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?
An experienced plastic surgeon should account for the presence of Botox and facial fillers when assessing a patient for facelift or necklift procedures. You should definitely tell your surgeon that you have been administered these temporary treatments on your first consultation.
Even with a facelift, you will still require further Botox or facial filler treatments in the future.
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.
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.
Generally there is not a problem having a facelift while BOTOX and fillers are in the face. However, there are some exceptions to this. BOTOX should not be placed at the time of the facelift in areas where the surgery is to be performed. There are reports of the BOTOX drifting and causing unwanted side effects under these circumstances. However, provided the BOTOX treatment is performed at least one week before or one week after the surgery, this does not appear to be a problem.
Regarding filler, again, there is no problem having a facelift with fillers in place. Be aware that when fillers are encountered in the surgical plane it is highly likely that the filler will end up being removed. However, if the filler is placed in the lips, the facelift will have no effect on this treatment. In fact it is common to place filler at the time of the facelift, making use of the deep sedation or general anesthesia. Provided surgery and filler is not performed in the same area, there is no loss of filler effect.
It is entirely reasonable to talk to your surgeon about these issues.
Contact the doctor
