It suits anyone for whom more than one area matters: people after pregnancy or weight loss, people pursuing chest and body masculinization or feminization, and people who have simply wanted changes in more than one area for some time. What they share is a preference for one considered plan over several separate ones.

Is this the same as a mommy makeover?

If you’ve been searching for a mommy makeover, you’re in the right place. We use the term combined body surgery because the same approach serves people after weight loss, people pursuing chest and body masculinization or feminization, and parents alike. After pregnancy, your plan might pair a tummy tuck with breast surgery, but it’s always designed from where you start.

What procedures can be combined?

Chest procedures (top surgery, breast reduction, breast lift or breast augmentation) are commonly paired with a tummy tuck and liposuction to the flanks, back or abdomen. After significant weight loss, an arm or thigh lift may also be considered. Dr. Armstrong will explain which combinations suit your anatomy and which are better done separately.

Can everything be done in one surgery?

Often, yes, but not always. Safety sets the limit: the total time under anesthesia, the areas being treated and your general health all matter. When a plan is better done in stages, Dr. Armstrong will explain why and how the stages are sequenced.

How is my plan decided?

Together. You share what matters to you and what you want to feel like; Dr. Armstrong assesses your anatomy and explains what is realistic and safe. The plan you leave with reflects both.

What does “your result is shaped by where you start” mean?

Your anatomy, tissue quality and proportions are the starting material of the outcome. Skin elasticity, muscle separation and where you carry fat all influence what is possible. An honest look at that starting point is how Dr. Armstrong builds a plan that is truly yours.

Can top surgery be combined with other body procedures?

Yes. Top surgery is often combined with liposuction to the flanks, abdomen or chest wall, and sometimes with a tummy tuck, to create a flatter, more masculine or gender-neutral contour through the chest and torso. Whether these are done together or in stages depends on your anatomy and overall plan.

What is body masculinization?

Body masculinization is a combination of procedures that creates a flatter chest and a straighter, less curved torso. It commonly includes top surgery with liposuction to the flanks and waist, and may include a tummy tuck where there is loose skin. The aim is a contour that feels like your own, not a template.

What is body feminization?

Body feminization is a combination of procedures that creates fuller chest contours and more defined curves through the waist. It may include gender-affirming breast augmentation with liposuction to the waist and flanks, and a tummy tuck where suited.

Can gender-affirming breast augmentation be combined with body contouring?

Yes. Breast augmentation can often be performed alongside liposuction or a tummy tuck in a single plan. Dr. Armstrong will discuss implant size and placement together with your body goals, so the chest and torso are designed in proportion.

Do I have to choose a masculine or feminine result?

No. Many patients want a softer, gender-neutral or non-binary contour, and the plan is built around your goals rather than a fixed idea of what a body should look like.

Does hormone therapy affect timing?

It can. Hormone therapy may change where your body carries fat and how your skin and tissue behave over time. Dr. Armstrong will talk through timing with you so your results are planned around a stable starting point.

Is combined surgery covered by OHIP?

Top surgery can be funded by OHIP with a valid referral and prior approval; other body procedures, such as liposuction or a tummy tuck, are paid privately. Funded and private procedures are planned as separate operations, and Dr. Armstrong’s team will explain how to sequence them at your consultation. See our top surgery page for referral details.

Is it safe to combine procedures?

For the right patient, combining procedures performed by a Royal College–certified plastic surgeon in an accredited facility is a well-established approach. Your health, the procedures chosen and the total operating time all shape what is safe for you. Dr. Armstrong will only recommend a combination she is comfortable performing in one surgery.

What does recovery involve?

Recovery follows the most involved procedure in your plan, usually the tummy tuck or chest surgery. Expect to rest at home for the first week with a compression garment or binder, return to desk work in about two to four weeks, and resume full activity around six weeks.

Will I have drains after surgery?

It depends on your combination. Some procedures can be closed without drains, while others may need them for a short time. Dr. Armstrong will tell you what to expect before surgery.

Where will my scars be?

Each procedure has its own scar pattern, placed as discreetly as possible: low across the abdomen for a tummy tuck, along the chest for most top surgery or breast procedures, and small entry points for liposuction. Dr. Armstrong will show you where your scars will sit and give you a scar-care plan.

How long do results last?

Results are long-lasting when your weight stays stable. Removed skin and fat do not return, though natural ageing and significant weight change or pregnancy can affect your contour over time.

Every surgical procedure carries some degree of risk. Most issues that arise after a combined body surgery are minor and resolve with proper care. Serious complications are uncommon. Your surgeon will walk through everything relevant to your specific health history before surgery so you feel fully informed going in.

Aim for a stable weight, stop smoking and nicotine products well before surgery, and arrange support at home for the first few days. Our RN will review your medical history and give you detailed instructions at your pre-operative appointment.

