Is a tummy tuck, breast lift, muscle repair, lipo 360 & BBL at the same time safe?

Question

I have found a place in Mexico that does Tummy tuck, lipo of the back, arms, stomach, along with muscle repair and a bbl and breast lift all in the same procedure I am wondering if this is safe

Leland Deane, MD, FACS · Answer

"Safe" is open to wide interpretation, and in general terms will be defined differently depending on the surgeon you go to, the state and federal regulating bodies governing the venue and doctor and staff, and your tolerance for risk. It's all up to you. Once you leave this country for surgery, you also leave all the medical and legal protections that you might take for granted. You will have to decide if the cost savings are worth the risk. And....should you have a problem from your surgery and return home with it, good luck finding anyone with experience and talent to take care of you at a cost you feel is affordable----usually these problems fall to university training programs with attending coverage or surgeons early in their practice who need the cases. Here's one more problem: you describe multiple procedures being done at once. Will there be several surgeons operating at the same time? Do you want this? How long will this surgery be (complications increase after a certain number of hours).

Emmanuel De La Cruz, MD · Answer

Combining a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), breast lift, muscle repair (possibly addressing diastasis recti), liposuction 360 (which typically involves liposuction around the entire torso), and Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) in a single surgery is an extensive procedure, often referred to as a "mommy makeover" when aimed at post-pregnancy body restoration.

The safety of combining these procedures largely depends on:

Your Health: A thorough assessment of your overall health by a board-certified plastic surgeon is crucial. They'll evaluate your medical history, current health status, and any specific risks you might have.

Surgical Expertise: An experienced plastic surgeon who regularly performs these combined procedures can manage them more efficiently and safely.

Surgery Duration: The length of the surgery can increase the risks associated with anesthesia and the procedure itself. Surgeons aim to keep the duration within safe limits to minimize complications.

Post-Operative Care: Comprehensive post-operative care is vital for a successful recovery. Following your surgeon's instructions diligently is crucial for optimal healing and reducing risks.

While it's possible to combine these procedures, safety should be the priority. Often, surgeons may recommend staging the surgeries (performing them in separate sessions) to mitigate risks and allow for a smoother recovery.

The decision to proceed with all these procedures at once should be made after extensive discussions with your surgeon. They will explain the potential risks, benefits, recovery expectations, and alternative options to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and ensures your safety.

Moises Salama, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. I prefer to do no more than two procedures at once for safety reasons and optimal results. I recommend you schedule a consult for a proper evaluation. Make sure the surgeon you choose has extensive experience with these procedures and clean credentials. Always consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Take care, Moises Salama MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Stefan Mark Szczerba, MD · Answer

Theoretically it can be done.  Done well, that surgery would take about 6-8 hours or longer.  Sloppy work can be done quicker, and that's likely what you'll get.  Now let point out the reality of that combined surgery:  you have no safe area to rest and recover- you can't lay on your breasts, belly or butt.  We've cut out lawn chairs and have had people use large pool floaties to get through combined tummy and butt surgery, but again not very practical-and you want to add breasts also?  Be careful.

I caution everyone about traveling for surgery unless you plan to stay there for about 4-6 weeks.  My office is by O'Hare airport  in Chicago and I have a list of patients who have flown to other countries for surgery- be careful.  I keep a long list of complications from other countries.  You have little recourse should something go wrong and these patients regret that they ever even considered this.  With the complications and followups required to get through surgery, they overall cost was way more than I would've charged to do all the surgeries in stages.

I've noted that you're from Miami.  There are great surgeons there that are board certified in Miami and can get you through this without risking your health.  Go see a few and I guarantee you'll have a much insight into what you're undertaking than zipping to Mexico and hoping it'll be ok.  Think this through.

Christopher Pannucci, MD, MS · Answer

Hi neicyd2011,
Surgery of the tummy, back, arms, buttocks and breasts concurrently is a lot of surgery--I have never done this combination, because I would envision it taking 8-10 hours or more to do well, and that is longer than I believe is safe for elective aesthetic surgery. There is a balance between single surgery/single recovery/patient convenience and safety that you should strongly consider.
If you are considering destination surgery, I would also consider who will manage your post-operative followup and any potential complications. I always worry about destination surgery practices where you consult online, meet your surgeon the day of surgery, and then fly home a week later. There is no continuity, no followup, and no ability to manage post-operative questions or issues. I occasionally get calls from the ER with patients who returned from destination surgery and have problems, and have no one to turn to. Your local surgeons in Miami will probably be very hesitant to manage another surgeon's complications.
Hope this helps.
Best,Christopher Pannucci, MDBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonPlastic Surgery NorthwestSpokane, Washington

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  For most surgeons this amount of work would exceed the amount of time recommended for surgery and I would recommend staging the procedures with the liposuction 360 and BBL done in the first, and the remaining procedures in a second.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Your plan is very ambitious but does not take into consideration factor of safety! This much surgery is not recommended with healthy young person due to blood loss, risks of vein thrombosis, and any surgical complication related to wound healing. What are you going to do if things do not go well and you end up in hospital in Mexico or with significant complications when you come home?  It would be in your best interest to do one or two, in person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeons before committing yourself to a very unpredictable and possibly dangerous scenario of multiple surgeries in Mexico. Good luck.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear neicyd2011,
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

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

I think you know the answer to this one. If any surgeon even tries to tell you that this combination of procedures all at once is safe, then I would run far and run fast from that person. There is no way that that combination of procedures can be completed in a reasonable amount of time to justify being done together. Either that surgery is taking WAY too long to be safe, or if that combo is being completed in a reasonable amount of time, then the procedures themselves are not being done safely and/or properly. Don't be looking for a "deal" so much that you are willing to risk your safety and potentially your life.

Hope this helps.

Dallas Buchanan, MD
VIVIFY plastic surgery
Tampa, FL

Hope this helps.

Dallas Buchanan, MD
VIVIFY plastic surgery
Tampa, FL

Richard Montilla, MD · Answer

Having multiple elective surgeries all at once is not advisable for multiple reasons. First, the safety in long procedures decreases due to long aesthesia time. It is safe to do two procedures at a time as recommended by the American Society of Plastic Surgery . Secondly, having several procedures at the same time will cause as significant blood loss and will affect healing and post-operative recovery. Thirdly, having several procedures at the same time will cause a significant amount of pain and discomfort after surgery, which can affect proper healing and recovery.

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