Full Tummy Tuck With Lipo Of Hips – Is It Safe To Do At Same Time?
In the early days of liposuction back in the 1980’s, there was a great deal of fear doing a tummy tuck with liposuction.
Early data indicated an increased chance of deep vein thrombosis when the two surgeries were combined.
Today, all Board Certified plastic surgeons follow the rule of safety first. However, multiple techniques are available to plastic surgeons to prevent deep vein thrombosis during long surgeries with a combination of multiple procedures.
In my personal experience, I have done hundreds of tummy tucks combined with multiple areas of liposuction, and have fortunately never seen any cases of deep vein thrombosis.
Among the modalities used to decrease the chance of clots in legs, most plastic surgeons use venous compression therapy boots during surgery and in the early post-operative period, as well as post surgery center instructions to patient and caregiver for techniques to keep the blood in legs circulating.
All that being said, each plastic surgeon has his or her own opinion whether surgeries should be combined or separated. Your surgeon’s recommendation to separate the two surgeries is, in my opinion, a very conservative approach (please remember conservative is not a bad word).
At this point, seeking a second opinion from one or two other Board Certified plastic surgeons in Edmonton might put your mind at ease. I know many of the Board Certified plastic surgeons in Edmonton, and you have a stellar group of plastic surgeons to choose from. (S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS, Honolulu Plastic Surgeon)
Lipo and tummy tuck
Unless there are other mitigating factors lipo to the hips/ flanks is frequently done in combination with an abdominoplasty. We have a Canadian staying at our house now who is recovering who had just that done.
My wife is Canadian and we frequently have surgical visitors (Frederic H. Corbin, MD, Brea Plastic Surgeon)
Risks of a full tummy tuck combined with lipo of the hips
Generally speaking there is an increase in the chance of complications when procedures are combined so your surgeon is correct about this. The most important factor is the time that it takes in the operating room to do both procedures. In general complications increase when plastic surgery procedures take over 4 hours.
In addition recovery from tummy tuck can be quite significant especially with a full tummy tuck. It may be very difficult for you to comfortably rest in bed with significant discomfort on the front of your body in the abdomen and in the hip region. This may be another reason that your plastic surgeon is reluctant to do both procedures on you. My guess is that your plastic surgeon feels that combining a full tummy tuck with liposuction of the hips will increase the duration of your surgery and increase your risks.
If you like your plastic surgeon and trust him or her then you should proceed and follow the advice. While it is very common to do liposuction of the flank area during a tummy tuck adding a significant liposuction to the hips will take additional time. Online consultants have not examined you, are not aware of the amount of surgery and liposuction that you will need and I would advise against following online advice.
It is easy to say from an arm chair that someone will perform multiple procedures on you however in reality after an examination and being with you in the OR things can be entirely different. For more information on tummy tuck surgery please read the following link. (Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS, Boston Plastic Surgeon)
Second opinion re. Tummy tuck with liposuction to the hips
You will find that all surgeons will have their own views and practices about things, often based on their own experiences. Personally, I do perform hip liposuction at the same time as tummy tuck as I feel that the benefits outweigh the risks.
I think there is nothing wrong with seeking a second opinion and go with the surgeon you feel most comfortable with. (Jonathan J. Staiano, FRCS (Plast), Birmingham Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy Tuck and Liposuction
I routinely do liposuction as well as tummy tuck surgery while avoiding specific abdominal regions during the procedure. If you are the proper candidate and compliant with postoperative instructions you will be quite safe. (Neil Gottlieb, MD, Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon)
Is it safe to have a Full Tummy Tuck and Hip Lipo at a same time? My doctor has said no, and I would like a second opinio
Every surgeon has their methods and preferences. There is no doubt that when combined procedures are performed together, the risks increase. However, the combination of a tummy tuck and liposuction is frequently done together.
You have to weigh the, IMHO slightly higher risks of a combined procedure with the risks associated with going back to surgery a second time at more expense. My personal preference is to perform both together and I have been doing so for many years.
Here in the State of Florida there are restrictions as to the amount of fat that can be safely removed when combined procedures are performed. You selected your surgeon for specific reasons.
Trust needs to be the cornerstone of that relationship. He /She is looking out for your best interest and if he/she does not feel comfortable with doing both at the same time, then follow their advice. (Jose Perez-Gurri, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon)