Can I Have Spinal Fusion and Tummy Tuck at Same Time?

I agree with most of the posts here, that the combination of a major cosmetic procedure with a major spinal procedure is a potentially risky undertaking. I'd hate to over-emphasize these worst case scenarios, but we know from research studies that combination of tummy tucks with other procedures, like a C-section, significantly increases the risk of complications compared to a tummy tuck alone.
Perhaps the only situation in which I might consider a combined abdominal procedure is if the spine surgeon requested assistance with the anterior exposure because of the overwhelming size or thickness of the apron/pannus. In this case however, a more appropriate procedure might be a straight panniculectomy, with the option to clean everything up cosmetically at a later date. Needless to say the opinion of your spine surgeon would be of key importance with this sort of strategy.
Best of luck with your journey.

Hi there-

I would not recommend a tummy tuck concurrent with back surgery of any kind... Even if the risks of combining the procedures could be made acceptably low (and I do not believe this to be the case), typical recovery from a tummy tuck puts a lot of strain on the back- NOT something you want after back surgery.

Remember- safety first!

The short answer is no, these two procedures should not be done at the same time. If I am to understand your post correctly, it sounds like you are having an anterior fusion done, through an abdominal incision rather than through an incision in the back. So it makes some sense that you would ask if extra belly skin could be removed at the same time through the same incision. While there are some surgeries that can be combined such as gyn surgery and tummy tuck, something that involves working on the bones of your spine with the use of screws or plates should not be combined with any other elective surgery. There are risks enough associated with spinal fusion. Adding another surgery even if through the same incision adds an unacceptable additional risk.

This combination does not make sense on a number of levels-
Safety- the prolonged anesthetic time and significant risk for DVT and pulmonary embolism make this combo a no-go in my book.
Logistics- For the trunk and abdominal skin excess that you describe, you would require more than a simple TT- a circumferential body lift on a spine patient would be out of the question.
Cost- any cosmetic procedure done in a hospital setting is going to have an excessive facility fee associated with it. Its for this reason that plastic surgeons have largely abandoned hospital-based operating room for more efficient and convenient ambulatory surgery centers. Not sure if your spine surgeon operates out of an ASC, he might, some do.

It would be my advice to focus on the spinal fusion operation at this time. Having lost that much weight, you are more likely to benefit from an extended abdominoplasty or circumferential dermolipectomy procedure. The risks of a combined procedure of that magnitude are significantly greater than if performed separately, in my opinion.