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Combining Surgeries: When It Makes Sense and When to Wait

At SARA Surgery, many patients ask if it’s possible to combine procedures to save time and recovery. The answer is often yes—but it depends on the surgeries involved, your health, and your recovery goals. Combining procedures can enhance results and streamline recovery, but it requires careful planning with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Popular Surgery Combinations

Some procedures naturally complement each other because they target related areas:

  • Eyes and Face/Neck Lift – Combining eyelid surgery with a face or neck lift can create a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
  • Eyelids and Facial Fat Grafting – Restores youthful volume while tightening and brightening the eyes.
  • Breast and Arm Lift – After major weight loss, pairing a breast lift with an arm lift balances results.
  • Tummy Tuck and Liposuction – A popular combination for abdominal contouring. Learn more about tummy tucks and liposuction.
  • Breast Lift and Tummy Tuck – The traditional mommy makeover, restoring pre-pregnancy shape and confidence.
  • Breast Reduction and Liposuction – Often combined to treat large breasts and excess fat around the armpits or abdomen.

When Combining Surgeries Isn’t the Best Choice

Not every combination is advisable. Your surgeon may recommend staging procedures if:

  • The combined surgery time would be too long
  • Recovery would be too difficult if multiple areas are healing at once
  • Your overall health requires shorter, safer procedures

For full body contouring, it’s often safer to stage surgeries. Recovery requires the use of your arms, legs, or core, and combining too much at once can make healing more difficult.

How to Decide What’s Right for You

Every patient’s body, lifestyle, and goals are unique. A consultation at SARA Surgery allows Dr. Sara Dickie to design a plan that balances safety, recovery, and results. In some cases, combining procedures is the most efficient path. In others, staging them ensures a smoother recovery and more refined results.

Explore Options at SARA Surgery

Curious about what combinations may be right for you? Browse our services for body contouring, breast surgery, or facial procedures. You can also check out our latest blogs for patient education and updates.

Schedule a consultation at our Morton Grove office to learn whether combining procedures—or staging them—is the right path for your transformation.

Sara Surgery is a premier Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery provider in Morton Grove, Illinois, serving the greater Chicago area. 

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