Tummy tuck + Renuvion to thighs, chin and upper arms. Too much at once?

Question

Hello. I am looking at having a Tummy tuck within the next few months, but while I am undergoing surgery I am curious if I could also get renuvion to my thighs, chin and upper arms? Would this be too much at once? I am around 2-3 stone over my ideal weight

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding combining a tummy tuck with Renuvion skin tightening on multiple areas. It’s understandable that you want to maximize your time under anesthesia and address multiple areas in one surgery. However, the safety and feasibility of doing all these procedures at once depend on a few key factors.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is already a major surgery, requiring extensive tissue removal, muscle tightening, and significant recovery time. Adding Renuvion skin tightening to the thighs, chin, and upper arms is possible, but it depends on:

Most plastic surgeons aim to keep procedures under 8 hours to minimize risks like blood clots, excessive fluid shifts, and complications related to prolonged anesthesia. A tummy tuck alone can take 3–5 hours, and adding multiple areas for Renuvion could extend surgical time significantly.

A tummy tuck involves muscle plication (tightening of the abdominal wall), which can make movement, standing, and even simple tasks difficult in the early recovery period. Adding multiple areas of Renuvion skin tightening means that your upper body (arms, chin) and lower body (thighs, abdomen) will all be recovering at once, making mobility even more challenging.

Each treated area will require compression garments to reduce swelling and promote healing. Managing compression for four different areas at once (abdomen, thighs, arms, and chin) could be uncomfortable and difficult.

Many plastic surgeons would recommend doing the tummy tuck first and then addressing the Renuvion skin tightening in a second surgery after you’ve fully healed. This approach lowers the risk of complications, improves recovery, and allows for better surgical outcomes.

Some surgeons may agree to do a tummy tuck + Renuvion to either the upper or lower body, but doing all four areas at once may be too aggressive.

Additionally, since you mentioned being 2–3 stone (28–42 lbs) over your ideal weight, it would be beneficial to lose as much weight as possible before surgery to optimize healing and ensure the best results. Renuvion works best on patients with minimal excess fat and mild-to-moderate skin laxity. If you plan to lose more weight, waiting until you are closer to your goal weight before undergoing skin tightening treatments may be a better approach.

A tummy tuck + Renuvion can be done together in some cases, but doing all four areas at once may prolong surgery time, increase recovery difficulty, and elevate risks. I strongly recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can assess your body, discuss your goals, weight loss progress, and surgical timeline, and determine the safest and most effective plan for you.

Good luck, and I hope this helps answer your question regarding combining procedures!

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry! Yes, those procedures can be done in one surgery. I recommend scheduling a consult with a board certified plastic surgeon like myself and we can create a surgical plan to best achieve your goals!

Moises Salama, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. You can combine a tummy tuck with renuvion to the thighs, chin and upper arms. Keep in mind that for this type of surgery you need to be under the Max BMI requirement. The max BMI limit for my practice is 33. Hope this helps. Please always consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Take Care, Moises Salama MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Guler Gamze Eren, MD · Answer

Hello from İstanbul, Thank you for your question.Combined surgeries are planned by taking into account the duration of the planned operations, the patient's age, general health status, hemoglobin values, responsibilities to be taken after the operation and the recovery period. Many patients want to combine all possible operations by receiving anesthesia once when planning to have surgery, but your surgeon needs to analyze a lot of data to make this decision. It would not be right to say clearly whether you can combine all the operations with the information you have provided, but to give general information; if your age and weight are not in the risk group -if you do not have a chronic disease-if the amount of fat to be removed from the arms and thighs is not too much, then tummy tuck & arm, leg and chin liposuction procedures can be combined. However, you still need to have a physical examination by your doctor to make a definite decision. Best Luck,Dr Guler Gamze Eren

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Charlie8501,

I understand your concern. It is best however that you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine whether you can have several aesthetic surgeries in one session, as this would depend on various factors including but not limited to your general health condition, the type of anesthesia that will be used, and the type of surgeries that will be performed among others.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Afet Oncel Bozkurt, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Hello Charlie, Doing multiple surgeries in a single operation is possible, but we try to limit the operation time to 7,5-8 hours, so doing all your surgeries at the same time may not be possible. In these cases, we need to determine your surgical needs in detail and make your operation plan and prioritize your surgeries according to your desire and needs

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

If you are medically healthy, the Renuvion can be done at the same time as the tuck. this will be done under general anesthesia, and you will have only one downtime to heal.

Agustina Hilario Duran, MD · Answer

Combining a tummy tuck with Renuvion for your thighs, chin, and upper arms is possible, but whether it's too much depends on factors like your overall health, BMI, and how long the procedure would take. A tummy tuck alone is a major surgery with significant recovery, and adding multiple areas of Renuvion could increase swelling, discomfort, and downtime. 
Surgeons usually consider the total time under anesthesia, aiming to keep it under six hours for safety. If the procedures can be done efficiently without exceeding safe limits, your surgeon may approve doing them together. However, if you're 2-3 stone over your ideal weight, they might suggest focusing on weight loss first or staging the procedures for better results and easier recovery. It’s best to discuss your goals with a board-certified surgeon to determine the safest and most effective approach.

James Knoetgen, III, MD · Answer

Combining multiple procedures like a tummy tuck with Renuvion treatments for the thighs, chin, and upper arms is not uncommon, but whether it’s too much depends on several factors:
Key Considerations:
1.	Your Overall Health:
o	Patients should be in good health, with no underlying conditions that could complicate surgery or recovery.
o	Your surgeon will likely require a thorough medical evaluation to assess your ability to tolerate multiple procedures.
2.	Surgical Duration:
o	Combining procedures may increase the overall time under anesthesia. Longer surgical times can raise the risk of complications such as blood clots or prolonged recovery.
o	Surgeons typically aim to keep surgeries under a certain number of hours (often 6-8) to minimize risks.
3.	Recovery Demands:
o	A tummy tuck is a significant surgery that involves muscle repair, which can limit mobility and comfort during recovery.
o	Adding Renuvion treatments, while less invasive, increases the number of areas requiring healing and post-operative care.
o	Consider whether you have adequate support at home to manage a potentially more demanding recovery.
4.	Surgeon’s Expertise and Recommendations:
o	An experienced surgeon will evaluate whether combining these procedures aligns with your goals and is safe for you.
o	They may suggest staging the procedures (doing them in separate surgeries) if combining them poses undue risk.
5.	Personal Goals and Expectations:
o	While combining surgeries can reduce overall downtime and anesthesia exposure, it’s important to balance this with realistic recovery expectations.
o	Speak with your surgeon about the potential for swelling, discomfort, and extended healing times due to multiple treated areas.
When Combining Procedures Makes Sense:
•	If you’re in good health, have a skilled surgeon, and a solid post-operative care plan, combining procedures can save time and money while achieving a comprehensive transformation.
When to Consider Staging:
•	If you have significant health risks, limited support during recovery, or if the surgeon advises that a staged approach would lead to better outcomes.
It’s essential to have a detailed consultation with your surgeon, where they’ll assess your candidacy and customize the surgical plan based on your body, health, and aesthetic goals.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Combining procedures is common and considered safe but there is a limit.  Typically it is recommended that elective plastic surgery not exceed six hours.  An exam is needed to determine if you are a candidate, but it may be possible to safely have the procedures that interest you in one day.  Visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.

Tummy tuck + Renuvion to thighs, chin and upper arms. Too much at once?

Answers (12)

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