When can I get chin liposuction and buccal fat removal after LASIK?

Question

My LASIK procedure is booked, but I want to undergo chin lipo and buccal fat removal and was wondering if they overlap. Thanks in advance!

Laura Roider, MD · Answer

I would recommend waiting until you are completely healed from your LASIK procedure before having additional facial surgery performed.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your question. From a medical perspective, LASIK is a procedure that primarily affects the eyes, and recovery is focused on visual healing. Generally, facial procedures like chin liposuction and buccal fat removal don’t directly interfere with LASIK itself.

However, I usually recommend waiting until your eyes have fully stabilized after LASIK—typically about 1–2 weeks for basic healing, but sometimes up to 4 weeks for complete stabilization—before undergoing elective facial surgery. This ensures that any post-operative swelling or discomfort from LASIK won’t complicate your recovery or make positioning during surgery uncomfortable.

Additionally, both procedures involve anesthesia and some swelling, so spacing them apart from LASIK helps minimize overall stress on your body and allows you to recover comfortably from each procedure.

In short: there’s no absolute overlap concern, but giving your eyes time to heal fully before facial surgery is the safest approach.

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Thank you for your question. This is best answered by your ophthalmology specialist. After LASIK, there is a period of corneal healing during which the eye should not be subjected to undue pressure.

During surgery for chin liposuction and buccal fat removal, the eyes normally need to be protected, and tapes are often applied over the eyelids. There are gentler protective methods available, but some degree of contact with the eyelids is usually required. If the procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic, it may sometimes be possible to avoid more substantial eye protection, depending on the circumstances.

In general, the healing process following LASIK takes approximately six weeks for the corneal tissues to regain relatively strong collagen bonding. For this reason, waiting about six weeks between LASIK and facial surgery is often considered a sensible interval. However, it is still advisable to confirm the timing with your ophthalmology specialist before proceeding.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

The amount of time needed between procedures is totally dependent on each of your providers.
You may not need any particular amount of time at all, but each provider will have their own opinion so you should ask them.
Your ophthalmologist may not care if you have the chin and buccal procedure done first vice versa.
It may be possible to have these within a day or two if both providers are OK with it.
It may make sense for one procedure or the other procedure to be done first depending on what each provider says. 
The recovery of free each procedure is relatively easy and straightforward.
With your ophthalmology procedure there is no visual recovery in regards to looking bruised or wearing a garment.
Ask your providers.
It’s their opinion that matters.
On a final note I have become more conservative when it comes to removing facial fat, especially buccal fat. This can unfortunately lead to undesirable premature aging later in life.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

When can I get chin liposuction and buccal fat removal after LASIK?

Answers (4)

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