Combined Procedures

Updating a study published in 2006, a review of 268 patients over a 10 year period ending in 2007 was recently published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. The study found that tummy tuck patients in Los Angeles who also had breast surgery saw complication rates comparable to single-procedure patients.

An article published in the March/April 2009 edition of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal provides updated data on the safety and efficacy of combined cosmetic surgery procedures performed at the practice of Marina Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles from 1997 through 2007. The article shares results of a retrospective review of 268 Los Angeles abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) patients who also had a cosmetic breast surgery procedure performed in conjunction with their abdominoplasty.

"Like our previous analysis that tracked patients from 1989 through 2004, this review found that combining abdominoplasty and cosmetic breast surgery was safe and effective," says Dr. Grant Stevens, the study's lead author and founder of Marina Plastic Surgery. "What this means in plain English is that women considering combining their tummy tuck in Los Angeles with a breast enhancement procedure are not putting themselves at significantly greater risk of complications, and in fact can enjoy several benefits, including financial savings and a single recovery period."

To update the previous findings and determine whether earlier conclusions remain valid, the study authors completed a retrospective review of patients who underwent combined abdominoplasty and cosmetic breast surgery. Patients having several types of abdominoplasty, including lower, mini, full, reverse, or circumferential, were included in the review. Patients in the study also had a cosmetic breast surgery procedure such as breast lift, breast augmentation, augmentation with lift, breast reduction, or removal and replacement of implants.

"Our chart review examined preoperative and intraoperative data, along with reported complications and revisions following surgery," notes Dr. Stevens. "We found that the complication and revision rates of patients undergoing a tummy tuck and cosmetic breast procedures were within the range of the published complication and revision rates when these procedures are performed separately."

Because this study tracked results from a single surgical practice, additional studies of this kind from other plastic surgeons across the country are needed to get a better sense of patient outcomes in a wider variety of settings.

"This study does not mean that having combined cosmetic surgery procedures from every surgeon across the United States will be as safe as standalone procedures," adds Dr. Stevens. "It is important to point out that the patients in this study all had their procedures at the Marina Outpatient Surgery Center, a fully-equipped facility staffed with skilled professionals. In addition, the procedures all were performed by board-certified plastic surgeons. I caution patients to carefully evaluate prospective surgeons and understand where their surgery will be performed so that they can make an educated decision about whether combining cosmetic surgery procedures will be a safe and satisfying option."

Marina Plastic Surgery offers a full selection of cosmetic surgery and reconstructive procedures in Los Angeles for the body, breasts, and face. Before becoming Medical Director of the practice, Dr. Grant Stevens graduated from Washington University Medical School in St. Louis. He trained through residencies in General as well as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and he is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In addition to belonging to several top professional societies and organizations, Dr. Stevens was recently recognized as one of America's Best Plastic Surgeons in "The Guide to Top Doctors." He has received several lay and professional awards and pioneered a number of new technologies and approaches in cosmetic surgery.

Marina Del Rey, CA (PRWEB) July 15, 2009

A retrospective review of 268 patients who underwent "mommy makeover" procedures at Marina Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles (combining tummy tuck, breast lift, liposuction, and similar surgeries) shows that complications following combined surgery are similar to those reported for individually-staged procedures.

Marina Del Rey, California (July 2008) - To reduce the expense and recovery time associated with multiple plastic surgery procedures, more and more patients are choosing to combine surgery. A new study just released reviews the safety of one type of combination surgery - the "mommy makeover" - by analyzing complication rates and comparing these rates to individually-staged procedures such as tummy tuck and breast lift in Los Angeles. Background on mommy makeovers can be found at www.amommymakeover.com.

"Mommy makeovers have a similar safety profile to individually-performed procedures while offering distinct advantages versus multiple surgical sessions," says W. Grant Stevens, MD, lead author of the study and a board-certified plastic surgeon who founded Marina Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles. "A tummy tuck, breast lift, and liposuction are all common procedures for mothers looking to recreate their 'pre-baby' body. For a woman who wants to have plastic surgery after pregnancy, combining the procedures certainly makes a lot of sense."

The study's objective was to evaluate a single surgical center's 10-year history with combined abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and cosmetic breast surgery to assess the safety and efficacy of mommy makeover surgery. Women receiving lower, mini, full, reverse, or circumferential abdominoplasty along with some type of cosmetic breast surgery (augmentation, lift, augmentation with lift, reduction, or implant revision) were included in the retrospective review.

"What we found from the 268 cases reviewed is that complication and revision rates for the combined mommy makeover surgery are well within the range one would expect if the procedures were performed individually," adds Dr. Stevens. "What this means in plain English is that women who choose a mommy makeover do not appear to be at any additional risk of complications compared to those women who have one surgery, like a tummy tuck in Los Angeles, and then down the road elect to have a cosmetic breast procedure."

The study tracked both complication and revision rates for the women who underwent surgery (revision rates track the percent of patients who require revision surgery to correct a complication). Complication and revision rates for mommy makeover patients in the review were 34% and 13%, respectively. By itself, abdominoplasty has complication rates that range from 10 to 40%, and revision rates that range between 10 to 24%. Individual cosmetic breast procedures have complication rates that range from 2 to 25% and revision rates between 2 to 26%.

"If you add up the risks from the individual procedures, you would expect to see complication rates between 12 to 65% and revision rates between 12 to 52% when combining the procedures," says Dr. Stevens. "The observed complication rate of our review - 34% - falls almost right in the middle of what should be expected, and our observed revision rate - 13% - is on the low end of expected results."

"The bottom line of these numbers is clear," adds Dr. Stevens. "Based on our review, combining cosmetic procedures in a single surgical session for a mommy makeover does not appear to create any additional risk to the patient versus having procedures performed one at a time. With a similar safety profile, enjoying the cost savings of a mommy makeover and having a shorter and more concentrated recovery period are benefits women just can't ignore when considering plastic surgery after pregnancy."

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