Should Facial Surgery Procedures Be Combined or Done Separately?

I have seen two other plastic surgeons about facial rejuvenation and am a little confused as to how to proceed. I know that my neck is lax and my eyes look old and I would like to have both corrected. But to be honest, I am a little afraid and would feel more comfortable doing the procedures in stages. Can you help me decide “how much is too much” for one sitting? — Cheryl M., Coto de Caza, CA

Thank you for asking, this is an important question. Assuming you are a candidate for both eyelid (blepharoplasty) and neck rejuvenation procedures, you would first need to decide if you would indeed like to have both improved. That can only happen after you’ve had a thorough consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon.

Should you then decide that you’d like both your eyes and neck done, my advice would be to do them together at the same sitting for a couple of reasons:

Recovery Time

The first reason is time spent recovering. If you do just the eyes, you’ll be uncomfortable and bruised for up to two weeks. Likewise, when you have your neck done. If you combine these procedures, the total recovery time will still be about two weeks (instead of losing two weeks twice).

Less Cost, More Uniform Improvement

Aside from time considerations, you will save money by going into a surgery center only once versus twice. Probably the best reason of all to do it in one sitting is that you will be able to enjoy a uniform improvement over your entire face as soon as you have healed. This would be akin to enjoying a house that has been totally cleaned, rather than only half done.

The best way to describe this further is through photographs. Take a look at the accompanying pictures below of a 52-year-old female who chose to have her eyes, face, neck, and brows lifted, and to have a small chin implant inserted—all in a single procedure that took less than four hours!

One of the best ways to envision how you would look following such procedures is through the use of computer imaging.  If you would like to set up a complimentary computer imaging session, please feel free to contact Orange County Plastic Surgery at 949-888-9700.