I am trying to decide whether to have upper and lower eyelid surgery at one time or should I have them done separately?

Most patients elect to have both upper and lower eyelids done at once since they need to go the surgery process once rather than twice. 

It would be unusual to separate upper and lower eyelid surgery, unless that is your desire. Having both done concomitantly saves anesthesia, cost and two recovery periods. It is ultimately your decision, but it is not the norm to separate them.

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  For patients who are in good health, I recommend having upper and lower eyelid surgery performed together if you are an appropriate candidate for each.   Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most
important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend
that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who
can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

If you need both upper and lower eyelids done I recommend doing all four lids together.  This will result in only one recovery period, one anesthetic and does not add any risk.  You also benefit from having the full result enhancement in one procedure.

Most people do this surgery together to combine the recovery time. I would not be concerned about the combination.

Thank you for your question. Most of my patients who are concerned with both their upper and lower eyelids, elect to have them done together. This provides one surgery, one time going under anesthesia, and one recovery period. Doing them together does not add any risk. Best of luck, Dr. Heffernan

jfstewart, In general patients do not need their upper lids done they need their brows done. For your lower lids make sure you see someone familiar with a "SOOF lift blepharoplasty". Always see a plastic surgeon that is experienced and one who specializes in "only faces". See the video and good luck!

If you are otherwise healthy, performing upper and lower eyelids is routinely performed at the same time.

In our practice,most patients perform upper and lower eyelid surgery together, not separately.  The reason for this is that it allows one anesthesia with one recovery period.  Anticipate 2 weeks of visible swelling and bruising after each procedure.  For more information and many before and after examples, please see the link and the video below

Very good question! You should discuss with your oculoplastic surgeon since he/she is the best person to review all your options and is familiar with your examination. In general patients can decide to have only upper eyelid surgery or only lower eyelid surgery if those areas are of most concern for them. Both upper and lower eyelids can be operated on so everything can be completed at one time but the surgery is longer and the recovery is slightly prolonged since there is usually more swelling after the procedure.  If patients decide to have only 2 eyelids operated on, the other 2 could be operated on as soon as 6 weeks later but that is a very individual choice.  All the details really do need to be reviewed with your surgeon.  I do 2 lid and 4 lid surgery all the time in my practice and the decision is made on a patient by patient basis and depends entirely on the patient's examination and goals. Best of luck to you!
Damon B. Chandler, MD
Harvard-Penn Trained Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon