Facelift While Botox or Fillers Still Active?

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.

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 accomplish reduction of the folds.

In terms of Botox, as it is typically used to treat dynamic lines and wrinkles in the upper part of the face, it is unaffected by the facelift (lower Facelift/ Advanced Facelifting) procedures.

It is not uncommon to do both a facelift after fillers were placed previously. It all depends on the patient. Some patients need lifting of tissues, some need excess skin taken off, some need volume. Speak at length with your experienced surgeon. Let him/her know what has been dome previously.  Share with him/her your goals. Together you will come up with a plan.

It’s not
unusual for prospective facelift patients to have a history of using Botox and
injectable fillers. These agents are frequently used as temporary maneuvers
when patients initially experience aging.Botox and injectable fillers aren’t
contra indications to face lift surgery. However it’s important that the
surgeon understand how they’ve been used and how they’ve affected facial
aesthetics before proceeding with surgical intervention.For
these reasons, it’s important that the surgeon understand the patients past
history of Botox and filler usage. It’s also important that the surgeon review
patient pictures prior to their Botox and injectable filler usage. By taking
these steps, facelift surgery can provide excellent results in patients who
have utilized Botox and injectable fillers in the past.

While it is possible to have the facelift done while the Botox and fillers are active, it would make it a little more difficult for your surgeon to assess your concerns and determine the extent of correction required during your surgery. For this reason, it's probably best to wait, just so that your surgeon can get a better understanding of what is needed.

Yes, a facelift with botox and fillers can be done safely. Many of my patients start with Botox or fillers and end up getting facelift later. Think of a facelift, botox, and facial fillers as different ways of improving your facial features. An experienced facial surgeon can easily assess and help you to have a great result.

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 Botox to the operating surgeon.  They should be able to adjust.

 

Warmest Regards,

Asif Pirani, MD, FRCS(C)

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.

  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!

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.

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!