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What Are the Guidelines for Combining Plastic Surgeries?

Posted December 21, 2022 in Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery Combinations

4 Minute Read:

Plastic surgery procedures can accomplish some seriously transformative results. That being said, there is no universal plastic surgery option that can target everything on your face and body at once. 

Young, fit woman with surgical lines drawn around her midsection.

Because of this, prospective patients often need to consider multiple techniques if they want to address more than one cosmetic concern. This is the reason so many plastic surgery techniques exist. 

Combination procedures are often recommended for patients looking for comprehensive results that address more than one area. 

But can all plastic surgery procedures be combined? Read on to learn more.

What Are the Benefits of Combining Plastic Surgery Procedures?

Undergoing more than one plastic surgery technique has physical, aesthetic, emotional, and financial benefits. 

For starters, as mentioned above, plastic surgeries target a specific body area and a specific concern within that area. Many procedures can be performed in the same area that do very different things. 

Breast augmentation, breast lift surgery, and breast reduction are all performed on the breasts, yet one adds, one lifts, and the other removes. For many women considering breast enhancement, their surgical plan may involve two of these (augmentation and lift or reduction and lift).

Performing one without the other can equal half-results. The same can be said about procedures performed across the face and body. Multiple techniques are often needed to create harmoniously balanced and optimal transformations. Because of that, there is an aesthetic benefit to combining procedures. 

There are also practical reasons, including financial benefits both in and out of the operating room. When procedures are performed together (rather than separate) patients can save on anesthesia and operating room fees (since you are paying for one day opposed to multiple days). 

You will also only require one recovery period, meaning less downtime (and less time needed away from work — why spend all your vacation time on multiple recoveries?).

While these are not the only benefits to combining techniques, they are a good place to start.

The Dos and Don’ts of Combining Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery is broken into different categories, including face and breast/body. These are important distinctions, and they set the frame for what can and cannot be performed together.

At its most basic level, cosmetic operations can be performed together as long as those surgeries are in the same or similar categories. 

For instance, two body surgeries can be performed and two face surgeries can be performed together, but a face procedure cannot be performed with a body one. Tummy tuck surgery can be performed with liposuction or a breast surgery, but it cannot be performed with a facelift. 

These treatments are simply too different and target separate areas. If both are desired, they will need to be broken into two surgeries. 

Common Plastic Surgery Combinations

While the list of combinations is endless, many patients see benefits with the following:

What Other Factors Should Be Considered?

In addition to the factors listed above, patients should also consider the following: 

  • The length of the surgery: Most plastic surgeries are performed under general anesthesia. The more techniques being combined (and the extensiveness of those techniques), the longer the procedure. It is only safe to be under general anesthesia for a set period of time. If combining procedures will cause that time to go over what is deemed safe for you, it will need to be split into two operations. Your safety is always our number one priority.
  • The side of the body being targeted: Even though most body surgeries can be performed simultaneously, you should still be aware and wary of the targeted areas. For instance, you will likely not want to combine a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) with breast augmentation or tummy tuck surgery. This rule is more practical than anything. After a breast surgery or tummy tuck, you will want to rest and sleep on your back. After a BBL, you will need to remain off of your back. Combining these would give you no way to rest comfortably or safely. 

Interested in One or More Plastic Surgeries Near Fresno, CA?

If you are near the Central Valley and are looking for one or more cosmetic enhancements, contact Dr. Mark Chin and the Valley Institute of Plastic Surgery by calling (559) 435-9646 or filling out our online contact form.

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