Although a hysterectomy and a tummy tuck procedure are generally not performed at the same time, a recent study found that, among a group of 65 women who underwent both procedures at the same time, there were no additional major complications. In combining the two procedures, the abdominal skin and underlying tissue are pulled tight and reattached at the same time that an abdominal hysterectomy is performed, which may be done in cases of cancer, fibroids, or other complications.

According to the researchers, combining these two surgeries may be advantageous in terms of reduced overall healing time, less time spent in the hospital, and reduced risk of adverse reaction to anesthesia. Another potential reason to perform both surgeries at the same time is to reduce costs, as a tummy tuck is considered an elective procedure, while a hysterectomy is generally not. By combining the two surgeries, patients may save on the cost of the tummy tuck. Hysterectomies are the second most common surgical procedure for women, after cesarean sections. Tummy tucks are among the top five most common cosmetic surgery procedures.

For this study, the researchers looked at the medical histories between 1995 and 2011 for 65 women who had both surgeries done at the same time. The average age for the women was 46, and their average weight was 184 pounds. Additionally, the average body mass index (BMI) for the women was 31.9, which is considered "obese." The researchers concluded:

"The results suggest that combined [tummy tuck] and hysterectomy is a safe and effective way to help patients attain both cosmetic and medically important outcomes in the same surgical procedure."

However, this study is not without controversy. Although the complication rate was 32 percent, the researchers considered these to be minor. Of these complications, 10 percent  were fever, 8 percent were wound complications, and 2 percent were urinary tract infections. For the more serious complications, 3 percent of the women had to undergo a blood transfusion, and 9 percent had a partially or totally collapsed lung.

In a US News & World Report article, several other researchers noted that some of the complications that the study authors considered minor are actually more serious, such as the need for blood transfusions. Others noted that the safety of combining a hysterectomy with a tummy tuck may depend on variables such as surgeon expertise or patient medical history for conditions such as diabetes or hypertension. The general conclusion was that while performing these procedures together may be safe for some patients, it may actually be more dangerous for others.

Patients who would like to combine the two procedures will need to carefully coordinate between their cosmetic surgeon and their gynecologic surgeon, provided both are willing to do a combined procedure. They should discuss this possibility with Dr. Pin when they come in for their consultation visit to determine if it is feasible and safe to combine the procedures.