Can a patient have a tummy tuck and facelift at the same time?

Dear C,     Cosmetic surgery is purely elective. You want the surgery rather than you have to have it medically. As such, cosmetic surgery should have the minimal complication rate as possible.  In a recent article that was based on data from insurance company that covers only cosmetic surgery, the complication rate when combining Tummy tuck and other procedures is increased by 2 or 3 times. (when the combination is of tummy tuck  and liposuction , the complication rate is X 10).  Full  tummy tuck surgery can range between 4-6 hours and face lift surgery can range between 3-5 hours or more if eyelids and neck surgery are included. According to the anesthesia literature, surgery that lasts over 6 hours , has significantly higher rate of complication.  Finally, the quality of the surgical  outcome of the combined 2 procedures can be significantly compromised due to surgeons physical and mental fatigue.   The advantages of combining the 2 procedure are one recovery and cost saving. However, your safety is more important and additionally, if you have to have corrective surgery, those advantages disappear !    So, if you were my patient, I would have separated the 2 procedure  into 2 sessions.   Always, consult with experienced board certified plastic surgeons, who perform surgery in accredited surgery center for your safety. Most importantly, check the before and after pictures in the photo gallery, to make sure that they are numerous, consistent and attractive.                      Best of luck,                                         Dr Widder

It is possible to combine these surgeries.  The recovery will be dictated by the tummy tuck, which takes longer to recover from.  After tummy tuck surgery, I advise the patients to take
two weeks off from work. The patients may return to work, but may not engage in
any strenuous activity. At two months, the patients start low impact cardio. At
three months they can engage in more strenuous physical activity. If anything
hurts or causes swelling, we ask them to back off somewhat. I prefer the
patients to stay in town for two weeks if they from more than 2-3 hours away.
I do not allow patients to fly before 2 to 3 weeks at the very minimum.

It would totally depend upon your particular situation- if you are healthy and a good candidate for both procedures with shorter operating time, then yes. Also, we routinely have two surgeons working together for less OR and anesthesia time which will greatly reduce risks and improve recovery.An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon is recommended to confirm you are a good candidate for both and to discuss your options and expectations. 

Hello and thank you for your question. I frequently perform combination procedures such as tummy tuck and breast lift or rhinoplasty and breast augmentation.  A facelift is a procedure which should not be combined with any other procedures.  The reason for this is that a facelift is the most sensitive of all plastic surgery procedures to hematoma (bleeding).  The blood pressure needs to be very closely regulated and combining procedures with a facelift can lead to problems.  I frequently perform blepharoplasty at the same time as a facelift, but never a tummy tuck. The most important aspect is to find
a surgeon you are comfortable with.  I recommend that you seek consultation with a
qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Thank you for your excellent question.  Though procedures can often be combined to afford patient's only a single recovery these two would push the time that can be safely spent for aesthetic procedures and I would recommend performing them independently.  Hope this helps.

Generally speaking, we like to separate body work from facial work.  While a facelift and a tummy tuck can technically be done at the same time, I don't think most of us would recommend it.  Our concerns about the two procedures are quite different.  For instance, things like recovery position are completely counter to each other with these two.  With a facelift, we want your head and neck elevated, and with a tummy tuck people walk around leaning forward for a week or 10 days.I would not recommend combining the two.  They both deserve the respect of a proper recovery.Good Luck!

Yes, it is possible to have 2 surgeries done at the same time but this would increase the chances of having complications. As a rule of thumb, your safety is always a priority that is why it is better to have this 2 procedures done separately.

It is certainly possible for a patient to have a facelift and a tummy tuck at the same time but this is an unusual combination for some physicians. Seek a BCPS who routinely performs these procedures. Good luck. DrBurnett#realself100

Combining cosmetic plastic surgery procedures is not
uncommon. Whether you are a reasonable candidate for those procedures depends
on your anatomy, your medical history, realistic expectations of the outcome
and an understanding of the pros and cons of the various procedures.
Safety should always be the main concern. It is generally recommended that the
length of elective surgery be less than six hours. The procedures should be
performed in an ambulatory facility that is accredited by one of the
national organizations like the American Association for Accreditation of
Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF) or in a licensed hospital. Many
surgeons would recommend an overnight stay at an appropriate facility where you
can be appropriately monitored. Most patients prefer undergoing one anesthesia
and one recovery period which is usually more cost effective.


Having said all of that, many ethical well trained plastic surgeons would feel
that the combination you are asking about is excessive and has significant
risks factors if performed in one stage.
Keep in mind that following the advice of any surgeon on this or any other web
site who proposes to tell you what to do without: examining you, physically
feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, and taking a full medical
history, as well as discussing the pros and cons of each operative option would
not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon certified by The American Board of
Plastic Surgery who is ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic
Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with, and discuss
your concerns with that surgeon in person. That way, you can have a better idea
what is safe and makes the most sense for you.
Before proceeding with a combination of these procedures, you should have
medical clearance from your primary care physician and a discussion between him
or her and your plastic surgeon.
Robert Singer, MD FACS
La Jolla, California

Thank you for your inquiry.Yes these procedures can be done in combination for some patients.   When considering a combination surgery I calculate how long I think each individual procedure would take.   The length of procedures can vary among patients depending on how much correction needs to be done.   I plan on all elective surgeries to be completed in less than six hours as the risk of complications such as, infection and DVT formation rise after six hours.I would recommend seeing 2-3 board certified plastic surgeons in consultation.  Discuss your goals and expectations.   Also discuss the surgical facility and type of anesthesia they use.   Would it be done in a surgery center or hospital setting?  If it would be done in a surgical center, be sure it's certified for general anesthesia.  Also, in some states, procedures performed in a surgical center must be kept to a maximum of 4 hours, any procedure longer is required to be done in a hospital center.I would refer you to my website under in the patient resource tab for a "surgeon checklist" to provide you with a helpful tool in selecting your surgeon and surgical facility.  See the link below.