If you are considering more than one plastic surgery procedure, combining them into a single operation may seem like a convenient way to address several aesthetic concerns at once. However, your health, goals, and recovery needs determine whether a combined approach is appropriate. Asking the right questions during consultation can help you make an informed decision.
At Advanced Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center in Rancho Cucamonga and Murrieta, board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Daron Geldwert and Dr. Darren S. Leong develop surgical plans based on your anatomy, health, and goals. In this article, we highlight some of the questions you must ask your surgeons during your consultation.
Am I healthy enough to combine procedures?
Your overall health is one of the first considerations when determining whether multiple procedures can be performed in a single operation. Your plastic surgeons will review your medical history, current health, medications, previous surgeries, and other factors that could affect anesthesia, healing, or your risk of complications.
For example, smoking, uncontrolled medical conditions, or other health concerns may influence whether combining procedures is advisable. Be completely open about your medical history so your surgeons can determine the safest approach for you.
Which procedures can be safely combined?
Not every procedure should automatically be paired with another. The appropriate combination depends on what you want to accomplish, which areas are being treated, the complexity of each operation, and how the procedures may affect one another.
Certain complementary procedures are commonly incorporated into one surgical plan. A mommy makeover, for instance, may include breast surgery, tummy tuck, and liposuction. Body contouring after weight loss may also involve addressing several areas. The important question is not simply whether procedures can be combined, but whether combining your particular procedures makes sense for you.
How long will my surgery take?
Ask how combining procedures will affect your operating time. More extensive surgery means spending additional time under anesthesia and can place greater demands on your body.
Your surgeons should consider the anticipated length and complexity of the operation rather than evaluating each procedure separately. If completing everything at once would make surgery unnecessarily extensive, dividing your treatment into stages may be better.
What will my recovery be like?
Although combining procedures may consolidate your overall downtime, your initial recovery can be more involved because multiple areas are healing simultaneously. Ask how much assistance you may need, when you can return to work, how your mobility may be affected, and when you can resume exercise and other activities.
You should also understand whether you will need compression garments, drains, medications, special sleeping positions, or other postoperative measures. Planning ahead can make your recovery safer and more manageable.
Who will perform my procedures?
When you are considering a complex combination of surgeries, ask about your surgeons’ experience with each procedure and with performing them together.
Dr. Geldwert and Dr. Leong have more than 35 years of combined experience and have performed more than 10,000 procedures. They also frequently collaborate as co-surgeons on complex cases, allowing you to benefit from their combined expertise when appropriate.
Is combining procedures right for me?
There is no universal answer. For some patients, combining carefully selected procedures can address several concerns in one operation and reduce the need for multiple recovery periods. For others, staging procedures may be the safer and more practical approach.
At Advanced Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center, board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Daron Geldwert and Dr. Darren S. Leong will consider your health, anatomy, goals, and needs when developing a surgical plan. If you are considering multiple procedures, schedule a consultation at our Rancho Cucamonga or Murrieta, CA, location to discuss whether combining them is right for you.
