Is 9 1/2 hours to long to be under for surgery?

hello thank you for your question and provided information as well depends a lot on the procedure but normal is 2-4 hours.maxium

I would ask your surgeon as this will depend upon your anatomy, the surgeries planned, and the protocols established by your surgeon.  To optimize safety and recovery, I recommend that my patients stage their surgeries so that they will not be under anesthesia for more than six hours.
Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles, CA

I would not plan an elective cosmetic procedure for that length of time.  If it is reconstructive, non elective surgery than you may have no other choice.  To better answer your question it would be best to know what surgery is planned.

denaadcock. If your surgeon is unable to accomplish your mommy makeover in six hours or less, then you should stage the operation or seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to do the mommy makeover surgery. Most of us who do this operation accomplish all that is needed to be done within six hours. Any longer than that, the complication rate increases. Best of luck.

Thank you for sharing your question.  Most surgeons will try to limit the amount of time under general anesthesia for an aesthetic procedure to 6-7 hours.  This is due to the increased risk of complications that increases as timing increases.  I would discuss these risks with your surgeon in order to get the best advice. 

You should limit your outpatient procedures to under six hours which will minimize your risk of complications. Watch this brief video.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

Hello and thank you for the question. Performing multiple procedures is common in selected group of individuals. Having said that, prolonged operative times are associated with increased risk of complications (e.g. blood clots in the legs, pulmonary emboli, etc). Generally speaking, we would like to keep the operative time under 6 hours. 9 1/2 hours is way too long. I would stay away from any surgeon that tells you otherwise. Best,
Pejman Aflaki, M.D.

Johns Hopkins-trained plastic surgeon

For an elective cosmetic surgery, I would not recommend surgery for that length of time.  Most plastic surgeons limit surgery to around 6 hours to limit risks.  It would be safer for you to stage your surgeries into 2 or 3 different operations.  Discuss with your plastic surgeon your options and concerns.  

Many plastic surgeons limit surgical time for elective procedures to 6 hours.  If the procedure(s) you have planned will exceed this you may want to stage them.  I encourage you to speak with your surgeon about your concerns.

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. Most patients prefer undergoing one anesthesia and one recovery period which is usually more cost effective.


Having said all of that, most ethical well trained plastic surgeons would feel that any combination of procedures that take 9 1/2 hours is excessive and has significant risk 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. Robert Singer, MD FACS 

La Jolla, California