According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, thirty four percent of all U.S. based plastic surgery patients had more than one procedure performed at the same time in 2004. Yet, there are precautions.

The idea behind having more than one plastic surgery procedure performed at a time is appealing for several reasons, as follows:

1. Plastic Surgery Cost Containment: Plastic surgery procedures that are performed together incur one facility fee and one anesthesia fee.
2. Necessity for Desired Outcome: In certain cases such as a breast augmentation breast lift combination, both procedures may be necessary to achieve desired outcome.
3. Efficient Performance: It is no more appealing to wait for a new look than it is to wait for goods and services. Combining procedures can be time efficient.
4. Team Approach: Certain surgeons will combine their expertise with another surgeon during plastic surgery. Two sets of hands allows for more treatment to be accomplished in a shorter duration. 

Precautions Associated with Combination Surgeries
The list of precautions associated with combined plastic surgery procedures sets the precedence for careful preoperative analysis, including: 

1. General Anesthesia Risks: There are additional risks associated with remaining under general anesthesia for more than five or six hours, including heart and lung complications. For this reason, patients undergoing lengthy procedures may be subject to additional pre-operative testing such as an EKG.
2. Greater Recovery Time: Because more than one surgical procedure is performed at the same time, recovery can be more uncomfortable or painful whereby you require greater assistance throughout the recovery period for a longer duration. 
3. Hospital Duty: Multiple procedures are more likely to be performed in a hospital and require an overnight hospital stay.
4. Post-Operative Instruction Contradictions: One procedure may require a set of instructions that would pose potential complications if they were adhered to when another procedure is performed simultaneously. For example, Botox and Restylane can be performed together. Yet, certain skin treatments should not be performed in conjunction with an injectible or facial filler. 
5. Limiting Bodily Functions: The capacity of certain bodily functions is reduced during surgery. For example, blood flow is reduced during operative time. Add another surgery to the equation, blood flow is further reduced. 

In the end, the advantages of combining plastic surgery procedures outweigh the risks when precautions are followed by the patient and the surgeon. Board certified plastic surgeons are keenly familiar with the combinations that are practical and applicable to your particular situation. 

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