While a facelift can smooth away lines, wrinkles and sagging skin in the lower half of your face, eyelid surgery can help to brighten and smooth your eye area, as well as help with impaired vision caused by drooping eyelids. Because these two procedures often very nicely complement one another, many people opt for them both.
If you’re thinking about getting a facelift with eyelid surgery, you probably have some questions about the best way to schedule your procedure. Should you combine them into one? Separate them into two procedures? These tips should give you a starting point for planning your facial procedures.
Start with Selecting Your Plastic Surgeon
Before worrying too much about the details of your procedure, a good first step is to do some research and choose a qualified plastic surgeon. Narrow your search to only board-certified plastic surgeons who have ample experience performing the facial procedures you’re looking for. Look at a few before and after photos, which should be available on their website. This should give you an idea of the kinds of results you could expect for yourself.
Once you’ve chosen a plastic surgeon or two whom you think could be a great fit, schedule a consultation. It’s okay to go to more than one consult to get multiple opinions before making a decision. During this time, ask each plastic surgeon for his or her professional opinion about which procedure(s) might be the best fit for you and whether or not he or she recommends combining them into one.
He or she will first listen to your concerns and goals, then perform a thorough assessment of your skin quality, facial anatomy and other important factors before providing his or her professional recommendations.
Factor in Your Health
A facelift and eyelid surgery are commonly performed together. However, your plastic surgeon will factor in your health and the risks associated with a combination procedure versus two separate procedures. A medical examination and blood work will help to ensure your health and safety throughout the process.
There’s no age cutoff for plastic surgery. As long as you’re healthy, you could be a good candidate for a facelift with an eyelid lift.
Consider Your Timeline and Budget
Combining your facelift and eyelid lift into one surgery will cut your recovery time in half, so if you’re concerned about missing time from work or other duties, this may be a good option for you. It’ll also mean only one surgery and one anesthesia, which can cut down costs as well.
However, if your plastic surgeon recommends splitting up your procedures, don’t let time or money put your health and safety in jeopardy. Work with your plastic surgeon to come up with a timeline and treatment plan that works well for you.
Which Area Bothers You the Most?
If you do decide to hold off on one facial procedure for now and start with the other, ask yourself which area bothers you the most. Is it drooping eyelids that are impairing your vision? Or maybe lines and jowls around your mouth are your main concern. Whatever it is, pinpoint your biggest trouble area and then start with the procedure that’ll best address it.
Then, if you decide to move forward with another procedure down the road, you can always discuss a plan to add it on later with your plastic surgeon.
Providing patients with plastic surgery and non-surgical treatment options, Dr. Rand uses his medical expertise and aesthetic sensibilities to make a positive impact on the lives of his patients. Dr. Rand is constantly driven by the unique challenges of plastic surgery, a field that seamlessly blends artistry and medical science.
