Why do some doctors want to wait six months between procedures?

Question

Why do some doctors want to wait six months between procedures and others wait three months Especially for Lipo

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

You have to let your body heal from one surgery, I usually tell my patients to wait 3 months, that should be enough time to proceed to the next procedure. Always see a board certified PS.

Scott Reis, MD · Answer

This is a great question. After any surgery it takes at least six months for the swelling to resolve, the scar to begin maturing and the final shape and contour to become evident. This is especially the case with liposuction since so much swelling results from the nature of the procedure. In general surgeons will wait at least six months (sometimes more depending on the patient's individual circumstances and healing) before performing additional procedures on the same body area. For surgeries to other parts of the body though, 3 months in generally adequate to allow recovery from the initial surgery and optimization of your ability to heal quickly and efficiently after the second procedure. I suggest you listen to the advice of your plastic surgeon though, as they know you best.

Luis M. Rios Jr., MD · Answer

Very good question.Before embarking on procedures in the same area, most plastic surgeons follow some general guidelines depending on the procedure and part of the body.Redo nose surgeries (rhinoplasty) are done in 1 year to let the swelling settle and scar to soften. Removal and replacement of breast implants can usually be done in 3 months because the swelling is gone and inflammation has resolved. Revision liposuction can be done in 6 months because some areas of the body (abdomen & upper back) require that long for the swelling to resolve and the final shape to be seen. Also, liposuction areas can produce scar tissue that may take time to soften up before another liposuction procedure can be done in the same area. Moreover, if there was significant blood loss in the first surgery, it might be good to let the body heal and naturally replenish its blood cells.These are some basic guidelines and reasoning that plastic surgeons go by before attempting a revisional surgery. In general, the longer the patient waits between a second procedure in the same area, the easier it is for the plastic surgeon to get a good result for the patient.

Afshin Farzadmehr, MD · Answer

it is no uncommon to wait for 6 months until complete healing and swelling is resolved to evaluate final outcome.  Therefore, procedure on same area may not be recommended, however there is no issue for having procedures in different areas not previously operated on.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD · Answer

Thanks for your inquiry, the time between procedures is based on the length of any one procedures,  the amount of blood loss expected, the patient's health, and the anatomic needs of the procedure as well as adequate time to heal to name a few reasons.  Please ask your surgeon to explain the reasons he/she might advise between procedures.

Kenneth Rothaus, MD · Answer

I assume you question you are asking is how long to wait between between similar procedures on the same site of the body; for example, a between a primary and revision liposuction.  In general,it is better to wait longer between procedures.  With rare exceptions, I would consider 6 months to be the minimal interval.  For some aesthetic procedures, the interval can be as long as two years.  Having said that, there are always extenuating circumstances in individual cases.  This question can best be answered by your own surgeon who is familiar with your medical and surgical history and the details of your procedure.

Michael Baumholtz, MD, FACS · Answer

When patients ask to stack surgery or desire multiple procedures, we do our best to make a rational plan that minimizes their downtime and trips to the operating room. In the meantime, its important to wait until the final results of the prior surgery are seen before going on to additional procedures in that area. For some procedures the wait can be 3 months, others up to 12 months. For secondary (repeat) rhinoplasty - the healing time can be longer (especially for the tip). If your surgeon advises waiting a certain period of time - you should discuss with him or her their particular rationale.

Seek out consultation with a board certified member of ASPS / ASAPS.
Beware of marketing over medical science. There are many different devices on the market that promise faster healing, faster return to work and activity - but you can't change biology and your body will heal at its own pace - regardless of the device.

Seek out consultation with a board certified member of ASPS / ASAPS.
Beware of marketing over medical science. There are many different devices on the market that promise faster healing, faster return to work and activity - but you can't change biology and your body will heal at its own pace - regardless of the device.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It can take up to 6 months for swelling to resolve after liposuction. Waiting allows to assess the final results. For best results with liposuction, I recommend a hi definition procedure like VASER liposuction. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermiRF and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Gianna Ramos, MD · Answer

Hello

Thanks for your question.

It can take up to six months for the body to completely heal, swelling an inflammation takes time to disappear, that why most doctors recommend patients wait to have other surgical procedure.

Remember to always visit a certified plastic surgeon and discuss the best options for you.

Good luck :)

Dra. Gianna Ramos

Jon Kurkjian, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Final results for liposuction can take up to 6 months to fully appreciate due to some people having more swelling than others. Many plastic surgeons will wait until all swelling is gone prior to operating again. This is to avoid getting any complications or unsatisfactory results due to over liposuctioning an area. I encourage to listen to your plastic surgeon's advice.

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