Is it safe to have a facelift when Botox or cosmetic fillers are still in effect, or would it be better to wait until they have worn off? Will the Botox or filler have any effect on the results?
Botox and Fillers are complimentary to many facelifts. Each procedure can improve signs of aging at differnt levels and regions. It is usually not ideal to perform all of these procedures in the same setting however as the effects of the filler and botox will be less precise.
Hopefully your surgeon knows your anatomy well, and where you have been getting Botox and fillers, and can work around them.
With my patients, I like them to be Botox and filler-free for a minimum of two months before surgery.
Particularly with cheeklifts, the Botox that is given in the crow's feet lines temporarily weakens the orbicularis muscle, the muscle that partially supports the corner of the eye.
It is important after facelift surgery and whatever ancillary procedures) that you consult with your doctor before having Botox or fillers.
Botox after a cheeklift can cause the eye to sag for three months, and obviously would be good to avoid!
Because I do the fillers and Botox in my patients, I know their facial features and anatomy well. When we place nontraumatized fascial fat grafts in areas of hollowness (LiveFill), we can accommodate for filler placement. Since we use only hyaluronic acid fillers, we don't worry about the inflammation or oily residue associated with permanent fillers.
Botox and fillers induce temporary changes to the face either by muscle relaxation or by volume augmentation. In general they will not induce a dramatic change in the aging anatomy of a face that really requires a face lift.
However, during your face lift consultation you need to point out these injections to your board certified plastic surgeon. He will explain to you why some of these injections might alter to a small extent what he will need to fix to induce a long term result.
For example:
1. If Botox was used to raise the lateral brow or the glabellar wrinkles, these elements will not show during consultation and a brow lift could be omitted.
2. If filler was used to augment the midface, the need for adding microfat grafting or a full cheek lift might not show.
I still believe that all these changes will not alter dramatically the face lift anatomy to the point of missing an important diagnosis during the critical consultation for a face lift.
I hope that helps.
Surgeons look at facelifting procedures in different ways, but since fillers and Botox are temporary treatments, the type of facelift or the ancillary procedures suggested might differ depending on the anatomy and appearance once the temporary treatments have worn off. For example, if a significant amount of filler has been placed in the cheek region, a mid-face lift might be a possibility once the fillers have dissolved but might be omitted if the fillers are still in "effect." In other words, presence of fillers and Botox can obscure the true underlying anatomy and thus lead to inadequate surgical solutions.
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