Multiple Plastic Surgery Procedures
An Overview
The demand for simultaneous multiple Beverly Hills plastic surgery procedures is at an all-time high. This is mainly due to reality television programs and documentaries where participants achieve transformations in one easy plastic surgery with a medical team working their magic on more than part of their body.
In fact according to some recent statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons the demand for multiple plastic surgery procedures has increased rapidly in the last three years. The main reason why patients are eager for a multiple surgery solution is the desire to go under general anesthetic only once and to save costs in the process.
When looking into undergoing multiple cosmetic surgery procedures simultaneously it is essential to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Lent is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and will provide a full consultation on all the options.
Popular multiple plastic surgery procedures can range from more obvious groupings to seemingly completely unrelated procedures. Cosmetic surgery “packages” can include complete body restoration following child birth with breast reduction or lift and a tummy tuck, a contoured body combination with liposuction and a tummy tuck as well as a more varied combinations of rhinoplasty and breast augmentation or rhinoplasty with liposuction. Other requested multiple plastic surgery procedures include brow, face and neck lift and non-surgical procedures (Botox injection or line fillers) combined with surgical procedures.
Are multiple plastic surgery procedures a good idea?
On the surface multiple plastic surgery procedures performed in one go might seem like a sensible idea. Patients can save money by combining plastic surgeon, anesthesia and clinic fees and in some cases Beverly Hills plastic surgeons offer a discount on multiple procedures. In addition, patients often seek to reduce their recovery time as they don’t want to book time off work after each separate procedure. However, combining multiple cosmetic surgery procedures can be dangerous, there are many factors involved which make this option less than perfect.
The cons of multiple simultaneous procedures
One of the biggest concerns when facing multiple plastic surgeries is the time spent under general anesthesia. As a general rule the more time the patient spends under general anesthesia the larger the risk of developing cardiovascular complications during and after surgery. One of the possible cardiovascular risks is the potential of developing deep vein thrombosis that in turn can lead to a pulmonary embolism.
Cardiovascular complications are not the only concern associated with prolonged time under general anesthesia. The longer the time spent under general anesthetic, the more difficult and longer the recovery is likely to be. Though it might seem like a good idea to combine all the recovery time into one period, each area that was operated on will still need to heal. Also, it can cause greater discomfort to the patient who is recovering from multiple procedures and pain medication cannot simply be multiplied to suit the number of procedures performed.
In some cases it is also difficult to know how long the patient needs monitoring for following surgery. For instance when a liposuction procedure is combined with another major cosmetic surgery procedure it is possible that the lidocaine used as a local anesthetic for the liposuction does not peak in the patient’s blood stream until a few hours after the surgery at which point the patient could be already recovering at home. Thus, serious cardiac problems can occur when the patient is already at home away from much needed medical attention.
It is also important to consider that multiple surgical sites mean multiple risks of infection. If there are several operation sites on the patient’s body all the risks associated with each procedure are combined resulting in a much riskier plastic surgical experience. The risks associated with multiple plastic surgery procedures are sometimes so high that patients suffering from underlying medical problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure are strongly advised not to undergo such a taxing surgical route.
Finally, many patients tend to forget the importance of the psychological effects of plastic surgery. While it can be very liberating and beneficial for the patient’s self-image to undergo plastic surgery it is important to remember that each procedure entails a profound change in one’s body and self-perception. It can take a little time to adjust to the results of each procedure and to accept that the “new me” looking back in the mirror is there to stay forever. When multiple plastic surgery procedures are performed simultaneously the patient has much less time to adjust to the life-altering changes in his or her looks. First time plastic surgery patients should also consider that the plastic surgery experience is an entirely new one for them and they might need more recovery time or space than is possible after undergoing multiple procedures concurrently.
In order to address these issues it is suggested that prospective patients book a full consultation with double board certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Lent.