5 Plastic Surgery Procedures that are Even Better Together

On their own, tummy tuck, arm lift, facelift, and breast augmentation surgeries are some of the most transformative and satisfying procedures available. Yet, pairing each of these touchstones with its companion procedure can help our DC-area patients take their results to the next level. Below, we explore 5 of our favorite plastic surgery procedures and explain how each can be enhanced when combined with its complementary procedure.

But first, why should you consider combining your surgeries?

Why combine plastic surgery procedures?

Combining plastic surgery procedures can offer numerous benefits, including cost savings, shorter recovery times, and fewer appointments. Here are a few reasons you may choose to combine your desired plastic surgery procedures:

• You’ll already be at a hospital or accredited surgical suite
• You’ll already be under general anesthesia
• You’ll already be prepared for a recovery period

Now that we’ve covered why you may want to consider combining procedures, let’s dive into our 5 favorite plastic surgery combinations:

1. Tummy tuck and liposuction

While a tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, can tighten separated muscles and remove extra skin from the abdomen to help you achieve a firmer, flatter stomach, liposuction is needed to address unwanted fat. This powerhouse combination is called lipoabdominoplasty and is ideal for patients who wish to remove unwanted fat from around their abdominal wall, as well as eliminate sagging skin around the hips.

Who’s a good candidate?

You may be a good candidate for lipoabdominoplasty if you have recently lost a significant amount of weight but are still struggling with stubborn fat on your belly. Lipoabdominoplasty is also often included as part of a mommy makeover procedure, helping post-partum women regain their pre-pregnancy shape.

2. Breast augmentation and lift

If you’d like to increase the size of your breasts and enhance their shape, implant-based breast augmentation is the perfect procedure. However, if you’re also looking to restore your breasts to a more youthful position, consider combining this traditional procedure with a breast lift. Together, breast augmentation with a lift can help you achieve a perky, shapely chest that will make you feel great and look even better, whether you’re sunbathing in a bikini or wearing a blouse at the office.

Who’s a good candidate?

You may be a good candidate for breast implants with a breast lift if you have sagging tissue and “deflated” breasts—usually women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who want to restore their chest after breastfeeding, or simply wish to reverse the toll that aging takes on the breasts.

3. Arm lift and liposuction

An arm lift, clinically referred to as brachioplasty, tightens droopy skin in the upper arms (colloquially referred to as “bat wings”). While an arm lift can remove and tighten these sagging arm tissues, liposuction is often needed to reduce unwanted fat deposits and further slim the arms. After this initial liposuction is performed, a non-surgical body contouring treatment, such as CoolSculpting, may be adequate for future touch-ups.

Who’s a good candidate?

Good candidates for an arm lift combined with liposuction have extra fat and skin in their upper arms they’d like to have surgically removed. Oftentimes, these are men and women who have recently lost a lot of weight due to diet and exercise or bariatric surgery. Arm lift patients look forward to wearing sleeveless clothing or a bathing suit without the risk of embarrassment that can come from having loose, saggy upper arms.

Combining plastic surgery procedures can offer numerous benefits, including cost savings, shorter recovery times, and fewer appointments.

4. Facelift and eyelid lift

Facelift and eyelid lift often go hand-in-hand: this is because lined, baggy eyelids contrasted with a smooth lower face & neck would be a dead giveaway that someone has had a facelift. As such, patients often choose to balance their facelift surgery with an eyelid lift, also referred to as blepharoplasty.

Blepharoplasty removes loose or sagging skin, fatty deposits, and fine lines surrounding the eyes to help patients look younger and more refreshed. When performed together, a facelift and blepharoplasty can rejuvenate one’s face from the brow to the neck.

Who’s a good candidate?

If your facial appearance is keeping you from truly appreciating your inner beauty, or you simply want to look younger and more refreshed, a facelift combined with an eyelid lift can help tighten aging tissues in the lower face and diminish lines & wrinkles from around the eyes.

5. Facelift and fillers

Facelift surgery lifts and tightens loose tissues in the lower face and neck, helping patients turn back the hands of time 10 or more years. But while a facelift can correct jowling, it typically doesn’t address deep lines or wrinkles or volume loss. In order to correct these tell-tale signs of aging, we often recommend patients pair their facelift with fat grafting or a dermal filler, such as Juvéderm or Restylane.

Who’s a good candidate?

Good candidates for a facelift with filler are those looking to correct a full spectrum of facial aging concerns—usually men and women in their 50s-60s who want to improve their confidence in relationships or appear more refreshed at work. Consider the following when choosing which filler is right to pair with your facelift:

• Fat grafting: We recommend facial fat grafting for those looking for a longer-term solution to volume loss beneath the eyes or in the cheeks, or to fill in deep facial folds. During fat grafting, your plastic surgeon will use liposuction to harvest fat from an area of your body with a little extra (typically the abdomen, hips, or thighs), process it in a centrifuge, then inject it into your facial hollows. Since about 40-60% of fat will “take,” your surgeon will likely inject a little more than is needed in order to account for fat reabsorption. The ultimate results of fat grafting should last indefinitely as long as a healthy diet and lifestyle are maintained.

• Dermal fillers: For patients looking for a more temporary and non-invasive facial filler, Juvéderm and Restylane present ideal options. These dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring substance found in our bodies that help lift sunken areas of the face and smooth & tighten skin around the nose and mouth. HA-based dermal fillers usually last 6-12 months, at which point they are naturally absorbed by the body.

Enhance your physique with DC-area plastic surgeon Dr. Hess

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher L. Hess has been serving patients in the Northern Virginia/Fairfax area for over 20 years. Dr. Hess specializes in breast, body, and face procedures, and would love to help you create a customized treatment plan to achieve your aesthetic goals. Find out why Dr. Hess’s patients leave reviews like, “Dr. Hess made me feel comfortable throughout my entire treatment process through surgery. He is incredibly talented and knows exactly what he is doing.” Schedule your consultation with us online or call (703) 752-6608 to get started on your personal transformation.