Having multiple procedures - how dangerous is many hour general anesthesia?

Typically, we recommend surgical procedures to be space 3-6 months or more apart so that your body can completely heal, and all anesthesia effects can be cleared from your system. Studies in our literature show higher safety when cosmetic surgeries are kept 5-6 hrs or less. That being said, surgeries longer than this can be performed safely, so long as the patient is a healthy candidate, and the surgeon/anesthesiologist is monitoring the patient closely with their vitals, fluid status, etc. These risks you mention (stroke, heart attack etc) can happen in the acute period after surgery (not after 1 yr), but are rare. So, as long as the patient is healthy, at an ideal BMI, medically cleared from a primary care doctor (if indicated) and a safe surgery is performed.

Undergoing multiple long surgeries (8+ hours) under general anesthesia within a short period—like every 3 months can increase health risks, including blood clots, cardiac stress, poor wound healing, and even rare events like stroke or heart attack.
While general anesthesia is generally safe when managed by professionals, repeated long exposures can strain your body, slow recovery, and reduce surgical precision especially during complex, combined procedures.
For both safety and best results, it's recommended to:
Prioritize your most important surgeries firstSpace procedures 3–6 months apartAvoid combining too many major procedures in one sessionA staged approach, guided by a board-certified plastic surgeon, reduces risk and helps you heal properly with better outcomes.

Dear Sensible192673,


some plastic surgeons may want to split this into two operations depending on the time needed. Its best to see a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine your options and whether it would take too long, more than 4 hours, to do all.
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

Great question. Undergoing surgery that can last from 6 to 12 hours is considered safe. However, cosmetic surgeries rarely take longer than 6-7 hours. I recommend you get all the information and details about your surgery duration from your surgeon clearly before your surgery. Best of luck to you.

I will not perform more than 5.5 hours of general anesthesia on my patients at one time. I commonly perform 2-3 surgeries at one time but keep the time under general anesthesia as limited as possible to reduce postoperative risks.

In most office based and ambulatory surgery centers where cosmetic procedures are performed, there is a limit of anesthesia to 5-6 hours, depending of the state. Surgeries of 9 hours should be performed in the hospital with at least one night hospital stay. Multiple procedures can be performed in groups which do not extend to more than 5-6 hours and on outpatient basis; your procedures can be done in 2 surgical settings separated 1-6 weeks or more, depending of the schedule and your general condition. Hope this helps.

Good morning. Undergoing multiple surgeries under prolonged general anesthesia—more than 8 hours long—and repeated within a short period of time, such as for three months, can significantly increase health risks, including cardiovascular complications (such as heart attack or stroke), thrombosis, infections, and long-term effects on cognitive function. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize safe and phased surgical planning. For a first surgery, it is usually most appropriate and safest to combine liposuction, abdominoplasty, and BBL, as these procedures are commonly performed together and allow for a more controlled recovery within the safe limits of anesthesia. After at least 6 months of this procedure, you can undergo another. You can contact us at 829-554-6062 for all the recommendations regarding the surgery.

Safety is always the number one priority in surgery. Combining procedures is common and considered safe but there is a limit. It is recommended that surgical time be limited to six hours for elective plastic surgery. I encourage you to discuss your concerns with your surgeon. It is important that you feel comfortable and confident as you prepare for surgery.