Facelift While Botox or Fillers Still Active? Doctor Answers, Tips
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Facelift While Botox or Fillers Still Active?

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?

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53 Doctor Answers | Asked by Belledajour in Schaumburg, IL USA
+1

Botox and cosmetic fillers are okay

In regards to Botox and/or cosmetic fillers, it is okay for them to be in effect and a patient is free to proceed with a facelift. 
+5

Facelift while Botox or fillers still active?

Hello Two questions here - BoTox & fillers. I see no reason to not have a Facelift with a "BoTox" affect still in place. Fillers - you can have a surgical procedure BUT it helps the doctor know what to do - customize your procedure - if he knows what you really look like. If you have some pre-filler pictures that are relevant, it would help. You are commissioning art work - the artist should have a good idea what the canvass looks like - right?
+5

Inform your surgeon about Botox or fillers before facelift

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.

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+4

OK to Have Facelift With Fillers and BOTOX

It really isn't necessary to wait for the BOTOX and fillers to wear off before proceeding with your Facelift. In the vast majority of circumstances, your surgeon can contour well even with the injectables on-board.
+3

Facelift when Botox and Fillers are still in place

Great feedback from the panel so far. We echo the following. 1. Make sure that you know exactly what was injected previously if the practitioner doing your surgery is different from the one that did the injections. 2. Make sure that the surgeon knows what you look like without the fillers (either wait until they are gone or review photos) so that the proper surgical plan can be created.
+3

Probably best to wait

It is interesting that you ask this question as I recently met another patient with the same situation. She was treated in Boston and recently moved to San Francisco after having had Botox and fillers. During the consultation, she described her main areas of concern, including the areas she had been treated with Botox and Juvederm. Overall, I felt she was a good candidate for the procedure, but advised her that I cannot give her my best evaluation of her face since there are areas that have... more
+3

It is safe to have face lift with Botox and Fillers still in effect

Face lift results" src="http://drseckel.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/face-lift-before-and-afteri.jpg" /> Botox and fillers, if properly placed in recommended amounts will not effect face lift results after a 6 week waiting period. The waiting period is primarily to allow swelling and inflammation from the filler injection to subside. A surgical procedure such as a face lift, in my experience may lessen the duration of the Botox efffect, and you may need repeat Botox injection sooner after...
+2

Facelift, Fillers and Botox combination OK

Facelift, Botox and Fillers are Synergistic No problem. You age by three factors - sagging (through gravity and time), loss of volume (counteracted by fillers), and skin texture (determined by environmental and genetic factors). Your fillers should enhance your effect of the lifting if placed appropriately by addressing one of the causes of aging. The Botox will decrease the effects of muscle pull as you heal and should not compromise the results of your procedure.
+2

Botox and fillers at the time of facelift

In my opinion, it is unnecessary to wait for the effects of Botox or fillers to wear off before having facelift surgery. They will have a negligible effect on the surgery and, in the case of Botox, there is even an argument to make that it is better to do the corrective surgery while the muscles have been chemically denervated so that the wrinkles don't reform during the healing period. Hope this helps!
+2

Although safe, wait until botox and fillers are gone before having a facelift.

You've paid a lot of money to look better from the injectibles.  Why have an operation while you are receiving the benefits of those treatments?  It's not unsafe but does waste some of the non surgical benefits.
+2

Botox and Fillers should not interefere with having a Facelift

Botox, fillers, and facelift surgery address facial aging in different ways. Although these procedures can all work very well together to rejuvenate your face, having any one of these treatments will not impact your ability to have any of the other treatments. It is fine to have a facelift/necklift while you still have Botox and/or filler on board. The only caveat that I would give you is that if you are considering brow rejuvenation, your surgeon needs to know about your botox treatment... more
+2

Not an absolute contraindication, however I would prefer to have the face done before.

