30, relatively good health - what is the best way to get multiple procedures done?

HI Gentle. I commonly perform multiple procedures during the same surgery. A combination surgery including tummy tuck, lipo and fat grafting can safely be done at the same time. Combining these surgeries is ideal to minimize recoveries. There is a limit to the amount of liposuction and fat grafting that can be performed at one time, so if the liposuction and/or fat grafting amount is extensive, you may need it broken up into multiple sessions. I encourage you to seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon to see if you are a good candidate for this multi procedure surgery. Best of luck in your aesthetic journey!

Thank you for your question regarding the best approach to safely and effectively stage multiple procedures, including tummy tuck, 360 liposuction, fat grafting to the breasts, buttocks, and face, as well as chin and arm liposuction. You’re in your 30s and in relatively good health, which makes you a strong candidate for combination procedures—but strategy and timing are everything.

For patients like you who want to remove fat and use it for grafting while also planning a tummy tuck, I recommend staging the 360 liposuction with fat transfer first. This means starting with 360 lipo to harvest the maximum amount of high-quality fat, then immediately using that fat to perform a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) and fat grafting to the breasts and face. This approach allows us to take advantage of all available fat before any is removed with skin during the tummy tuck. Once the fat is transferred and has had time to settle and "take," you can then return for the tummy tuck, which removes the maximum amount of loose skin without wasting valuable fat.

If you do the tummy tuck first, you’ll lose a significant amount of usable fat with the excised skin, which could reduce the effectiveness of the fat grafting procedures. That’s why we almost always recommend doing liposuction with fat transfer first, followed by a skin removal procedure like a tummy tuck later.

Depending on how extensive your arm and chin lipo needs are, that can often be added to your first stage as well, especially if you’re under the recommended anesthesia time (generally around 6–8 hours). Each patient is different, but this two-stage plan tends to give the best aesthetic outcome with the safest recovery process.

Thank you again for your question regarding options for staging surgery and making the most of your fat for grafting. Please be sure to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has significant experience in both body contouring and fat transfer. Look for someone who has performed at least 100+ of these combination cases and can show you before and after photos of real patients with similar goals. If you can’t find someone near you, it’s worth considering travel to see a true specialist.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen
(President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Thanks so much for your question,
Combining multiple procedures can be done, but there are a few key safety and staging considerations that surgeons will base your surgical plan on.

Consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon,
will evaluate: Your skin quality, fat availability, anatomy, How much can be done safely in one round, What must be staged vs. what can be combined.

Sincerely
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol

Hello! Sorry to hear about the soft tissue loss from MRSA. There may be potential to restore volume with fat transfers, which can be done to all the areas you mentioned simultaneously, in addition to the tummy tuck. You would need a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon and assuming you’re in good health with medical clearance for surgery, you could be a good candidate for the surgical plan you desire.

Dear Gentle197943,

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

Thank you for your question. Maintaining operating time under 6-8 hours is recommended to minimize risks such as infection, blood clots, or prolonged effects of anesthesia. Your surgeon will perform a comprehensive preoperative evaluation to ensure you are suitable for combined procedures. However, initially, the best approach for your desired procedures would be to stage them. Start with a tummy tuck, 360 liposuction, and larger fat grafting areas like the breasts or buttocks. Afterward, you can proceed with facial fat grafting and any necessary adjustments. The tummy tuck and 360 liposuction will improve your abdominal contour and tighten muscles. If surgical time allows, chin and arm liposuction can also be included in this session. Recovery takes 2-4 weeks for light activities and 6-8 weeks for full activity. After this, wait about 3-6 months for complete healing and to better assess the results, then do the fat grafting to the upper cheeks and tear troughs. Be sure to choose a surgeon experienced in multi-procedure cases to minimize risks and achieve optimal results.

Dear Gentle197943, thanks for sharing your concerns, perform multiple procedures as long as you are healthy and your hemoglobine levels allow it it is safe and mostly preferred by patients, but there is always a limit, I do suggest you to priorize. Make sure you go on consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Hope this helps and best of lucks. Dr. Luis Mejia

When considering multiple cosmetic procedures, the process involves careful planning to ensure safety and optimal results. It's common to combine surgeries, but there are typically limits on the duration of each operation to ensure patient safety. The general guideline is that elective surgeries should not exceed six hours, though this can vary depending on your surgeon's approach and experience and your individual risk profile.
For the procedures you’re considering—tummy tuck, 360 liposuction, chin and arm liposuction, fat grafting to your breasts, cheeks/tear troughs, and buttocks—it’s likely that some can be done together in one session, while others might require staging. For instance, a tummy tuck, liposuction, and fat grafting to certain body parts might be feasible in one session. I prefer for patients not to lie on their abdomen after a tummy tuck and to avoid pressure on the butt after a BBL (fat is sensitive to pressure and ischemia), so these could be staged, for example.
Ultimately, the most effective plan will depend on your specific goals, health status, and recovery time. It’s crucial to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon who can assess your case, determine the safest way to combine the procedures, and create a personalized plan based on your priorities and desired results.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Thank you for your inquiry! I recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon to create a surgical plan targeted towards your specific goals. Each plastic surgeon varies in the amount of time allowed in the OR for one surgery. It's important to prioritize safety for an elective surgery as it would be best to split those into two separate surgeries.

Safe operation time for cosmetic surgery is 6 hours. It may be possible to do the tummy tuck, liposuction and fat transfers all at the same time. Out of all the procedures, the tummy tuck is the most painful and requires the longest recovery time.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.