

12 answers to Safety of Having Tummy Tuck and Lipo at the Same Time?

Ask about Lovenox

Liposuction with abdominoplasty is a well established procedure, but does have increased potential problems. The most concerning of which is DVT or PE. The plastic surgery community has tried to reduce the risk of embolic phenomenon by using the Caprini scale for deciding which patient would benefit from blood thinner after an operation. I use Lovenox as a blood thinner on most, if not all, of my abdominoplasty patients to help minimize the risk of blood clots. more

Mark D. Wigod, MD
Boise Plastic Surgeon

Combination of the tt and liposuction works in most cases

I would generally recommend full abdominoplasty with liposuction of abdomen and flanks at the same time. I do not think you can get satisfactory results without liposuction in most cases. This combined procedure is safe as long as it is done by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon who has done lots of these combined procedures and follow safety guidelines

Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction Combined with a Tummy Tuck

It is very common to combine liposuction at the same time as a tummy tuck. It can be safely done. Trouble can arise if too much liposuctioning is done or if liposuction is done in such a fashion as to compromise blood supply to the abdominal tissues . Liposuctioning of the hips can be an important part of obtaining a satisfactory result in some body types so as not to leave behind a "wave" of tissue. An experienced surgeon, certified by the American Board of... more

Mary Lee Peters, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck and liposuction

Certainly liposuction of some areas as well as a tummy tuck in many cases can be done at the same time. I prefer to avoid liposuction of the abdomen in conjunction with the tummy tuck for concern over blood supply to the abdominal flap.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Safety of performing a tummy tuck and liposuction during the same operative setting

Both of these plastic surgeons are right in their points of view. The issue of combining liposuction with a tummy tuck is that there would be an increased operative time which does increase the risk for a pulmonary embolus though that risk is very low. Nevetheless, a pulmonary embolus is a serious issue which can be fatal at times. EVen when precautions are taken, there are still attendant risks. With that said, I do combine both procedures a majority but not all of the time. This... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Tummy tuck together with lipo

As long as your plastic surgeon is skilled and careful, limited liposuction and tummy tuck can be performed at the same time.

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction with tummy tuck is okay.

As the others have said, there is a slight but very acceptable increase in risks by combining these procedures. After thoroughly considering your options, you should select a surgeon with whom you feel comfortable and follow his or her recommendations. Good luck!

Brian K. Brzowski, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

www.brzowski.com

Safety of Having Tummy Tuck and Lipo at the Same Time?

Complex issue and plastic surgeons have differing views. What we worry most about is the risk of blood clots in the legs (DVT), which are dangerous because they can lead to a clot breaking off and traveling to the lungs (pulmonary embolus), which can be fatal. Although rare in general, they seem to occur slightly more commonly in patients having full tummy tucks. We reduce that risk by using leg compression devices during surgery, having patients get up and walk early... more

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

The two procedures can safely be combined

It is routine with most surgeons to combine "tummy tuck" (abdominoplasty) with liposuction and the combination can be quite safe. Typically, liposuction of the lower back/flank area is done to complement the improved contour in front. Additionally, the upper abdominal wall fatty layer thickness can be carefully reduced with liposuction while elevating, removing and tightening the lower skin. The concerns arise with too much liposuction... more

David J. Levens, MD
Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon

www.drlevens.com

Is combining a tummy tuck and liposuction safe?

Combining liposuction and a tummy tuck certainly increases the risks of doing either procedure separately. The question is how much additional risk are we willing to accept. The risk depends on "how much" liposuction you are considering. Abdomen liposuction with abdominoplasty LIposuction of the abdomen can be done safely at the time of an abdominoplasty. The abdominoplasty technique should be modified to preserve vascularity... more

York Jay Yates, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

www.yorkyates.com

Liposuction and abdominoplasty- Are they safe together?

There is no reason to surmise that there is an increased death rate if liposuction and abdominoplasty are combined. I routinely combine these procedures, basically in every patient. There may be some concerns about skin necrosis, but this is not an issue if the key perforators are left intact. The only potential problem is if the patient has an undiagnosed vascular condidition, but that patient likely will have complications with any procedure.

Kenneth L. Stein, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Safety with tummy tuck and liposuction

There are valid points to both surgeons views, as liposuction with tummy tuck can significantly increase the risks. Still many plastic surgeons are able to combine tummy tuck with some liposuction of the flank and back to enhance contour in a safe way. The issues are operative time, and volume aspirated as deaths are related to both. Hear out both, though if the lipo you need is within a surgeons experience of reason and safety you should be taking a reasonable risk. Of course there is... more