Safety First: Why a “Hybrid” Surgery is Not Always Achievable

Here at The Lucas Center, we serve a lot of patients who are excited to get multiple procedures to help them feel good in their skin. Take the popular Mommy Makeover, for example – what we call a common set of procedures (breast lift and/or augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, etc.) that many women want after pregnancy, childbirth, and/or breastfeeding. Other patients might have a list of different surgeries to achieve their ideal results, such as a chin augmentation, face lift, and neck lift.

All at Once vs. One at a Time

Whatever your plastic surgery wish list, Dr. Lucas and our team are committed to helping you achieve real confidence and your desired results. If your list includes multiple procedures, it’s important to understand that it’s not always feasible to combine multiple surgeries into one session. Depending on your goals, your health, and the length of certain procedures, you may need to check procedures off that list one at a time rather than in one “hybrid” surgery. 

Reasons Why “Hybrid” Surgeries May Be Avoided

Depending on each unique patient, there can be multiple procedures that combine well into the same surgery session (i.e. an eyebrow lift with eyelid rejuvenation, or a body lift with gluteal enhancement). However, here are several important reasons why Dr. Lucas and other plastic surgeons may not perform “hybrid” surgeries combining multiple procedures: 

• Too much physical strain on the patient
• Very lengthy recovery times
• Too much physical strain on the surgeon (i.e. the surgery would stretch beyond 8 hours)
• Safety protocols for the plastic surgery practice and/or surgical facility

What’s Best for Your Body

While it can sound good to some patients with multi-item wish lists to take care of multiple procedures in one day, sometimes it’s simply not feasible or safe. That’s why setting realistic expectations is very helpful. 

Ultimately, the best thing you can do is work with a trusted, board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Lucas to create a customized, realistic surgical plan that meets your goals and protects your health. If becoming a more confident version of yourself is going to take some time or multiple surgeries, getting the best and safest results will be worth the wait! 

Personalized Care in East Tennessee

Whether you’re looking for a single procedure, a Mommy Makeover, or some other custom grouping of procedures to achieve the results you want, The Lucas Center is here to help. We are all about creating real, lasting confidence for our patients. That’s why Dr. Lucas takes the time to get to know your needs, goals, and health profile before performing any surgical procedure. When you’re ready, schedule a consultation or give us a call at (865) 218-6210. Taking care of yourself, achieving confidence, and loving the skin you’re in is a lifelong journey – and we’d love to help along the way!