Is at Advisable to Have a Tummy Tuck & Inner Thigh Lift at the Same Time?

Question

Hi I am a 32 year old, fit, non smoking female who has lost about 56 pounds. I am in need of a tummy tuck and thigh lift (lower body lift basically), and my surgeon has suggested the idea of doing the tummy tuck and inner thigh lift together, followed by extending the tummy tuck scar and doing the rest at a later stage. I am concerned that these 2 big procedures combined will be too much, extending the recovery and will be risky. I'm thinking it best to address the tummy area alone, firstly?

John LoMonaco, MD, FACS · Answer

The problems with doing tummy tuck and inner thigh lift together are:

	1) The bikini and groin incisions are in close proximity to one another and this can increase swelling in the pubic area.

	2)  In weight loss patients with loose skin, lifting the pubic area and front of thigh can change the inner thigh skin, making the inner thigh lift harder to perform because the skin has moved.

	3) Wearing a compression garment or girdle (which I feel really helps with swelling and support after a tummy tuck) is very uncomfirtable on the inner thigh lift incisions which do much better with a light, easily removable dressing.

	I will consider doing them together under a few circumstances, such as:

	1) The patient has correctable issues that require only one stage

	2) The inner thigh skin and pubic laxity is minimal

	Because it sounds like you may benefit from a lower body lift, I would first perform the tummy, pubic, outer thigh, buttock, and lower back lift (along with breast surgery if desired) at Stage Iand then do inner thighs, arms, and rouchups from Stage ! at Stage II.

	 

	The link below is of a patient (Case #2) who had a one stage tummy tuck and inner thigh lift.

Jonathan Fisher, MD · Answer

I would try to avoid having mutiple corrections all at once in one prosedure. That being said if the areas are close to eachother and the prosedures do not inverfere with eachother then it might be a possibility. It all depends on the results you wish to achieve.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

There is. Itching wrong with combining the procedures.  However, if you would be most comfortable starting out with a tummy tuck and coming back later for further procedures, that is perfectly fine to do as well.  You can always come back ,for the thigh lift of to convert the tummy tuck into a body lift  if you want as a secondary procedure.  It is somewhat difficult to say in your particular case, however, because  you have not included photos.

William Bruno, MD · Answer

It is recommended to perform the tummy tuck (or body lift or circumferential body lift) first, followed several months later by the thigh lift. This causes fewer wound healing complications and allows the tissues to "relax" from the first surgery because combining the procedures can place undue tension on the scars. Basically the central portion of the body is addressed first, then you can have other areas treated (such as the arms, thighs or breasts).

	I recommend consulting with a few board certified plastic surgeons who are experienced in body contouring before you have surgery.

	Best wishes,

	Dr.Bruno

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,

	ASPS strives to emphasize a culture of safety with it's members, and evidence points to a general increase in the risk of complications when abdominoplasty is combined with other procedures. The amount of increased risk is dependent on many variables, including the patients age, weight, smoking status, and medical condition.  Additional variables also include the length of time for the entire procedure and which additional procedures are being performed. 

	In general, most surgeons perform additional procedures with abdominoplasty frequently, the most common being liposuction of the hips and waist.  'Mommy Makeovers', or the combination of breast surgery and abdominoplasty, is also common. I personally perform inner thigh lifts with abdominoplasty, but only the type with a limited incision in the groin, and not the type with the full length incision to the knee.

	Given your situation, and without actually examining you,  I would opt for an abdominoplasty that doesn't extend too far around the back, because  you are planning on coming back to have the posterior portion of the body lift latter.  If you are a safe candidate based on previously discussed criteria, and you would also get a good result from a limited incision inner thigh lift, then move forward with both.  If you need a more extensive thighlift, I would caution against it.

Is at Advisable to Have a Tummy Tuck & Inner Thigh Lift at the Same Time?

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Is at Advisable to Have a Tummy Tuck & Inner Thigh Lift at the Same Time?

Answers (14)

Answer: Combination Tummy Tuck and Inner Thigh Lift

Answer: Combination Tummy Tuck and Inner Thigh Lift

Answer: Multiple Tummy Tuck

Answer: Multiple Tummy Tuck

Answer: Tummy tuck

Answer: Tummy tuck

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Answer: Tummy tuck and thigh lift should be done separately

Answer: Tummy tuck and thigh lift should be done separately

Answer: Combining Abdominoplasty and Thigh Lift

Answer: Combining Abdominoplasty and Thigh Lift

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Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.