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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

In certain situations I do perform abdominoplasty and thigh lift at the same time. In others it is prudent to wait because there is usually an improvement in the appearance of the medial thighs after an abdominoplasty.

Congratulations on the weight loss. Each surgeon has different preferences on body contouring based on experience and expertise. It is possible to combine procedures based on the scope of surgery depending on the scope of the surgery. Your surgeon has examined you and understands the specifics about you so you should trust your surgeon's guidance.  

Timing and planning of multiple surgical procedures is a common question and patient concern.  Combining an abdominoplasty and an inner thigh lift  is not an unusual request.  As long as you are in good physical health and have no overriding medical conditions you should be a good candidate. With this combination the highest priority has to be safety and the prevention of DVT and PE.

Although commonly performed, tummy tuck is a major cosmetic procedure with a moderate recovery.  Inner thigh lift is not as commonly performed, though.  It is also a major cosmetic procedure, but with a major recovery.  If you have been appropriately educated about your procedures and you are greatly motivated to invest 6-8 weeks of very limited to moderate activity in the postoperative period, then you may be a candidate for the two procedures as a non-smoking, healthy 32 year-old.  By questioning the safety in this forum, you appear a little too unsure, though, to proceed with both in the same session.  Trust your instincts on this one.  Separate the two procedures and have the one you want the most performed first in case you have trouble with compliance in the initial postoperative period.  If you get through that procedure well, you'll be a great candidate for that second procedure.  Best wishes!

 

Inner thigh lift with tummy tuck followed many months later with flank lift and outer thigh lift if needed is good approach.  First operation can be done with you lying on your back. Second operation can be done with you being positioned on your stomach with unrestricted access to your back.

I agree with your surgeon.