How long should I wait between facelift after eyelid surgery?

Question

I'm thinking of having an upper and lower eyelid surgery first by an eye specialist and then have a separate facelift later. How long should I wait after the eyelid surgery to schedule the facelift?

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

I would agree that if you have two surgeons that can communicate and work at the same facility, them attempt to coordinated both procedures on the same date.
If this is not possible then I typically have recommended deferring the facelift for approximately 1 month.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

The two operations can be done the same day by the same surgeon or two different surgeons. In our facility we offer both. Unless you have some special ocular problem, you will get the same result either way.

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

There really is no reason to wait. In most cases, I do both the eyes and the facelift in the same operation. The advantage is one recovery. If you choose to spread the procedures apart, then waiting several weeks may be the best option. This will allow the tissues to settle and the majority of the swelling to resolve before the next surgery. Good Luck.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

This is a good question.
Why are you separating the operations? Facial and eyelid rejuvenation surgeries are usually performed together, and you should be able to find an experienced board-certified facial plastic surgeon to help you in this regard.
You should consider doing the operations together since face lifting tends to increase the amount of lower lid skin which could be judiciously removed (lower eyelid skin-pinch) at the end of the face lift.
Best regards.

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

Almost always, we combine the face and eye surgeries.  The reason is that the eyelid surgery must blend harmoniously with the cheek area and the rest of the face.  These are not separate, non-interconnected parts like a Mr. Potatohead toy.  This is your face and should constitute one unfied aesthetic picture.
However, it if you want the very best result, and are considering the eye area and want it to blend with the cheek area, the eye cheek junction, the tear trough, are considering optimizing the facial fat distribution, and facial volume ennhancement, it is best to perform these procedures together at one operative setting by a single surgeon artist who has the entire picture in mind and can optimize beauty and facial harmony.
If you are having very conventional upper and lower eyelid surgery followed by a very conventional facelift, and don't mind the extra recovery time, expense and piecemeal approach, this shouldn't be an issue, and you could speak to both doctors and reach a consensus.  If however you don't have confidence in one surgeon who can perform both procedures, perhaps you should keep looking.  The are many fine board certified plastic surgeons or facial plastic surgeons whom you may not have yet met who could help you.

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi Flower Power,
You may have the procedures as close together or as far apart as is convenient for you.  You may speak to your surgeons and see if they can coordinate the surgeries at the same time.  If you are up to it, you can have  the surgeries within days of each other so that the recovery periods overlap.  Or you may decide to wait weeks or months until you feel you are ready.
Peace.
Dr. P

Frank P. Fechner, MD · Answer

Although there is no strict rule, I would recommend to delay the face lift for a minimum of 6 weeks after your eyelid lift. It is good to know that the the healing process of the eyelids is well advanced before taking on the next "adventure".
Sometimes, patients feel that they are not ready for the recovery from another facial cosmetic procedure so soon and prefer to wait longer than initially planned...

Shahram Salemy, MD, FACS · Answer

Eyelid surgery and a facelift are easily and routinely performed at the same time.  It not only allows the surgeon to achieve the best balance between your upper and lower face, but in general the costs are less, and you can recover from both procedures at the same time (usually 2 weeks or so).
If you do want to have them performed separately, you may want to wait several weeks or even a couple of months between procedures, just so you can recover and have some down time during which you can get back to your normal routine. 
My recommendation would be to have them both done at the same time-- usually a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Facial Plastic Surgeon can offer this to you, but if you would prefer an eye doctor to perform your blepharoplasty, you may ask him if he works with a plastic surgeon who could maybe perform your facelift at the same time, under the same anesthetic.
Good luck!
Dr. Salemy

William Portuese, MD · Answer

The time allotted between the eyelid surgery and facelift should be approximately one month so as to ensure good healing. It is important not to be taking any aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, or herbal supplements prior to both surgeries to keep bruising and swelling to a minimum.

Julio F. Gallo, MD · Answer

I believe that you will obtain a much more coherent appearance if you have both procedures together. You can definitely find a surgeon who is expert in both. Take your time to find a qualified surgeon with the experience necessary to perform your surgeries. There is little benefit to staging them . Thank you.

How long should I wait between facelift after eyelid surgery?

Answers (18)

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