How many hours max is it still considered safe to be under general anesthesia?

Question

Hi I'm scheduled to have surgery in November and I'm having TT, Lipo, BBL, BL, and BA. How many hours would I be under?

Alex Campbell, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Best is to keep surgery time below 6 hours. Combination procedures are safe and very effective in the right hands.  The surgeon HAS to be an expert in EACH procedure and must have a lot of experience in performing combination procedures and can minimize the operative time.  For example, we work in a team and would take around 4-5 hours for the complete operation.  This allows us to get better results with less surgical time and less trauma.  Our patients are typically wlking the same day and tapering off of pain medications by 4-5 days.  By a week, our internattional patients are generally touring around Cartagena enjoying the  sites of this UNSECO World Heritage City.  Patients progress to unrestricted activities by 2 months, just as the final results are settling in.
Combination procedures can give powerful results but SAFETY is KEY.  You definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety.  Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

In my practice it is common for me to perform all of the procedures you mentioned at the same time. However, I use an assistant to save total operative time with the goal less than 6 hours of surgery (often far less than that) to minimize potential complications and for a speedier recovery.  The benefit is only one surgery, only one recovery (you heal from all procedures simultaneously) and that you can use the fat that would normally be discarded from the tummy tuck. Pros and cons of this decision should be part of your in depth consultation with your plastic surgeon including the increased risk of complications with long surgeries and how to prevent them. Your plastic surgeon will guide you into making the best decision in your individual case. The most important decision is picking the best plastic surgeon experienced in this technique. See link regarding finding the best surgeon for combined surgeries.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Most plastic surgeons like to keep total procedure time under 6 hrs.  I like to keep the total time under 4 hours.   Find a board certified plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of liposuction, BBL, TT, BL, and BA procedures each year with favorable patient reviews.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.  Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

David Stoker, MD · Answer

Six hours is generally considered safe for general anesthesia in patients undergoing plastic surgery.  Longer may also be acceptable depending on your age, health, intensity of the procedures and thrombosis precautions.  Make sure you review carefully the credentials of your surgeon.  It matters even more for bigger cases.  Good luck.

Michael M. Omidi, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question! The duration of anesthesia is definitely something to consider when performing a mommy makeover considering that this comprehensive procedure may take from 3 to 6 hours to perform. Fortunately, you can safely remain under general anesthesia for 6 hours, which gives a surgeon sufficient time to complete a mommy makeover. A more prolonged surgery may involve risks such as blood clots and potentially complicate the recovery period. 
 An in-person exam with a board-certified surgeon is the best way to assess your needs and obtain expert medical advice. Best of luck!

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Length of surgery is determined individually based on the patient, surgeon technique, and surgical plan.  Your surgeon will be able to advise you of the estimated length of your surgery.  In general, many surgeons try to limit elective plastic surgery to 6 hours or less.  This is to keep risk low for the patient and limit surgeon fatigue.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD · Answer

You list 5 significant surgical procedures that combined will take a long time even with the most efficient and adept plastic surgeons. The risks for major problems such as clots in the legs (DVT's) and lungs (pulmonary embolism) will increase with increased operative time particularly when a tummy tuck is one of the procedures. And, this is without even knowing your medical condition and risks. Is is worth substantial health risks for cosmetic procedures just to save money? In many/most cases not!Six hours is reasonable for safety but it is unlikely you can have all these procedures performed with precision and without shortcuts in this period of time. I don't think that to save money or recuperation time you want to jeopardize your results or your health.You may be best served by consulting with a few reputable board certified plastic surgeons and then decide what makes sense.Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Robert Singer, MD · Answer

Combining cosmetic plastic surgery procedures is not uncommon. Whether you are a reasonable candidate for those procedures depends on your anatomy, your medical history, the extent of the procedures, 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, although it is not a rigid rule. 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

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

There are no absolute standards when it comes to duration of anesthesia; I think that it is best to individualize patients care based on several factors. For example, the type of procedures being performed, the amount of blood loss anticipated, the potential for fluid shifts, patient medical conditions, qualifications of anesthesia provider…are all examples of factors that may come into consideration.
In other words, It is best to evaluate each patient's suitability for combination surgery on an individualized basis. During this consultation process, after a complete history and physical, the SAFETY  of combining these surgical procedures becomes of paramount importance.  Plastic surgeon, anesthesia provider, duration of surgery, surgery facility all important  considerations. 
Your best bet: choose your plastic surgeon very carefully;  make sure that he/she is a board-certified plastic surgeon and can demonstrate a lot of experience achieving the types of outcomes you would be pleased with, with an excellent safety record.  Everything else including  good judgment/advice/planning, anesthesia provider and safe surgery facility will follow. Best wishes.

Vincent D. Lepore, MD (retired) · Answer

Although, there is no absolute time limit to be under general anesthesia, it has been shown that surgical cases that run over 6 hours tend to carry higher relative risks than those that fall under 6 hours.  Beside the length of time of the surgery, there are other factors that can affect the relative risk of a surgery.  These factors can include the extent and/or number sites of the surgery, the age, weight and overall health of the patient.  Check with your primary care physician and your surgeon as to recommendations in your particular case.  Best wishes, Dr. Lepore.

How many hours max is it still considered safe to be under general anesthesia?

Answers (14)

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