Facelift, Botox and fillers can create a great combination for a more beautiful and natural looking result. From a scientific standpoint there is no problem doing surgery after Botox. However, from a technical standpoint it can some what change the surgical approach or degree of improvement desired. When we do Botox for crows feet and glabellar wrinkles the position of the brow is usually changed. The brow is usually slightly higher then normal. If the patient comes in without Botox... more
+2

Facelift with Botox and Fillers

Yes, a facelift with botox and fillers can be done safely.  Think of a facelift, botox, and facial fillers as different instruments which work together to help create a more youthful face.  
+2

Facelift with Injectables

 It is perfectly alright to undergo a facelift with injectable fillers in place and Botox effect. Most people do! I also recommend maintenance after a surgical procedure with fillers and Botox to improve and maintain results. It does not affect the procedure or your results in any negative way.
+2

Botox and Filler Do not Hinder Facelift Surgery

The presence of Botox and Fillers will not have an adverse affect on a facelift.  I do recommend, however, that any patient planning a facelift in the next few months wait until after the surgery to use fillers.  The fillers are excellent for "tweaking" a facelift.  Since fillers can last for a year or more, you might be best served to wait and see where it is you want them after the surgical changes take hold.  Botox is different in how it works and I recommend... more
+2

Facelift while Botox or Fillers are Still Active

Yes, it is safe to do a facelift procedure while Botox and/or Fillers are still active.  It is usually best if you wait about three months after having Botox injections especially when doing a browlift procedure and/or eyelid rejuvenation procedures for optimal results of the surgical procedures.  
+2

Facelift after Botox and fillers

Undergoing a facelift after previous treatment with Botox and cosmetic fillers should be safe, and the procedures are complementary. It is probably best to wait 1 - 2 weeks after using hyaluronic acid fillers for the swelling to resolve, so as not to impact the facelift procedure.
+1

Facelift while Botox & Fillers still present

Dear Belledajour, Yes, it is safe to have a facelift with fillers and Botox in effect. A more important question is how will they affect your facelift results. In an ideal world you would have your facelift after the Botox had worm off and the fillers were no longer evident. Realistically, however, most patients don't want to wait that long to have their facelift. I don't think it makes that much of a difference, as long as you point out that you have had filler and... more
+1

Facelift after Botox/Fillers Injection

It is safe to have a facelift while botox or fillers are active. However some doctors advise against this because it is uncertain how the face will look after injections have worn off. "Dr.D"
+1

Is it OK to have a facelift while Botox or Fillers still active

Facial rejuvenation is a combination of non-surgical treatment modalities (such as botox and fillers), surgical treatment options (such as face and neck lift or eyelid surgery), and skin care.    Depending on your facial anatomy, the nonsurgical treatments you have receive may indeed complement your facelift results.  Often, I will recommend some additional nonsurgical treatment to fine tune a patient's facelift results.   The one surgical procedure that I would... more
+1

Botox and Fillers before a facelift!

Having Botox in the brow area or the glabellar can modify the position of the brow.  It is best to wait until the Botox has worn off to do a brow lift.  Fillers will not have any affect in the positioning of the face.  Usually if a fat transfer is being performed with the Facelift the fat is being injected into the cheek region.  Ii hope this helps. Good Luck!
+1

Yes it is safe, and sometimes even beneficial

It is safe to have a facelift with botox in effect, but it depends on its locations and surgeon preference. In some circumstances, it may even be beneficial to have botox before a surgical procedure. 
+1

Facelifting can be performed with Botox and Fillers

It is not necessary to wait until Botox and/or fillers have worn off before undergoing facelifting treatments.   There are regions of the lower face (i.e melo-labial folds) or cheek folds that are addressed with both the facelift and the fillers.  Therefore, if one is undergoing a facelift for the treatment of the melo-labial fold, it may be worthwhile to wait on he fillers until after the facelift results are achieved.  In this manner, you may require less filler to... more
+1

Facelift Surgery With Botox and Fillers Present

In my opinion, you are just fine having a facelift procedure performed with Botox and/or a filler having been done recently. In fact, in many cases the Botox and fillers can enhance the results of a facelift procedure. As long as your plastic surgeon is aware of what was done and where, you should be fine to proceed.
+1

