“Time is of the essence” is an old adage that has never felt more appropriate. Despite the fact that we are living in an era of hyper-connectivity with devices that allow us to easily multi-task, it turns out that most of us still feel as if there are never enough hours in the day. This is why recovery time is such an important consideration for patients today. Almost everyone who walks into my consultation room tells me that they want a great result, but with as little downtime as conceivably possible. Combination procedures, such as a Mommy Makeover, can be an ideal solution. It allows you to get the look that you want with less days off for recovery. But time is only one of the reasons why combining procedures can maximize your results. Read on to find out more.
Combination Procedure Delivers a 360° Approach
Most patients who come in to see me have become fixated on one feature of their face or body that bothers them. For this reason, you may not realize how much your features work together. If, for example, we improve the size and shape of your breasts, it can actually rejuvenate the appearance of your entire torso. This is why I always take a 360° degree approach to any aesthetic procedure whether it’s surgical or non-surgical. It is literally one of the key components to the exemplary result that we both want. It’s also why combination procedures can be so effective as they allow me to address multiple factors at once.
Aging in your skin and tissues is always multi-factorial. Issues such as:
- Fine lines & wrinkles
- Uneven skin texture
- Loss of breast volume
- Sagging skin
- Pockets of excess fat
These can all contribute to your current lack of love for your reflection. The ability to address various factors at the same time allows me to deliver more bang for your buck, both aesthetically and literally.
Save Money with a Combination Procedure
I take budget seriously. An aesthetic procedure is an investment in your well-being, but it can be costly. While I will never cut corners or tell you that a less expensive procedure will work if it really won’t, it is important to me to give you the maximum result for your given budget. A combination procedure may save you money, particularly if we decide on a surgical approach. This is due to the fact that you may incur less of an anesthesia cost and less of an operating room cost. You will also, as mentioned, save time as you’ll only need one recovery period. However, this downtime may be more intense as two procedures are going to inflict more trauma on your tissues than one. This is something that we will discuss in detail during your initial consultation.
What is a Combination Procedure?
A combination procedure, as the name implies, is one where two or more treatments are performed at the same time. It can be something as simple as Botox® and fillers, or something more complex such as a mastopexy augmentation. The critical thing is choosing the right combination for your anatomy, desired outcome, and lifestyle. The latter is where recovery time really comes into play. I pride myself on being extremely honest with my Boston area patients about what any given procedure can and cannot deliver. This always includes a realistic downtime. Sometimes, for example, the best solution for your needs may be liposuction, but you are a busy working Mom so we may decide on a non-surgical combination approach such as SculpSure® and TempSure®.
The most popular combination procedures in my practice include:
- Neurotoxin & Fillers
- Injectables & Lasers or Chemical Peel
- Gynecomastia: Liposuction & Skin Excision
- Liposuction & Renuvion®
- Breast Surgery & Tummy Tuck (Mommy Makeover)
- Mastopexy Augmentation
- Abdominoplasty & Liposuction
- Neck Liposuction with Renuvion® & Threads and/or Chin Filler
Is a Combination Procedure Right for You?
Deciding whether or not a combination procedure is right for you is first and foremost a question of safety. This is not really an issue with non-surgical combinations. However, I will only perform a surgical combination procedure if it is safe to do so. This generally comes down to overall OR time. As a rule of thumb, I keep my surgical procedures to 5 hours in the operating room or less. Other considerations include your overall health and pain tolerance. As mentioned, while there is less total recovery time with a combination procedure, it may be more intense or uncomfortable. Every patient has a different definition of pain and tolerance for discomfort. Only you can decide whether or not the chance of a more painful recovery is worth the trade-off of less downtime.
To find out more about a combination procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Brookline office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.