Question:
How soon after a TT/BL can one have the next surgery.... 2 weeks? 4? Anyone know?

I really would like to have all plastics done this summer since I am a bus driver and work for a school and only have 11weeks off. How soon after one surgery can you have the next plastic surgery done? Anyone know? First one will be with insurance. Second surgery will be medical school used and paying self pay so its different doctors.    — WLS_Deb (posted on April 20, 2004)

April 20, 2004
WOW! 2 weeks from a Tummy Tuck and Breast Lift to Thighs? I know there are some docs who do total body lifts which would include all or most of these procedures. However, I can tell you that our surgeon wouldn't consider doing all of these procedures over only an 11 week period. It's too much anesthesia, too much recovery etc. in my humble opinion. I visited with Carnie Wilson about her total body lift and her recovery time was several months. She said it was extremely difficult to get over. Now all of this is only my opinion but I think you're expecting too much for an 11 week period. Be good to yourself and you'll be healthier and feel better in the long run even if it takes a little longer.
   — ronascott

April 20, 2004
I agree with Rona and am a school teacher and know your dilema. But having said that, my PS did my TT in Dec. and my thighs are scheduled for June. He would not even consider doing the 2 procedures at the same time for it is just too much swelling. My thigh surgery is an inner thigh surgery and I can't imagine the pain from the groin area toppled with the hip to hip incision from the TT...YIKES! Give this PS the time it deserves... it is MAJOR BIG DOG surgery that doesn't need to be taken lightly... read my profile if you dare to hear the TT journey I am on... gail @ goal
   — Bama Beach Girl

April 20, 2004
i had tt and brachioplasty and my surgeon said i had to wait 6 months for breast lift and 1 year for legs and rear- don't think anyone will do them as quickly as you want-
   — Jannie N.

April 20, 2004
Hi - I've been having plastic surgery about every three months since last August. My final surgery is scheduled for this June. My most recent surgery was in March and before that December, then October and the first was in August. I'm an extreme case though. Mountains of excess skin and I'm really a guinea pig to see if it can be removed. I heal very quickly and feel great now and would love to get the last one over with, but my surgeon is making me wait to make sure I'm fully recovered. I really doubt you'll be able to get two surgeries in 11 weeks and I really doubt you would want to. See how you feel after the first big one and that ought to change your mind. Good luck to you.
   — Traci H.

April 20, 2004
It depends on which procedures follow the TT/BL. I originally planned to have the 2nd stage of my abdominoplasty 9-10 weeks after the lower body lift. Well my body did not cooperate and at 8-1/2 weeks PO I still have drain #9 in. I came out of surgery with 5 drains, had them pulled at 3 weeks and over the next 2-3 weeks had 4 drains put back in. This last one is coming out Thursday even though it is still producing about 50-60 cc's a day. I also still have a hole in the top of my butt crack that will likely take another 2+ weeks to fully shut. I had some dead skin that was cut out at about 10 days PO. He stitched it closed but then about a week later I ended up tearing it because it was just too tight. So then I've been packing it since then. About 5 weeks ago I decided there was no way I was ready for surgery again. It took a little convincing to get BCBS to extend the pre-auth for another 2 months, but they eventually did. I won't be able to take advantage of the full two months because of the surgeons schedule and my planned vacation for the end of July, but even an extra 4 weeks is a huge help. I lost almost 5 units of blood during surgery and it took me a long time to get my stamina back. It wasn't until the 4th week PO that I really began to feel like myself and had normal energy. <p>If you wanted to do arms like 4 weeks after a TT that probably would be fine, assuming you are feeling good and had zero complications. But anything that would pull against the previous incisions would need longer to heal. As of now I am thinking of doing either my arms or inner thighs about 2 months after this next surgery on Jun 7th. Since neither of the surgeries interface with each other it should be fine, unless I have a bunch of recovery problems again. Your body needs time to recover. The length of the surgeries will also factor in. My LBL was over 10 hours, so I had a lot of anesthesia to deal with etc.
   — zoedogcbr

April 20, 2004
Hi. If you are completely healed from the TT/BL (which I think would be unusual in less than 6-8 weeks) then you could go on to an arm lift, inner thigh lift, or something else relatively small. As you can tell from other posters...plastic surgery is a MUCH longer and more involved recovery process than the initial WLS. "Settling" of the tissues is very important, closing of small open areas is par for the course, and fluid buildups can be a real "bug-a-bear.". Touchups are not uncommonly needed, and it's nice to get those done during "round 2." I think it's important not to try and "squeeze" surgery in to fit a work, vacation, or any other schedule. I've found that it usually causes more problems than it's worth! Good luck....JL
   — DrL

April 20, 2004
3 months between surgeries is what my plastic surgeon says. And that's assuming you've recovered from the previous surgery.
   — Patty H.

April 20, 2004
Well, all those answers below are great, however, if you watch that "reality" tv shows, "Extreme Makeover", you can have it ALL done AND be completely healed AND looking amazing within 8 weeks ... but the best part is you get a new hairdo, and a new outfit!!! LOL
   — Danette C.