Facelift while fillers and botox still active

Doing a facelift while botox is still working is not a good idea. There is no way to evaluate facial nerve function  (mostly a concern in the forehead and brow area only) during or after a facelift if the botox is present and active. Facial nerve injuries are rare but very significant and even after over 1000 facelifts I would not be happy operating on a patient whose facial nerve I could not evaluate. It would be better to put the operation off until the botox wears off and then... more
+1

Botox Cosmetic and Facelift in combination

I'm a Cosmetic Oculofacial (Speciaizing in Eyelid and Facelift Surgery) Plastic Surgeon practicing for 15 years with offices in Manhattan's Upper Eastside. assuming the Botox is in the usual areas (forehead, frwon and Crow's feet lines) , a facelift (which addresses the midface to the upper neck) should not be affected by the presence of Botox.
+1

OK to proceed with facelift after Botox and filler treatment

Dear Belledujour, I would agree that it is not necessary to delay surgery due to the presence of facial filler materials. Botox in particular does not present an issue in terms of surgical planning. It is helpful to know what your face looked like before filler and you, the patient, can often describe that during the consultation. Pre-filler photos are helpful though to pinpoint exactly what your face looks like without filler material and to determine the best course of action to address... more
+1

Timing of Botox Cosmetic or Facial Fillers with Face Lift Surgery

Face lift surgery while Botox Cosmetic or facial fillers are still active is generally not a problem. Be sure your plastic surgeon knows of all treatments who have received. He/she will perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine if you are a face lift candidate, which includes a medical history. Some patients forget to mention Botox or fillers, since they consider it minor. However, your plastic surgeon needs to know everything.
+1

Facelift while Botox/fillers still active

Yes, for the most part, as the results of these fillers and Botox have little effect on how much skin is excised from the midface or neck region. However, when performing browlifts and upper blepharoplasty, it is important that Botox is not active as it can interfere with the proper assessment of how much skin to excise and/or how much to elevate the brows.
+1

Botox and fillers do not interfere with a facelift

Neither Botox or injectable fillers will have a negative effect on your facelift.  However, if you have certain areas that could be improved with a facelift, your surgeon should be aware of them even if they are not obvious (due to your Botox and fillers) so he can surgically correct them, if possible.
+1

Facelift with Fillers and Botox

There is no reason to delay your Facelift due to recent fillers and/or Botox. Fillers, Botox, and Laser treatments are frequently used as adjunctive treatments to Botox and help provide a complimentary result.
+1

Facelift with active Botox or fillers

In my experience, as long as 2 to 3 weeks have passed since fillers or Botox have been injected, I've seen no negative side effects. I advise my patients who are within 2-3 weeks of undergoing a facelift to avoid botox and fillers since lasering the skin and fat grafting beneath the skin create similar or superior results and these are easily completed at the time of the surgical facelift.
+1

Facelift while Botox and Fillers are still present

It is generally safe to undergo while you still have botox and fillers in place. However, this based on the presumption that these are approved and well known fillers. In some cases patients have had permanent fillers such as silicone in the face and it has compromised their blood supply to some degree and has distorted the normal anatomy of tissues. This can become a challenging facelift for you as a patient in terms of poor healing and for the surgeon in terms of achieving the desired... more
+1

Facelift after Botox and Fillers

Great question! It shouldn't be a problem getting a facelift while Botox is working and fillers were recently injected. As long as you're not having any problems (infection, swelling, pain) from the Botox or fillers you should be fine. In fact, you'll probably be very happy after the facelift as Botox and fillers are a helpful adjunct during the procedure anyway!
+1

Fillers and Botox are Okay

I don't have any problem doing a facelift while fillers are in place.  Botox is okay as well because the same procedure is going to be done.  I think Botox prior to a brow lift is definitely beneficial.  But it is up to your surgeon.  I would think most would be okay with both.
+1

Generally, safe to have surgery after fillers or toxin injection

Surgery is frequently performed in the presence of fillers or toxin. Botox is frequently used before a browlift and or a facelift. I would prefer to use fillers after surgery. The results will likely last longer and less woud be required. 
+1

