The concept of the total body makeover has become popular over the last several years with the onset of many reality shows. The basic premise is that a patient can have multiple cosmetic surgical procedures performed at the same time all while undergoing one recovery period. The issues which are not popularized or reviewed on television are the greater chances of post-operative complications and that recovery is not always as easy as shown.

 

For instance with the development of bariatric and massive weight loss surgery, patients may require multiple surgical procedures after their weight loss in order to re-contour both their upper and lower body regions. These patients often require surgery of the abdomen, breasts, thighs, arms, and face. It would be nice to think that one could have surgery on all of these body regions in one operative setting. However, these surgeries can take up to eight hours to perform which is not always in patient's best interest. The surgeon needs to take into account any medical conditions the patient may have, along with a history of smoking or oral contraceptive use.

 

So how many surgical procedures can be performed safely at the same time? It depends on many factors. Dr. Chidyllo divides up the body regions and asks the patient what bothers them the most. If it is the abdomen and lower body, he will recommend an extended abdominoplasty (full tummy-tuck)  along with liposuction of the back and flanks. This can be combined with liposuction of the extremities and buttock recontouring or augmentation if required.

 

If the concern is the upper body, Dr. Chidyllo recommends that breast surgery ( reduction, lift or augmentation) be combined with arm skin reduction (brachioplasty) along with an anterior abdominoplasty ( tummy-tuck) and possible liposuction of the anterior abdomen and pubic lift if required.

 

Facial surgery is usually performed by itself with Dr. Chidyllo's patients. A face and neck lift along with a forehead lift and upper and lower eyelid surgery can be combined safely with most patients.

 

So what does all this cost? Some surgeons will give a significant reduction if all the procedures are performed together. Our office usually offers a staged financial agreement; the first procedure at the normal rate and each additional procedure at a reduced rate. In this way the patient can have a reduction in the price of any future surgeries.

 

Some questions to ask your plastic surgeon before you proceed with multiple cosmetic surgeries:

 

Due to advances in anesthetic techniques, multiple cosmetic surgical procedures can be performed safely. Once these questions are answered appropriately and other factors are taken into consideration, then surgery can go forward. All of the surgeries we schedule at Central Jersey Plastic Surgery are performed at one of the regional medical centers such as Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center or Southern Ocean Medical Center. Dr. Chidyllo also performs surgery at NJ State Licensed and certified surgical facilities such as the Shrewsbury Surgery Center. All of our patients are administered anesthesia under the direction of a board certified anesthesiologist.