How long should I wait after CO2 Laser to have a Deep Plane Facelift?

Question

I am planning to have a deep plane face lift this summer, but it will require travel. I was hoping to get my skin in its best shape before and also not be as scary looking right after the face lift. I could hide out at home rather than be stuck in a hotel. Any reason not to do this? And how long must I wait before the lift to insure I don't have issues? What are the additional potential downsides? Thank you in advance.

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

The best answer is to do both of them at the same time. Having a deep plane lift done creates a thick flap which is hearty enough to undergo laser at the same time. That way there is only one recovery period. If you must separate them, I would give anywhere from 3-6 months so that the skin looks normal again before having the facelift done.

Mansher Singh, MD, FACS · Answer

The good thing with deep plane facelift is that the skin is only detached very little. I almost always combine CO2 laser in the composite portion which is essentially the whole face. The way I explain is that Deep Plane Facelift lifts the foundation of the building while CO2 laser adds a fresh coat of paint. The combination is very powerful. Also, Co2 Laser as technique has improved significantly over the past decade.

Hayati Akbas, MD · Answer

Preparing your skin in advance is a great idea, as it can enhance your results and potentially aid in recovery.To get your skin in its best shape, consider treatments like PRP or gentle peels&mdash;just be sure to stop any major treatments 3-4 weeks before your surgery. This way, your skin will be stable and ready, minimizing risks.If you’ll be in a hotel post-op, having someone with you can make a big difference, especially for comfort during the initial recovery period.

Carey Nease, MD · Answer

You should be fine to have surgery about 3 months following a CO2 laser treatment. I think it's a great idea and recommend it to my patients as well. If you do a lighter/fractional laser treatment then it could be done within 4-6 weeks and even repeated a few months after surgery to enhance the results. Hope that helps!

Alan B. Brackup, MD, FACS · Answer

You could wait and space them out, but we typically will perform both the Deep Plane Facelift with the fully ablative laser at the same time.

James M. Economides, MD, FACS · Answer

It is best to wait until you have healed completely from the laser treatment (usually after one month) to have any surgery to the face.  If performed too early, it would be dangerous to have a surgical face lift immediately after a CO2 laser treatment as this would compromise the healing of your incisions.  Once the skin has recovered sufficiently, you will be able to undergo a facelift without issue.

Gianfranco Frojo, MD · Answer

I actually recommend erbium laser instead of CO2. There is too much energy scatter with the CO2, and it is more prone to post-laser complications due to its wider thermal energy scatter compared to the erbium. I would recommend finding A REAL PLASTIC SURGEON with experience in facial procedures. This means that the person completed 6-7 years of actual plastic surgery training (not a "facial plastic surgeon"). Best of luck!

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Many of these are questions for your doctor. Following laser you would want the red to be gone prior to the facelift which would be about 6 to 8 weeks. I actually prefer to do the lift first and laser next.

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

I routinely perform deep plane facelift and fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing simultaneously.  In my practice, patients prefer this because the number of downtimes is limited to one.  Of the two, the fractionated CO2 laser has more downtime, so it's often best to encapsulate the downtime of the facelift within that of the resurfacing.  However, the choice is up to you and how best this would suit you would require a consultation.  Lastly, there are many great deep plane facelift Surgeons here in Florida, capable of world class results, so you may want to consider the travel option.

Brian M. Harmych, MD, FACS · Answer

I would recommend you discuss the timing of CO2 laser treatment with your surgeon. The answer somewhat depends on the type of laser treatment. If this is a lighter fractionated treatment, the downtime and recovery would be less (maybe 3-6 months). For more extensive, fully ablative non-fractionated treatments, that healing time may be longer. In some cases, CO2 laser resurfacing may be performed at the same time as deep plane facelift. We occasionally do the treatments simultaneously, especially if the patient desires only one recovery period. If the CO2 laser treatment is performed after the facelift, I would generally recommend 3-6 months, depending on how your recovery from deep plane facelift is proceeding.

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