Make sure you tell your plastic surgeon about this

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... more
+1

Botox and Fillers and facelift

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... more
+1

No need to wait, there should not be a problem

While Botox prevents muscles from functioning for about 3 months, it doesn't make them disappear. With a skillful surgeon the identification and modification of these muscles should be no problem. Fillers really don't do what face lifts and other surgery of the face do. The only exception to this is if you are having fat grafting to the checks, lips, jaw line etc., it may be a little more difficult to determine how much to graft. Even this has not been a real problem in my practice. So the... more
+1

Facelift blends well with Botox and HA fillers

Very often I will see a patient swho use Botox regularly or have started HA fillers such as Juvederm and decide that they would like to go forward with a facelift. There is nothing to prevent a safe and effective facelift procedure. Fills and Botox are complimentary to the goals of facelift, and may soften the smile lines and folds yet cannot correct the laxity in the cheek, neck, and jowl that facelift does so well. Also, the dynamic lines that are corrected by Botox, or the deeper fold or... more
+1

No safety issues with facelift while Botox and/or fillers are active

There are no reports, of which I am aware, regarding complications with facelifts performed while Botox and/or fillers are active in the face. That being said, I recommend to patients who need a facelift to have the surgical procedure first, and then add Botox and/or fillers as needed after assessing what is maximally corrected with the surgical procedure. There are some patients who would benefit from fillers at the time of the facelift, but certainly not everyone.
+1

I doubt that Botox or fillers will affect a facelift unless they were very recently done.

Hello, We usually do Botox in the forehead and crow's feet. A facelift usually refers to the lower face (from the cheeks to the mid neck) so the presence of Botox should not have any bearing as long as any bruising or swelling you may have had has subsided. We usually wait a couple of weeks after Botox and/or fillers before doing a facelift. Athough we prefer doing fillers with the patient sitting and awake, sometimes we will also do the fillers at the completion of the facelift. The best... more
+1

It all depends on what you are treating

Belledujour, It all depends on what you are treating. The areas treated by he facelift (neck/jowls) are often different than those treated by Botox (frown lines/forehead). Additionally, fillers (or fat grafting) are sometimes used in combination with facelift to enhance the results. So, it really depends on clear communication with your surgeon about what you are expecting and what other treatments you are going to continue after surgery (Botox/Fillers). Good luck with your surgery. more
+1

Botox and Fillers are complimentary to many facelifts

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.
+1

Face Lift after Botox or fillers is okay if swelling and bruising have subsided

I agree with the above statements that having a facelift shortly after receiving Botox and fillers should not be a problem--as long as the initial swelling and bruising has subsided. The most important thing is to communicate your concerns with your plastic surgeon and see what he/she thinks is the best course of action. Good luck, and thank you for your question!
+1

Should be okay, if not very recent

I would not recommend a facelift if you are still recovering from any swelling or bruising associated with the Botox and/or filler injections. Otherwise, I see no reason not to have a facelift while "under the influence" of those products, unless you have had an extreme amount of filler material placed that would potentially distort the anatomy and make intataoperative judgements on the tissue characteristics difficult.
+1

Generally, there is no problem.

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... more
+1

Facelift after fillers

Whether you can have a facelift after receiving Botox and fillers depends on where you were treated and exactly what part of your face is going to be operated on. You need to have a discussion about this with your surgeon before having surgery. During a facelift the skin gets repositioned over the face. An area where you had filler placed is not going to be in the same precise location, relative to your bony structures, as it was before the facelift. It is probably best to be familiar with... more
+1

No problem going ahead

Probably most patients these days having a facelift have some active filler and Botox in them.  This doesn't pose any problem nor does it change the surgery.  Go right ahead.
+1

It is safe to have the surgery.

There is no reason to wait until the filler or botox goes away. Just make sure you inform your surgeon what you have had done and if you have any special requests.
+1

No problem

There should be no problem. Just notify your plastic surgeon as to what you have had done. Most of the fillers are close to the nasolabial folds or around the mouth anyway.
+1

I would advise waiting

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... more
+1

Botox and fillers with facelifting

Combining facelifts with botox and fillers should be OK. I combine them all the time to enhance the results of facelifts. On the other hand, if you were undergoing a brow lift, I would probably prefer that you let the botox wear off so that the normal anatomy can be appreciated prior to the procedure.
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