Can You Combine an Arm and Thigh Lift Together?

   To some extent, this will depend upon individual needs and goals.  If the arm lift and thigh lift are both extended, I would not do both at the same time.  I perform these procedures frequently and quickly, but an extended arm lift will take 2.5 hours and the extended thigh lift will take 3 hrs minimum.   In addition, taking care of yourself can be an issue afterwards.  Find the plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of body contouring porcedures each year.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Thank you for your question regarding whether an arm lift (brachioplasty) and thigh lift (thighplasty) can be safely combined in a single surgery.

First, congratulations on your incredible 100-pound weight loss and the body contouring progress you've already made. It’s very common for post-bariatric patients like yourself to want to limit the total number of surgeries, especially when recovery time, cost, and life obligations come into play.

While it is possible to combine a thigh lift and arm lift, most experienced plastic surgeons—myself included—typically do not recommend combining these two particular procedures because of the unique recovery challenges. After an arm lift, you rely heavily on your legs for mobility. After a thigh lift, you need to use your upper body to stabilize, lift, and support yourself when getting out of bed or going to the bathroom. If both arms and legs are healing at the same time, it becomes extremely difficult to move safely and independently, and there is a higher risk of complications such as wound dehiscence (incisions reopening), seroma, or delayed healing.

That said, these procedures can be performed together under the right circumstances—particularly if you are in excellent health, have a strong support system, and understand the physical limitations you’ll face during the first 10–14 days of recovery. If you go this route, I strongly recommend arranging for 24/7 help from a caregiver for at least the first 10 days post-op.

If your main goal is to stay within three surgeries, I suggest discussing a staged approach with your plastic surgeon. Some patients undergo a modified version of either procedure or divide the work into upper and lower halves of the body for a more tolerable recovery. Every body is different, and it’s essential to customize the plan based on your anatomy, healing capacity, and lifestyle.

Good luck with the next step of your transformation. I hope I’ve answered your question regarding combining a thigh lift and an arm lift after major weight loss. If you have more questions about reconstructive plastic surgery after bariatric surgery, please consult an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in post-weight loss body contouring. Make sure they’ve performed at least 100 of each of these procedures, review their before-and-after photos, and check reviews on RealSelf or similar platforms.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen
(President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

It's not unusual for patients who undergo massive weight loss following gastric bypass to develop excess redundant thigh and arm tissue. When this situation arises, a variety of treatment options are available.When the upper arm is involved, patients usually benefit from a brachioplasty which is occasionally extended onto the lateral chest. When patients have significant amounts of excess medial thigh skin, a medial thigh lift is indicated. This procedure removes excess skin in both the transverse and vertical dimensions. Both procedures are associated with excellent clinical results and high levels of patient satisfaction.In some cases, it may be appropriate to address the arms and medial thighs simultaneously. This results in improved synergy, less expense and only one recovery.When these procedures are performed together, safety has to be the first priority. For this reason, we believe it's important to minimize the length of these operative procedures. An experienced surgeon, first assistant and surgical team that focus on efficiency can minimize the length of the procedures and reduce the potential for complications.When these resources aren't available, it's appropriate to stage these procedures. Combination surgery isn't for everyone. Patients may have co-existing health problems which prevent this approach. If you're considering combination massive weight loss surgery, it's important to consult a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this area. This surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that safely treats your anatomic deformity and achieves your aesthetic goals.

Most patients that need thighs also need other procedures done, like brachioplasty. Therefor, these two surgeries are very often combine.

Multiple procedures can be safely performed in one setting. But it depends on your health status (past medical history), your anatomy, and the amount of surgery/type of procedures to be done. Your surgeon will recommend an overnight stay depending on the overall length of your procedure(s),.  Please confirm that your plastic surgeon is board certified plastic surgeon specifically by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Dr. Basu
Houston, TX

Great job!! You may not need a thigh lift as a the body lift would also help your thighs to a degree.  I would also wait for 6 months of weight stability before you have surgical procedures. Unfortunately there is no effective non-surgical method.  However, a body lift can truly change your life. Excess abdominal fat  and skin is removed, the abdomen and your core is tightened, your hips are raised and defined and your buttock has new definition and shape.  The combination is powerful and the results are immediate. I would do the body lift first, then stage procedures every 4-6 months. Healing time is 2-4 weeks. The most important thing is safety. Please don't compromise on this! See a board certified plastic surgeon

I marvel at people who undergo the metamorphosis you are undergoing.  Losing a hundred pounds?  Amazing.  Getting rid of all of that loose skin?  Transformational.  You've already completed a lot of the process.  You want to be done with it and move on.  Yes, it's possible to combine arm lift and thigh lift surgery.  That combination is pretty difficult, though, in terms of recovery.  The arms swell and for a few days it's kind of like the "Michelin Tire man".  The legs swell and they hurt.  The groin area is an area that is prone to infection and wound healing problems.  To minimize risks of blood clots in the legs, as you know by now, a person needs to be up walking around as much as they can as soon as they can.  However, if your legs are swollen and sore, you might need to use your arms to push yourself up out of bed.  If your arms are swollen and sore, you might not be so interested in doing that.  There are certainly all kinds of issues when deciding what to do, and cost enters into that in a big way.  Time off from work, time away from the family, time away from doing all the things you do in a normal day.  So, it's natural to want to do as few operations as you can.  Yes, it's possible to combine these operations, but no, it may not be the safest combination to undergo.  The one thing that concerns me the most about your question is that it sounds a bit like you're "surgeon shopping", that you've had one or two operations by one surgeon, that maybe you visited with another surgeon for whatever reason and that surgeon told you something you may not have wanted to hear.  If this is the case (and I'm not saying it IS the case, just that it sounds like it MAY be), be cautious.  Find someone in your area who has a lot of experience with this type of surgery.  If what that surgeon tells you makes sense, but may not fit into your ideal financial plan or time plan, you should still probably listen to, and hear, what that surgeon says.  Bargain shopping or shopping until you find someone who tells you exactly what you want to hear may be a "recipe for disaster".  I hope you are able to successfully complete this transformation.  Congratulations on making it this far!

I think your surgeon is right. While you can have both done at the same time, it may limit your ability to get around. 

Thank you for your excellent question.  The short answer is yes, you can combine arm and leg procedures in one setting.  There will be mobility issues in that with  what i am assuming the medial thigh lift and the brachioplasty will have you sore in all four of your extremities.  You need to work with a surgeon who has extensive experience in performing these procedures and you need to make sure that you have adequate help at home and time off from work.  Best of luck with your procedures and congratulations on achieving your new body following that massive weight loss.

The quick answer to your question is yes, you can combine an arm and thigh lift as long as long as you are medically stable and can tolerate a potentially prolonged operation.  While I can understand your desire to limit yourself to three post-bariatric plastic surgery procedures, combining these two is likely to make maneuvering during the first one to two weeks of your recovery difficult.  Since it is uncomfortable to walk, and strenuous arm activity (which is not advised while recovering from an arm lift) is sometimes required to pull oneself out of bed or into a sitting position, combining the two is not an ideal match.  Congratulations on losing 100 lbs. and on already having a body lift, both are great accomplishments!