Question:
I am going to be having an abdominal hysterectomy (laproscopic) on November 19th.

After this part is completed by my gyn and her partner, my plastic surgeon will come in and is going to give me a mastopexy and brachioplasty. My mother is terrified I am doing to much at one time. I've told her my plastic surgeon has told me that after the hysterectomy is done, he will make sure the anesthiesiologist says I am doing ok before proceeding to the first procedure and will make sure I'm still doing ok before going to the second procedure. I think the entire process should take about six hours. I've told her there is no need for her or my husband to stay at the hospital during this time as they'll just be sitting around and as long as they can be reached by phone, they might as well be comfortable at home. Have any of you had several procedures done at once and if so, how well did you do and how long were you under. I want to give her examples so she can relax maybe just a little. I need to do the plastics with the covered procedure to reduce my out-of-pocket as much as possible. Insurance is not covering my plastic portion. THanks for any responses.    — Tparker (posted on October 8, 2003)

October 8, 2003
An aquaintance of mine just had her gallbladder removed (lap) and a breast reduction at the same time. She's doing fine, but she says she is much more wiped out than she has been with previous surgeries. She thinks it's because she was under for 7+ hours instead of just a couple hours. So you may find that you tire more easily after being under anesthesia (sp?). She had it done several weeks ago, and she's back doing part-time work.
   — Le P.

October 8, 2003
My plastic surgeon would only do the tummy tuck when I had my hysterectomy performed. He is conservative, and felt anything more, would have been too much. I had the brach and breasts done six months later. If you trust your surgeon, then I wish you a speedy recovery and great results!
   — sheron H.

October 9, 2003
Yes, you can have too much done at one time and have complications. But it all depends on your baseline health. Do you have diabetes, cardiac or respiratory diseases? They can all cause you to be more prone for problems than fully healthy people. What about being a smoker, having nutritional deficiencies, etc? It sounds like your plastic surgeon is doing all he can to be careful. Also a lap assisted vag hysterectomy is often done as an outpatient procedure with 23 hour observation stay. The abdominal hysterectomy usually involves a 2 day stay. So adding another procedure to a lap procedure would appear to be less stressful overall. I completely understand having your needed surgery done with the plastic to save costs, I am facing a lap assisted oopherectomy (take out an ovary), and am trying to get the plastic done at the same time for the same reason. But I have systemic lupus and other diseases and they may not do too much at once as it causes flares of the disease, I'll just have to wait and see how it works out. The very best of luck to you. I hope all goes well and you are up and loving your new look quickly!! (By the way, moms are supposed to worry you know!) : >) karen morris
   — Karen M.