Age 38 & diagnosed with gallstones - can I have tummy tuck & gallbladder removal at the same time?

Question

I'm 38 yrs old female, no known health problems except my gallbladder. I have been diagnosed with gallstones and need to get my gallbladder removed. I was looking forward to get TT this summer. I'm just wondering if it's possible to get both procedures done at the same time. Any advice will be greatly appreciated, Thank you!

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Dyc3019,
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, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

It is generally NOT recommended to have cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal surgery) and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) at the same time, as both procedures carry their own set of risks and complications.
Cholecystectomy is a major surgery that involves removing the gallbladder, which can lead to complications such as bleeding, infection, bile duct injury, and pancreatitis.
Tummy tuck, on the other hand, involves removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightening the abdominal muscles. This surgery also carries risks such as bleeding, infection, scarring, and blood clots.
Combining both surgeries can increase the risk of complications, such as prolonged recovery time, increased risk of infection, and higher chance of blood clots. Additionally, the recovery time for both procedures can be lengthy and require a significant amount of rest and healing time. Also, if you have a complication like upper abdominal pain or swelling, it might be difficult to determine if your pain or swelling is due to your gallbladder removal surgery or tummy tuck.
It is important to discuss your options with your surgeon and carefully weigh the risks and benefits of each procedure before deciding whether to undergo both surgeries simultaneously. Your surgeon may advise you to have the surgeries separately or to prioritize one procedure over the other based on your individual health and medical history.

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for submitting your question! A gallbladder removal surgery would not be done by a plastic surgeon but by a general surgeon. I would not personally recommend you getting an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) done by a general surgeon as there is liposuction and muscle tightening of the diastasis recti involved in a tummy tuck as well. I would recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon like myself so we can create a surgical plan that is best for you and your goals before or after your gall bladder removal.

Ramsen Azizi, MD · Answer

You might be able to find a plastic surgeon who will collaborate with the general surgeon to do this at the same time but it isn't ideal. You will have to find a plastic surgeon you really like, who is good, AND has privileges at the same facility that the general surgeon does to operate, AND they will need to both have same openings and coordinate their schedule. There is also the fact that the plastic surgeon will probably be waiting for a couple hours while the general surgeon is operating and would you end up getting charged for that? Not to mention the gas from stretching the belly during the gallbladder operation, or the fact that they have to go through the belly button that will be worked on by the plastic surgeon complicates things. Gallbladder surgery is generally easy to recover from so it is much better to do two stages and focus on your plastic surgery recovery. Many many reasons to do 2 stages but not many reasons to do it in one stage. Best of luck to you on your journey!

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

I would not recommend doing both procedures at the same time. Usually the gallstones are done laprascopically and the abdomen is inflated with air. This will make it more difficult to do the tummy tuck. Also, the contamination from the wound may occur from the gallbladder. I would recommend doing the gallstones first, heal from that and then do the tummy tuck.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

No, you will need to have your gall bladder removed first, especially should any unexpected surprise like stones stuck in the duct or pus be found. Once healed at least 3 months, then consider the tuck.

Ahmad H. Ahmadi, MD · Answer

Gall bladder surgery is done as a medically necessary procedure.  As cosmetic plastic surgeons, we operate on patients with controlled medical issues.  I highly suggest you take care of your gall bladder issue before having any cosmetic surgery.  Furthermore, gallstone can flare up anytime necessitating urgent surgery.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Typically these two procedures are done separately.  The gallbladder removal would be first and when recovered from that you could consider the tummy tuck.  It is theoretically possible to have them done at the same time, but the risks associated with doing so need to be considered.

Mehdi Balakhani, DDS, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes it's possible to find a plastic and general surgeon team to preform your gallbladder removal and tummy tuck at the same time. All the best.

Richard R. Orr, MD · Answer

Several issues to consider. Many general surgeons might balk at doing those together. Many gallbladder excisions, cholecystectomy, are done laparoscopically. They may not want to do your gallbladder open through a tummy tuck incision. If they plan to do your gall bladder "open", then it can sure be done. I have done several. The other concern is that infection rate and blood clot rate goes up whenever you combine tummy tuck with any intraabdominal surgery. This is more so with lower abdominal surgery, such as GYN surgery. But it is still a risk. First step would be to check with a general surgeon and how he/she wishes to do your gall bladder. Open or laparoscopically can be done through a tummy tuck incision. The other issue becomes an insurance issue. They do not want to pay for the tummy tuck, and they have a hard time deciphering what part of the surgery, anesthesia time, sutures, etc that was involved with the gall bladder, and they may decide to cover NONE of it because of the confusion. Talk with your general surgeon and plastic surgeon, and see if they, together, can work this out!Good luck

Age 38 & diagnosed with gallstones - can I have tummy tuck & gallbladder removal at the same time?

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