Is it safe to have a Full Tummy Tuck and Hip Liposuction at a same time? My doctor has said no, and I would like a second opinio

Question

I will have full tummy tuck on july in canada and i asked my doctor to have hip lipo at the same time but he said NO. The reason "it is very high risk to happen blood clots and it takes more time to recover" he said. He suggested to wait minimum 4 months between tummy tuck and lipo. But i know many doctors do this. So i would like to get more information regarding this.

Yily De Los Santos, MD · Answer

I usually perform a combination of these procedures and my patients have not ended with any kind of complication. Each surgeron may have his /her own opinion so you should discuss this with the one you chose.

Ali Sajjadian, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thanks for your question.Tummy tuck and liposuction can be done at the same time. Please discuss details with your surgeon.Best wishes,Dr Sajjadian

S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS · Answer

In the early days of liposuction back in the 1980's, there was a great deal of fear doing a tummy tuck with liposuction.  Early data indicated an increased chance of deep vein thrombosis when the two surgeries were combined.  Today, all Board Certified plastic surgeons follow the rule of safety first.  However, multiple techniques are available to plastic surgeons to prevent deep vein thrombosis during long surgeries with a combination of multiple procedures.  In my personal experience, I have done hundreds of tummy tucks combined with multiple areas of liposuction, and have fortunately never seen any cases of deep vein thrombosis.  Among the modalities used to decrease the chance of clots in legs, most plastic surgeons use venous compression therapy boots during surgery and in the early post-operative period, as well as post surgery center instructions to patient and caregiver for techniques to keep the blood in legs circulating.  All that being said, each plastic surgeon has his or her own opinion whether surgeries should be combined or separated.  Your surgeon's recommendation to separate the two surgeries is, in my opinion, a very conservative approach (please remember conservative is not a bad word).  At this point, seeking a second opinion from one or two other Board Certified plastic surgeons in Edmonton might put your mind at ease.  I know many of the Board Certified plastic surgeons in Edmonton, and you have a stellar group of plastic surgeons to choose from.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

I have combined this procedure hundreds of times, but every surgeon will have a different opinion on this.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Robert J. Spies, MD · Answer

Hello and thanks for question.  I routinely perform tummy tuck and liposuction at the same time including flanks, hips and thighs.  The only limitations are time required for the procedures and amount of fat that can be removed safely.  Maybe your doctor is concerned about one or both of these factors.  Concerns about blood clots can be minimized with modalities that lower the risks.  These include lower operative times, walking as soon as possible, use of anti-embolism stockings and pneumatic hose (air pumps on your legs during surgery to move blood from the leg veins to the heart).  Some of us also use blood thinners to further lower the risk.  I respect your surgeon's caution but have never seen liposuction with a tummy tuck cause problems.

Jose Perez-Gurri, MD, FACS · Answer

Good morning. Every surgeon has their methods and preferences. There is no doubt that when combined procedures are performed together, the risks increase. However, the combination of a tummy tuck and liposuction IS frequently done together. You have to weigh the ,IMHO slightly higher risks of a combined procedure with the risks associated with going back to surgery a second time at more expense.My personal preference is to perform both together and I have been doing so for many years. Here in the State of Florida there are restrictions as to the amount of fat that can be safely removed when combined procedures are performed. You selected your surgeon for specific reasons. Trust needs to be the cornerstone of that relationship. He/She is looking out for your best interest and if he/she does not feel comfortable with doing both at the same time, then follow their advice. Good luck.

Andrew Wolfe, MD · Answer

Your Plastic Surgeon is being cautious in recommending that you separate your tummy tuck and liposuction surgeries, and he is correct that some risks do increase when combining these procedures.  The combination is safe in the right patients, however, and you must weigh the risk of a second surgery, presumably with another round of general anesthesia.  I would also argue that the duration of recovery is essentially the same whether you do lipo and a tummy tuck or a tummy tuck alone.The article below was published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, and my partner in practice was one of the co-authors with Dr. Grant Stevens.  I have personally performed many combination procedures like this, but I am selective in offering these longer procedures to healthy, younger, fit individuals.  I won't fault your Plastic Surgeon for being too conservative, as safety really is the top priority in elective surgery, but it can be done safely.

Robert Singer, MD · Answer

Safety should always be the primary concern. Having said that, most plastic surgeons will perform a tummy tuck and hip liposuction at the same time. The determination of whether to do them at one time rather than in stages depends on numerous factors including: medical history, anatomy, amount of anticipated liposuction, and individual physician comfort level.Robert Singer, MD  FACSLa Jolla, California

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

It is common practice to combine a tummy tuck and hip liposuction and often there is a significant aesthetic advantage in doing so to optimally shape the waistline.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Liposuction is routinely performed in conjunction with a tummy tuck to help improve body contours. There may be some limitations to how much adipose tissue can be removed safely. To be safe, the surgeon must not exceed the safe limits of fat removal or administration of local anesthetic, and always consider the health of the patient before proceeding with the procedure. Best wishes.

Is it safe to have a Full Tummy Tuck and Hip Liposuction at a same time? My doctor has said no, and I would like a second opinio

Answers (17)

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