Safe to be under anesthesia for 7 hours and having multiple procedures done at the same time?

No problem doing a 7 hour surgery...some of my body lift plus breast lift cases go even longer.  The key is to have this done in an acredited facility with appropriate aftercare.  During surgery, the goal is to prevent hypothermia (low body temp), minimize exposure to inhalation anesthesia, lower blood clot risk, and provide an adequate amount of time in a recovery unit before you go to your private room.  No problem finding a JCAHO certified facility in the U.S. because they are listed and easily researched. Almost impossible to see if your hospital in Columbia has met safety and care standards.

When performing combination procedures in healthy individuals, I limit total surgical time to under 6 hours.

The mommy makeover is a combination of procedures to bring a woman’s body back to the way she looked prior to pregnancy. Most commonly some variation of a #TummyTuck and #BeastSurgery are performed. Additional procedures can include liposuction, umbilical hernia repair.  The most common #breastprocedures include #mastopexy or #breastlift, #breastaugmentation, #breastreduction. Pregnancy along with aging result in weight fluctuations that can have a substantial impact on a woman’s body. It may cause loss of volume in areas such as breasts and buttocks and even affect the fat distribution in the face.It causes fat to be deposited in other unwanted areas, like your hips or thighs. It stretches the abdominal wall skin and muscle tone. And you can actually approach each of those areas and rejuvenate them and in some cases, make them better than before pregnancy. It’s always best to be at your ideal stable weight.Combined operations are also often performed with our Gynecology colleagues. Tubal ligation is a common post pregnancy procedure which is done at the time of many of the surgeries noted above. If you require a gynecologic operation or study (laparoscopy) and are considering a plastic surgery procedure, discuss these issues with your doctor. Combining these procedures decreases anesthetics, costs, and recovery time.The safety of the length and type of anesthesia for your procedure will be best determined during consultation with your plastic surgeon. Make sure to discuss all of your questions closely with him both before and after surgery. Good luck. 

It all depends on your physiological health. However, the lengthier the surgery, the higher risks of having complications. It also depend on the nature of combined surgeries and the recovery of each. So the evaluation should be done by your surgeon and make sure you get it done in an accredited facility.

Hello and Great Question.  I appreciate the time you are spending researching this procedure.  My name is Dr. Matthew J. Nykiel.  I am a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, a Fellowship Trained Cosmetic Surgeon, and a Butt Augmentation Specialist.

No.  It is not.  In addition to it not being safe, the quality of the work is going to suffer significantly.Best of Luck!  Please reach out if you have any further questions or concerns.

Matthew J. Nykiel, MD#TopREALSELFDoctor#CoreREALSELFDoctorButt Augmentation SpecialistLiposuction SpecialistBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon

This sounds at best incredibly risky. I personally don't schedule surgery that will exceed six hours for elective cases and I am a board certified plastic surgeon practicing in US. With that many procedures you are likely to have some type of post op issue, and be especially careful about travel as a long plane trip would certainly increase risks for serious and possibly life threatening complications.  There are several reputable surgeons in Houston who can offer a safe and reliable experience. I would visit with them first. 

Generally speaking, combination surgical procedures are done routinely.  However, you are wise in being concerned about the safety of combination surgery; risks/possible complications do increase with increased length of surgery… You are also wise about having concerns about doing surgery out of the country; important issues such as follow-up and management of complications are of great concern.
 It is best to evaluate each patient's suitability for combination surgery on an individualized basis. During this consultation process, after a complete history and physical, the SAFETY  of combining these surgical procedures becomes of paramount importance.  Plastic surgeon, anesthesia provider, duration of surgery, surgery facility all important  considerations. Your best bet: choose your plastic surgeon very carefully; everything else including  good judgment/advice/planning, anesthesia provider and safe surgery facility will follow. Best wishes.

There are many qualified plastic surgeons in Colombia. Check his credentials and make sure that he is a certified by such organizations as the American Board of Plastic Surgeons , or  IFFPSS.Performing multiple procedures at the same time requires careful management of fluids and blood loss. I assume this is being done in a reputable hospital with overnight stay. See if you can speak with one of his former patients from the United States so you can be better prepared. Good luck

Thanks for your question.Multiple procedures can be performed safely; most mommy makeover procedures and post-bariatric body contouring procedures are combination surgeries and may take 4-8 hours.  When the surgery is performed by an experienced, qualified plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist at an accredited facility, your surgery can be done safely.  Please do your research and find out about your plastic surgeon's credentials and experience.  Make sure that the facility is clean, safe, and accredited.  Please also consider staying close to your plastic surgeon for couple weeks for follow-ups.Best regards. 

I limit my time to 6 hours.  Operating longer than this has shown an increase in complications.  Laser liposuction and fat transfer should not be performed as the laser will hurt the fat cells to be transferred.  
Dr. Michael McClure M.D.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon