Can a mommy makeover be safely performed along with chin liposuction and an upper eyelid lift?

Question

I am considering a tummy tuck, breast lift with fat transfer, lipo to flanks, armpit area and neck (with renuvion)and an upper eyelid lift. I am healthy and in my 30s with two small children. My surgeon is confident this scope is appropriate for a single surgery noting the chin/neck lipo and upper eyelid lift are short procedures to add on. Have you done a similar combo (a small facial procedure with a mommy makeover) and/or does that scope seem reasonable for a single surgery?

Azita Madjidi, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

For someone who is healthy, it is rather safe to do any surgery under 6 hours in an accredited facility with proper care. But in general, combining surgeries adds discomfort in the recovery phase.

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD · Answer

Thanks so much for your question, 
Before undergoing multiple procedures simultaneously, it's essential to ensure that you are in good overall health and have no underlying medical conditions that could increase the risks associated with surgery and anesthesia.

Your plastic surgeon will develop a comprehensive surgical plan that addresses your aesthetic goals while prioritizing safety. This includes determining the appropriate sequence of procedures, optimizing surgical techniques to minimize risks, and ensuring that the duration of surgery and anesthesia remains within safe limits.

Sincerely, 
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Coco71543,
I understand your concern. It is best however that you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine whether you can have several aesthetic surgeries in one session, as this would depend on various factors including but not limited to your general health condition, the type of anesthesia that will be used, and the type of surgeries that will be performed among others.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Emmanuel De La Cruz, MD · Answer

Combining multiple cosmetic procedures like a mommy makeover (which typically includes procedures such as a tummy tuck, breast augmentation or lift, and liposuction) with chin liposuction and an upper eyelid lift can often be safely performed, but it depends on several factors:

Overall Health: Your overall health and medical history play a significant role in determining the safety of combining multiple procedures. Your surgeon will assess factors such as your current health status, any pre-existing medical conditions, and previous surgeries.
Surgical Plan: The specific combination of procedures you're considering will influence the complexity of the surgery and potential risks. Your surgeon will create a surgical plan tailored to your individual needs and goals, taking into account factors such as the extent of tissue removal, incision locations, and anticipated recovery time.
Anesthesia: Undergoing multiple procedures may require longer anesthesia exposure, which can increase the risks associated with anesthesia. Your anesthesiologist will evaluate your medical history and determine the safest approach to anesthesia for your surgery.
Recovery Considerations: Combining multiple procedures can result in a more extended and potentially more challenging recovery period compared to undergoing each procedure separately. It's essential to understand the recovery process for each procedure and be prepared for the potential physical and emotional demands.
Surgeon Expertise: Choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in performing the specific combination of procedures you're considering. A skilled surgeon can minimize risks and optimize outcomes through meticulous surgical technique and personalized care.
Realistic Expectations: Understand the expected outcomes and limitations of each procedure, as well as the potential synergies and trade-offs of combining them. Your surgeon will discuss realistic expectations with you during the consultation process.
Postoperative Care: Following your surgeon's postoperative care instructions is crucial for a smooth recovery and optimal results. Be prepared for regular follow-up appointments and ongoing support from your surgical team during the recovery process.
Ultimately, the safety and feasibility of combining multiple cosmetic procedures depend on individual factors and careful consideration by you and your surgical team. Be sure to discuss your goals, concerns, and expectations openly with your surgeon to make informed decisions about your treatment plan.

Steven H. Wiener, MD · Answer

Yes, all these procedures can be performed in one surgical procedure.  The tummy tuck and breast lift are the two largest procedures. Liposuction to the other areas, and an upper eyelid blepharoplasty are relatively small procedures, and can be per formed at the time of your mommy makeover.

Ryan Rebowe, MD · Answer

For most providers, the safe limit of total duration of surgery is 6-7 hours under anesthesia. That combination of surgeries is likely going to be too long to be safely performed together. Typically, I would recommend staging. While staging can be disappointing, it does offer some advantages, such as revision of previous procedures during secondary procedures. Of note, if you are otherwise healthy and in good shape, your tummy tuck and mastopexy may not be terribly involved and your surgeon could be confident in his ability to get it all done within that time period. There truly is no right or wrong answer. I would just make sure your surgeon is board certified in plastic surgery (not cosmetic or other specialties not overseen by the American Board of Medical Specialties) to ensure that they are keeping your safety in mind.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

I would not recommend doing all those procedures together. The safe operation time is 6 hours. The tummy tuck, breast lift and fat transfers will probably take about 6 hours. After these are completed, you can do the liposuction and upper blepharoplasty.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

What you want can be done as one procedure. However, once surgery goes past 4 hours, and especially past 6 hours, risks increase especially with your lungs and bladder.  You might need an overnight stay.  Personally, I do not do the fat transfer the same time as the lift for better fat survival.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Combining procedures is common and considered safe, but there is a limit.  Based on the information given you are pushing the upper limits of surgical time, but if you are a good candidate in general good health and you are having surgery performed by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon you should be okay.  You never want to compromise safety and you don't want to compromise optimal results either.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

There are advantages and disadvantages for doing combined procedures.
Each provider will have their own judgment in regards to what is appropriate.
It is to some advantage for both patient and provider to combine procedures.
That said, quality work takes time.
Adding too many procedures on the same schedule is going to lead providers to taking shortcuts.
Enny procedure done well is going to take time.
There’s no way around this.
Whether something can be done and should be done are you totally different things.
Ask your provider to show you all of their before and after pictures of previous patients who had all of these procedures done at the same time previously.
If they’ve done them in the past, and they should have no difficulty showing you the pictures.
 Adding small facial procedures is not a big deal.
The question is the amount of time in the operating room, surgeon fatigue, and appropriateness.
In the end, ick surgery outcomes are primarily based on patient candidacy and provider selection.
What is appropriate for one? Patient may not be appropriate for another patient.
Doing a tummy tuck on a 250 pound person is more than twice the amount of work than doing it on someone who is 105 pounds.
There is no yes or no answer to your question.
Safety is relative.
It’s always safer to do less surgery.
The safest is to have no surgery.
My best suggestion is to focus your efforts on provider, selection first and foremost.
Understanding your own candidacy for the procedures and provider selection are the two hallmarks that are going to determine outcomes.
I generally recommend people have multiple in person consultations before selecting a provider.
The biggest mistake patients make is having only one consultation, then scheduling surgery.
Having only one consultation, more or less eliminates the ability to choose a better provider.
The second mistake I see patients make is assuming that being board certified in plastic surgery with a few years of experience and some good reviews, means somebody has mastered most plastic surgical procedures.
This is simply not true. 
You should always vet providers for every single procedure. You are scheduled to have.
Insist on seeing a substantial number of before and after pictures for every procedure you’re scheduled to undergo.
An experienced plastic surgeon should have no difficulty showing you the before and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients.
Highly experienced surgeons will have access to hundreds or preferably thousands of before and after pictures.
 In the hands of the right provider quality decisions will be made and the chance of having disappointments, complications, or need for revision surgery goes down dramatically.
In the end, patient candidacy and provider selection are the most important variables.
Focus on those.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Can a mommy makeover be safely performed along with chin liposuction and an upper eyelid lift?

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