A frequent question we hear during a patient consultation is “Should I have eyelid surgery or a facelift first?” There really is no answer that suits all patients. Most base their decision on which area of facial aging they are concerned with at the moment.
What is Blepharoplasty?
The eyelids are often one of the first to show signs of aging and damage, as the skin of the eyelid is thinner than the rest of the face. People can appear older or more fatigued due to eyelids that droop or bulge. Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is a procedure that removes tissue, muscle and sometimes excess fat, improving the appearance of the upper and lower eyelids. Patients may choose to have the procedure on upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both.
If you have loose, sagging skin or puffy bags around your eyes, this procedure can help reduce these unwanted effects and leave the eyes looking young and fresh for a long time. While surgery cannot prevent your eyes from aging any further, most patients are satisfied with their results in the long-term and do not seek additional procedures.
What is a Facelift?
Facelifts, technically known as rhytidectomy (literally, “removal of wrinkles”), counteract signs of aging by tightening muscle, removing fat, and trimming excess skin, giving your face a fresher, youthful look.
Facelifts are most effective for patients who want to correct:
- Midface sagging
- Deep creases under the eyes
- Deep creases between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds)
- Jowls due to loss of muscle tone
- Sagging areas of fat
- Loose skin and fat under the chin and jaw
Should I have Blepharoplasty first?
A blepharoplasty of the upper eyelids will have a dramatic impact and recovery will be easier and fairly simple. Also, the results will impact the appearance of your brow and the area to the side of your eyelids. This may impact the technical details of your facelift, so it is better that this procedure be completed before the facelift. If you choose to do the facelift first, one of our surgeons can take these details into consideration.
Can I Have a Blepharoplasty and Facelift Together?
Not all surgeons or patients think having combined procedures is a good idea. However, we can give you recommendations based on decades of expertise in performing eyelid surgery, facelift surgery and neck lift procedures. During your consultation, we will make an assessment of your skin, health and surgery objectives. Both procedures can be done together for suitable candidates.
Whether to have eyelid surgery or a facelift first or even both at the same time, really depends on the patient’s lifestyle, facial-aging, skin laxity and our assessment and recommendations. Plastic surgery is not a one-size fits all scenario and every patient has different concerns and choices.
All surgery involves risks and recovery time; find out more by arranging a consultation with our facial rejuvenation surgeons at Suffolk Plastic Surgeons P.C. Call us now at 631-364-0333!
