How Many Cosmetic Surgery Procedures Can Safely Be Done at One Time?

The advantages of combining procedures are clear: lower overall cost, one recovery time. But at some point safety issues become a concern, and this depends on a few factors. One is the length of the surgery, because longer anesthesia times can increase the risk of complications and prolong the recovery. My goal is to keep the total surgery time under 6 hours, so we won't schedule one estimated to go longer than 5 so we don't have to rush. The tummy tuck, lipo, and breast lift with implants might be OK, then the facial procedures at another time.

When
multiple procedures are performed together safety has to be everyone’s first
priority.  For this reason, we believe
that the length of the procedure should never exceed four to six hours.  Complications from surgery increase
significantly when these numbers are exceeded. 
An experienced surgeon and surgical team that focuses on efficiency can
minimize the length of the surgical procedure. 
We often use another surgeon as a first assistant to help with this
process.

            The advantages of this approach are
obvious and include improved synergy and harmony, which improves the overall
aesthetic result.  Patients experience
one recovery rather than multiple recoveries and they potentially save money
when these procedures are done in combination. 


Combination surgery isn’t for everyone.  Some patients have co-existing health
problems which prevent this approach.  In
your case the combination of tummy tuck, flank liposuction, Breast Lift, breast
Augmentation, facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty and rhinoplasty might take
longer than 4 to 6 hours.  Under these
circumstances, it might be appropriate to stage these procedures.  For instance, facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty
and rhinoplasty could be performed together. 
After 6 to 12 weeks this procedure could be followed by a secondary
procedure that includes breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck and
liposuction.  This approach would
minimize risk and accomplish your aesthetic goas in an economic manner.

            If you’re considering combination
surgery it’s important to consult a board certified plastic surgeon.  This surgeon should be able to formulate a
treatment plan that addresses your anatomic findings and achieves your
aesthetic goals.

You have listed probably 12 to 18 hours worth of cosmetic surgical procedures on your wish list. I would try to break up your surgical plan in two or better yet, three stages. Each time keeping the overall length of surgery at 6 hours or less. The time between each surgery is up to you and your surgeon but generally 3 to 6 months is reasonable provided that you have recovered sufficiently to undergo subsequent surgery. Don't try to cram more procedures into each surgery since you want each procedure to do performed thoroughly and meticulously. At the end of the day you want surgeries that are performed properly so you can get the best results possible.

Best Wishes,

The number of surgical procedures that can be performed at the same time will depend on your overall health, and the experience of your surgeon with safety as the primary consideration. Multiple surgical procedures can safely be performed at the same time providing; it is done by an experienced, properly trained plastic surgeon with a team who routinely and efficiently performs combination procedures, the patient is properly selected for the procedures and proper safety guidelines are closely adhered to.One of the most important factors in performing several procedures at the same time is the length of surgery. Although there is no universally agreed upon time limit most surgeons would probably agree that the limit falls between 4-6 hours. Many surgeons use 5 hours as a limit. Complication rates begin to rise as the length of surgery exceeds this time frame. In order to safely and effectively perform several procedures within this timeframe it is very important that the surgeon and his or her team are highly trained and routinely perform these combinations in an efficient manner. A very important member of the team is the anesthesiologist. An anesthesiologist who routinely performs with the team understands the various details important to an ideal outcome and ideal postoperative recovery.In order to properly select patients for lengthy surgical procedure such as this many factors need to be taken into consideration. Some these include the patient's BMI, any history of pulmonary problems, a history of sleep apnea, and the presence of diabetes or heart problems. Every patient should undergo a risk assessment for the development of a DVT (blood clot) and/or pulmonary embolism. If a significant risk is identified appropriate steps must be taken to satisfactorily reduce the risk.When preparing a patient for a combination procedure it is very important to properly educate them on what to expect during the recovery and the homecare they will need. Many patients comment that the results of these combinations are truly life-changing. Fortunately today, these life-changing combination procedures can be safely performed as long as it is done by highly trained and efficient surgical teams on properly selected patient's with safety as the primary consideration.

There are couple considerations for multiple procedures done at the same time.  Obviously, the safety should be our number one concern.  With several procedures, the operative time could be very long.  As operative time gets longer, complication rate (infection, bleeding) becomes higher.  In addition, your recovery will be tougher with so many surgeries all over your body.  Some patients may want multiple surgery in one session to avoid multiple recovery.  However, it will be best to limit surgery so that the operative time is less than 6-8 hours.

Multiple procedures can be done safely but there is a limit.  Given your lengthy list of procedures, you will need to prioritize your goals.  What is the #1 area of importance to you?  Please visit with a board certified PS to learn more about your options.

Dr. Basu

Houston, TX

It sounds like you would like to have many procedures done.  The biggest advantage to combining procedures is cost; but the biggest disadvantage to combining procedures is safety.  Typically, you don't want your surgery to be longer than 6-8 hours in length.  I would suggest that you discuss the procedures you are interested in with a board certified plastic surgeon.  He or she can then better guide you on how many procedures to have at one time and which ones.  Based on the procedures you are discussing, you would most likely need at least two separate surgeries, maybe even three.  These surgeries will need to be spaced far enough apart to allow you to recover adequately before proceeding to the next one.  Good luck!

 

Dear laura110,

Cosmetic surgery is generally considered safe, but no procedure is risk free.

In general, the risks of cosmetic surgery are related to multiple factors including the amount, type, and complexity of surgery being performed, the length of anesthesia, your age, and your overall health.

If you are in good overall health, cosmetic surgery procedures may be combined. Some surgeons limit the amount of surgery that can be done in one sitting (eg. up to 6 hours); others may perform longer procedures in select circumstances (eg. young, healthy people; often in a hospital setting). 

In your situation, it may be possible to combine your procedures into two or three operations, depending on your age, overall health, complexity of procedures, and surgeon. Please keep in mind that good surgery should be precise and efficient, but not rushed.

It is important to choose an operating room facility (ie. hospital or Ambulatory Surgery Center) that is certified by a nationally recognized body (ie. AAAASF, AAAHC, JCAHO, or Medicare) to ensure that the highest standards for patient safety and care are met. I would also recommend that you choose anesthesia services provided by Board Certified Anesthesiologists only.

Please see an experienced, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your concerns.

Warmest wishes,

Larry Fan, MD

San Francisco, CA USA

 

It sounds as though your list of surgeries would exceed what most Board Certified Plastic Surgeons would deem safe. We usually prefer to limit surgical time to about six hours, and I like to see at least 4-6 months between surgeries so that you can sufficiently recover from the first and get your strength and immune system strong again. You should consider staging these procedures by discussing them with your surgeon and making plans in advance.

Thanks for the question. It seems you want a full body makeover, and I normally do them in stages. You can discuss this with your surgeon who can give you a better idea. Give yourself a few weeks inbetween the surgeries to recover and get your strength. Best Wishes  Dr Thomas Narsete  austin, Tx