Is it safe to have mini facelift & tummy tuck together?

In general this combination should be safe if you are in good health, and the surgery can be completed in about 5 hours.  Procedures of longer duration have some increase in complication rate according to some data.  With abdominoplasty in particular there is a higher risk of venous thrombosis than other procedures, so it is important that any risk factors be carefully considered, and appropriate prophylactic measures taken.

Yes and No.We do know that length of surgery does affect morbidity and mortality (complications and deaths).A mini facelift and tummy tuck would be anywhere from 3 to 6 hours depending on type of procedure, patient, and surgeon. Operative times over 5 hours have been shown to increase complications and deaths.Studies regarding tummy tucks and other procedures show conflicting results. Some have shown no increase in death and others have suggested a higher rate. DVT or blood clots is increased in procedures combined with abdominoplasty. Use of anticoagulants increases the risk of bleeding for the facelift.My guess is the normal death rate for a cosmetic procedure is 1 in 100,000. Adding another procedure probably does increase it to 1 in 10,000. Because of that with most surgeons averaging a dozen double area procedures a year would mean most surgeons will never see a death and therefore report it is safe. I also believe it increases the risk of hospitalization.If it were me, I would have the facelift and a tummy tuck a week later. The disadvantage of course is a higher cost. The advantage is probably  an easier recovery, and you still have the longer time for the face to look better. But it might be easier to deal with. When people combine a chest procedure and abdomen it is usually harder than they anticipate with many times a longer recovery for both together than each one. They cant compensate for the abdomen with the chest and arms and cant compensate for the chest with the abdomen.Make your best decision but their is some increased risk, either accepting a higher DVT risk, or a higher hematoma risk, and theoretically a higher complication and death rate. If the risks seem acceptable to you  for the benefits then proceed. But evaluate carefully.

Thank you for the question.  Combining cosmetic procedures is not uncommon.  It helps having the least down time.  You should be fine combining both procedures but best to consult with your board-certified plastic surgeon and get a full evaluation.  Best of luck, Dr. Michael Omidi.

Combining cosmetic plastic surgery procedures is not
uncommon. Whether you are a reasonable candidate for those procedures depends
on your anatomy, your medical history, 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. 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.
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

It is perfectly appropriate and medical safe to have both a facelift and tummy tuck surgery as a combined procedure. Whether that would be a good decision based on recovery and other issues must be decided on an individual basis.

Generally speaking, combination surgical procedures are done routinely. However, you are wise in being concerned about the safety of combination surgery; risks/possible complications do increase with increased length of surgery…  
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; everything else including good judgment/advice/planning, anesthesia provider and safe surgery facility will follow. Best wishes.