Tummy Tuck Q&A
94%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
2,305 Reviews
Tummy Tuckbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Tummy Tuck Cost: $7,950

Learn about Tummy Tuck

7,750 people and 865 doctors are talking about Tummy Tuck

Get Free Email Updates

Tummy Tuck and Lipo - Separate Surgeries. Normal?

asked 1 year ago by CantWait77
Latest answer by Ayman Hakki, MD
Question viewed 398 times
Tags: flanks, hips, inner thighs, outer thighs, combination, normal

I am having a tummy tuck very soon along with flank lipo. My doctor is also going to be doing lipo of the hips, and both inner and outer thigh in a separate surgery. Is this common? I have not heard of this and I am wondering if my size or amount of lipo has something to do with it. I am not obese but my BMI is 27. I do have fat but I am healthy and do exercise a lot. What do you smart surgeons think?

14 answers to Tummy Tuck and Lipo - Separate Surgeries. Normal?

+2

How Much Liposuction Is Done With A Tummy Tuck Is A Matter of Patient Safety

Combing liposuction with a tummy tuck is very common and would almost be considered the normal approach, particularly for treatment of the associated side of the waistline and back fat. Done together, this creates a better overall result. Due to the convenience of one surgery, other areas of liposuction of the hips, thighs and knees can also be done and most plastic surgeons would do the two together...provided it is safe to do so. Safety would be defined as how long the procedure would be... more
Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD

Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

+2

Liposuction and Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Complement Each Other

I frequently combine liposuction and tummy tuck procedures to achieve a better overall body contour. The procedures can be safely combined as long as the operative time is less than 6 hours and no more than 5 Liters of liposuction is performed. These are pretty well accepted guidelines in the plastic surgery literature. 
Frank Agullo, MD

El Paso Plastic Surgeon

www.elpasoplasticsurgery.com

+1

Tummy Tuck and Lipo combo in one stage-Yes

It would be a given in my practice to do all your desired areas of liposuction in one operative session. I hardly ever do a tummy tuck without adding liposuction of the flanks to it. A tummy tuck without lipo of this area would give a square shape, adding the hips and thighs should be fine. It is a basic combination.
Ayman Hakki, MD

Washington Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck and lipo

It is certainly possible to perform liposuction at the same time as an abdominoplasty.  I usually do not liposuction the central abdomen at the same time, but I would consider the other areas at the same time.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction and tummy tuck surgeries combined.

It is typical to have tummy tuck and liposuction done together.  Liposuction of the hips is uaually combined with the tummy tuck.   see video
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck and waist/hip lipo common

It is very common for plastic surgeons to combine liposuction of the waist/hips with a tummy tuck.  Depending on your health status, anatomy, and goals, liposuction of other areas can also be performed all in one setting.
C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.basuplasticsurgery.com

+1

All Surgeries Must Weigh Benefits/Risks

There are advantages and disadvantages with combining the liposuction of your hips and thighs with your tummy tuck.  You must always weigh the benefits risks with any surgical procedure that you undergo.  The benefits here are less down time and possibly some economical advantages.  The risks are always increased to some degree with combination procedures since there is a longer period of anesthesia involved.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction along with a tummy tuck or later as a separate procedure?

As you can see from the answers to your question regarding doing liposuction of your flank and other areas concurrent with or in a separate procedure from your tummy tuck, there is not a consensus. Combining procedures may increase some risks including concerns with interfering with the blood supply of the abomen from an aggressive procedure or increasing the risk for clots in the leg or lung. Separately, these risks are lower but you would be undergoing 2 separate procedures including... more
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

+1

Tummy Tuck and Liposuction Combined - is this normal?

It is quite common to perform a tummy tuck in combination with liposuction for many patients. The decision is based upon the patients goals as well as particular needs. The flank lipo is almost standard, and adding additional areas are fairly routine.  The benefit is one recovery period and one anesthetic.  Sometimes there are circumstances that warrant staging procedures, but if you are healthy, you should be able to tolerate the combination of lipo and a tummy tuck. Have... more
Vincent P. Marin, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction and tummy tucks

As you can see there is a range of what PS will find safe and acceptable.  In my practice, I often combine liposuction of the abdomen, flanks and medial thighs with a tummy tuck and have done so safely.
Delio Ortegon, MD

San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.sacs-sa.com

+1

Extent of lipo suction with a tummy tuck

Safe surgery is mandatory.  Body contouring with liposuction is fine as long as the combined surgery and lipo is safe for the patient .  Excessive blood loss or a protracted hospital stay along with blood transfusion is not considered standard of care.  We surgeons have well known guide lines to consider in the evaluation of  our patients.  Ask your doctor why he made the decision to split your procedure.  Get more than one consultation for comparision of... more
H. Michael Roark, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

We do tummy tuck and thigh lipo in 2 stages.

Hi. Different doctors do things differently. But I agree with your surgeon. It may be inconvenient, but it is safer. see video
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

TT and flank lipo is a great combination

I frequently do flank and thigh liposuction in conjunction with a tummy tuck. This is a safe and reasonable combination, especially in a fit individual like yourself. Ask your surgeon why he is deviating from a 'basic' cosmetic surgery combo procedure.
Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

Safety first

There must be a reason that your surgeon has choosen to divide your surgeries into two separate procedures instead of one.  Most likely, the time required to perform both surgeries in the same setting would exceed what is generally considered as "safe" surgical time.  There are many studies which show that post-operative recovery is prolonged when the surgical time passes beyond certain levels as well as a significant increase in possible complications.  Since this... more
Theodore Diktaban, MD

Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question