What should I expect during the consultation?

You’ll talk through every area that matters to you, and Dr. Armstrong will assess your anatomy, explain your options and what can safely be combined, and answer your questions. You’ll leave with a personalized plan and a detailed quote.

Can I travel from out of town?

Yes. Patients from across Ontario, other provinces and abroad can start with a virtual consultation. Plan to stay nearby for about a week after surgery for early follow-up.

Is the surgeon board-certified?

Yes. Dr. Katie Armstrong, MD, MSc, FRCSC, is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Where is it performed?

Surgery is performed at GraceMed Mississauga x McLean, an accredited surgical facility at 50 Burnhamthorpe Rd W, Suite 343, Mississauga, serving patients from Toronto and across the GTA.

Combined Body Surgery Mississauga | Chest & Body Contouring

Q: What is combined body surgery?

Combined body surgery is two or more chest and body procedures planned together and, where safe, performed in one operation. Common combinations include chest surgery with a tummy tuck, or breast augmentation with a tummy tuck. Dr. Armstrong designs the plan around your anatomy and goals rather than a fixed package.

Overview

What is combined body surgery?

Combined body surgery brings two or more chest and body procedures together in a single, coordinated plan — such as chest surgery with a tummy tuck, or a tummy tuck with liposuction to the flanks and back. Rather than several separate operations and recoveries, Dr. Armstrong designs one plan around your anatomy and goals, then sequences it safely.

Patients come to it for different reasons: after pregnancy, after weight loss, as part of chest and body masculinization or feminization, or because more than one area has mattered to them for a long time. It’s a plan you build together, starting from an honest assessment of where you begin.

Procedures that are often combined

Chest: top surgery, breast reduction, breast lift, breast augmentation, gender-affirming breast augmentation
Abdomen: full or mini tummy tuck, with muscle repair where needed
Contour: liposuction to the flanks, back, abdomen or thighs
After weight loss: arm lift or thigh lift, where suited

Combined Body Surgery at The Self Institute

The process

What to expect

Step 1
Consultation
Meet with Dr. Armstrong to talk through every area that matters to you. She assesses your anatomy, explains what can safely be combined, and gives you a personalized plan and a detailed quote.
Step 2
Surgical planning
We confirm your procedures and their order, whether everything happens in one surgery or in stages, select your surgery date, and guide you through the next steps.
Step 3
Pre-operative appointment
About one month before surgery, our RN reviews your medical history in detail and explains how to prepare for surgery, what to expect on the day, and how to manage your post-operative care.
Step 4
Surgery day
Your procedures are performed by Dr. Armstrong and her surgical team, with your safety and comfort closely monitored throughout.
Step 5
Recovery & follow-up
Dr. Armstrong and her team monitor your healing, answer your questions, and support you throughout your recovery.

Candidacy

Am I a candidate?

A combined body surgery tends to suit patients who recognize themselves in most of the points below. The only way to know for certain is an in-person assessment, and Dr. Armstrong will confirm your candidacy at your consultation.

More than one area matters to you — your chest, abdomen or overall contour — and you’d rather address them in one coordinated plan
You’d prefer one surgery and one recovery instead of several, where that is safe for you
Your weight has been stable for at least three months, and you are not planning a pregnancy
You are in good general health and a non-smoker (or willing to stop around surgery)
You have realistic expectations about the recovery and scars that come with combined procedures

Healing, step by step

Recovery timeline

Every patient heals at their own pace. This is the typical arc, and your personal plan and follow-ups are tailored to you.

Day 1
Rest at home in your compression garment or binder, walking gently and often. Plan for someone to stay with you for the first few days.
Week 1
Tightness and swelling ease day by day. Short, frequent walks help healing; lifting and reaching stay limited.
Weeks 2–4
Most patients return to desk-based work. Swelling continues to settle across every treated area.
Weeks 4–6
Cleared gradually for full activity; lifting, upper-body and core exercise stay restricted until then.
Months 3–12
Your contour refines as residual swelling resolves, and scars fade with your scar-care plan.

Before & after

Combined Body Surgery results

A few of Dr. Armstrong's most recent combined body surgery results, shared with patient consent. She'll walk you through more — matched to your goals — at your consultation. Every result is individual.

Before

After

Patient 1

Combined Body Surgery

Combined with:: Tummy Tuck, Breast Reduction

Individual results may vary.

Before

After

Patient 2

Combined Body Surgery

Individual results may vary.

Before

After

Patient 3

Combined Body Surgery

Individual results may vary.

View the full Combined Body Surgery gallery →

Your investment

Planning for Combined Body Surgery

Every surgical plan is individual, and your exact quote is provided after your consultation. Starting prices are listed on our pricing page, and financing is available through our partner, Beautifi, should you wish to spread the cost over time. To begin, we invite you to book a consultation.

Combined Body Surgery