Should I have a face/neck lift or tummy tuck first? I lost 80 pounds through diet and exercise.

Question

I lost 80 pounds via diet/exercise and want to have a face/neck lift (1 surgery) and tummy tuck/waist liposuction (2 surgery). Which do I do first as I plan to have them 7 weeks apart? I would like to get the face/neck lift first but fear the loss of pounds via the tummy tuck/waist liposuction as the 2nd surgery will change the fat composition on my face & body and hinder the final facelift result

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEPOBRAS · Answer

The most important point is not necessarily which procedure is first, but whether your weight is stable and whether you are allowing enough recovery time between two major operations. Seven weeks between a face/neck lift and a tummy tuck with waist liposuction is often too short for many patients. A tummy tuck is a significant recovery, and a face/neck lift also requires careful healing, blood pressure control, swelling resolution, and avoiding strain. Many surgeons would prefer several months between them, depending on your health, labs, anesthesia risk, and how your first recovery goes.

A tummy tuck and waist liposuction should not cause major additional weight loss if you are already at your goal weight. They remove skin and localized fat, but they are contouring procedures, not weight-loss procedures. For that reason, they usually should not significantly change the fat composition of the face unless you continue to lose weight after surgery. If you are still actively losing weight, it is better to wait until your weight has been stable for at least several months before either operation, especially before a facelift.

If your weight is stable, either order can be reasonable. Some patients choose the tummy tuck first because it has the more demanding physical recovery and may affect exercise and daily activity for longer. Others choose the face/neck lift first if that is their highest priority and they can avoid major weight changes afterward. The right order also depends on your medical risk, time off work, support at home, and whether one area bothers you much more than the other.

I would discuss the timeline with both your facial and body contouring surgeon, or with one board-certified plastic surgeon who performs both. I would be cautious about committing to a 7-week interval in advance; it is safer to plan the second surgery only after you have healed well from the first.

Suleyman Tas, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Dear Fantastic91130,

Thankyou for your question! In my opinion an expert doctor can advise you better in a face-to-face consultation by examining your features and recommend you the best treatment. Furthermore, It is 
Mostly about preference and priority.

Regards,
TAS TEAM

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. As long as the procedures are spaced far enough apart and you maintain a healthy weight afterward, the order of surgeries would be up to your consideration. If you are concerned about unexpected weight loss after a tummy tuck and how that may affect your facelift results, you may want to schedule the facelift procedure second. 
If you decide to undergo the facelift procedure first, dermal fillers can be used to optimize results and add volume to areas of concern. I recommend that you schedule an in-person consultation with an experienced, board-certified facial plastic surgeon who can help you decide on the best order of interventions.

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your weight loss.  You can proceed with your facelift/neck lift secure in the fact that having a liposuction and tummy tuck 7 weeks after will not affect your 1st surgery results.  The loss of fat from your tummy tuck and the liposuction will not affect you facial final result.  Best wishes.

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Fantastic91130, thank you for your question. The tummy tuck should be your first procedure because even though it is not a method to lose weight, you still lose weight with it. It is important to develop a surgical plan that fits your possibilities, to fulfill your wishes for improvement and to take into account what can actually be achieved. I would encourage you to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. During your consultation, your surgeon will be able to assess your unique needs and develop a treatment plan that is right for you. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Considering that face lift surgery is more comfortable and easier to recover, my suggestion would be to proceed with that surgery first. Doing both surgeries in the same time would also be an option, providing that your surgeon is ready to do it. Good luck.

Brian K. Machida, MD, FACS · Answer

The two surgeries are independent of each other and since you are staging them with adequate time between surgery, you can choose the order.  Having the tummy tuck first will not hinder your result on the face.

George Bitar, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your weight loss.  Your weight should be stable, ideally at least 6 months, prior to proceeding with plastic surgery.  Weight fluctuations after your surgery may influence the final aesthetic outcome.  If your weight is not changing, then the order of surgeries should not impact your results, and I would proceed first with what bothers you the most.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

My rule of thumb is this: do the operation first that you want the most. If the face bothers you the most do that first. I don’t think the issue of weight shifts will be an issue as long as you maintain your weight after surgery

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

In the right hands both procedures can be done safely at the same time. We do this on a regular basis in our Practice. But if you want to stage them- it depends what your priorities are. I suggest that you seek an experienced Board Certified PS

Should I have a face/neck lift or tummy tuck first? I lost 80 pounds through diet and exercise.

Answers (11)

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