Combining a Facelift With Eyelid, Brow or Neck Surgery
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A facelift fixes the lower two-thirds of the face. It lifts jowls, tightens the jawline and smooths the neck. But it doesn't touch your eyelids or your brows.
That's why many people ask: "Can I do it all at once?"
Often, yes. Dr. Russel Palmer, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Fort Lauderdale, plans facelifts alongside eyelid surgery, brow lifts and other facial procedures when a patient's goals call for it. When a patient asked him about combining a facelift with a brow lift and liposuction, he answered plainly: "Yes. In my opinion, it is quite reasonable to combine those procedures. It's often recommended if needed as it only requires a one time recovery process" (Dr. Palmer on RealSelf).
This guide covers what can be combined, what the safety data shows, and how a combined plan comes together.
Key takeaways
A facelift treats the lower face and neck. Eyelid surgery and brow lifts treat the upper face. Combining them gives the whole face a matching result.
More than half of facelifts in a large study were combined with other procedures.
Combined surgery has a slightly higher complication rate than a facelift alone, but serious problems are still uncommon.
One recovery is the biggest benefit. Most people still take one to two weeks off work.
Why combine at all?
Faces don't age in neat sections. When your jawline softens, your eyelids and brows are usually changing too.
If you only lift the lower face, the eyes can end up looking older than the rest. People sometimes call this a "mismatch." The jaw looks 50 while the eyes still look 65.
Combining helps everything age-match. It also means:
One recovery. You heal from everything at the same time.
One sedation. Dr. Palmer performs facelifts under IV sedation, not general anesthesia. You breathe on your own, and you only go through it once.
One time away. One stretch off work and social plans, not two or three.
What can be combined with a facelift
Here are the most common pairings, and what each one adds.
Upper eyelid surgery. Blepharoplasty removes heavy, hooded skin above the eyes. It takes about an hour on its own.
Lower eyelid surgery. Smooths under-eye bags. The incision can be placed inside the lower lid, so there's no visible scar. Our post on lower eyelid fat repositioning vs. removal explains the choices.
Brow lift. Lifts a low brow and smooths forehead lines. If your hooding comes from your brow, eyelid surgery alone may not be enough. See hooded eyes: brow or eyelids?
Neck work. The Tri-Nova Deep Plane Facelift already includes the neck. Some people need extra work on neck bands or fat under the chin. Our platysmaplasty guide covers that.
Fat grafting. Restores volume to hollow cheeks or temples. A facelift lifts, but it doesn't add volume. See lifting vs. fat grafting.
Laser resurfacing. Improves skin texture, fine lines and sun spots. A facelift tightens, but it doesn't change the surface of the skin.
Rhinoplasty. Some patients add a nose refinement, especially if the tip has dropped with age.
What the safety data shows
The largest study on facelift safety followed 11,300 facelift patients across many centers (Gupta et al., Aesthetic Surgery Journal). It found:
57.4% had a combined procedure. Combining is common, not unusual.
The overall major complication rate was 1.8%. The most common was a hematoma, a pocket of blood that may need draining, at 1.1%.
Combining raised the rate a little. Complications ran as high as 3.7% for combined procedures, compared with 1.5% for a facelift alone.
So adding procedures does add some risk. But even combined, more than 96 out of 100 patients had no major complication. The authors concluded that facelifts are very safe in the hands of board-certified plastic surgeons.
Other risk factors in that study were things you can work on. A BMI of 25 or higher raised the risk of infection. Smoking matters for healing too. Your health going in shapes your safety as much as the plan does.
When it makes sense to keep it simple
Combining is a great fit for many people, but not for everyone. A smaller plan can be the smarter one if:
You smoke or vape and can't stop for long. Nicotine slows healing, and more surgery means more tissue that has to heal.
You have health conditions that need careful control. Diabetes, heart problems or blood-clot history may call for a shorter operation.
Your weight is still changing. A stable weight gives the most lasting result, especially in the neck.
You only have a week off. If you truly can't take two weeks, a focused plan may suit your life better.
One area bothers you far more than the rest. Fixing the main concern first, then deciding later, is a perfectly good path.
There's no prize for doing the most at once. The best plan is the one that gives you a result you love with a recovery you can manage. Many patients start with a facelift and add eyelid work later. Others do it the other way around. Both can look great.
How a combined plan gets built
Here's a simple way to think about it before your visit.
Start with what bothers you most. Is it your jawline? Your eyes? Your neck? That's your anchor procedure.
Look at photos, not just the mirror. Candid photos often show what ages you most. Many people are surprised by what stands out.
Add what makes the anchor look right. If a facelift would leave tired eyes behind, eyelid surgery or a brow lift belongs in the plan.
Check the clock and your health. Your surgeon weighs total time, your health and your recovery needs. Then decide what fits in one session.
At your consultation, Dr. Palmer will look at your whole face and help you sort must-haves from nice-to-haves.
What recovery looks like when you combine
The recovery mostly overlaps. The longest one sets the pace, and for most people that's the facelift.
Days 1 to 3. Swelling and tightness peak. Rest with your head up. Your face and eyes will feel puffy.
Days 7 to 10. Most people return to normal daily activity. Eyelid stitches are usually out.
Weeks 1 to 2. Most people return to work. Bruising fades, and makeup can cover what's left.
Weeks 2 to 3. Light exercise usually comes back. Hard workouts wait a bit longer.
Weeks 4 to 6. The final facelift result begins to show. Eyelids and brows keep softening.
Facelift results typically last 12 to 15 years or more. Upper eyelid results usually last around 10 years. Brow lift results typically last 10 to 12 years. When they're done together, they age together, which keeps your face in balance.
Follow-up visits are included at no extra cost, and Dr. Palmer’s team is only a phone call away if you have any questions or concerns.
Questions to bring to your consultation
Which areas of my face would benefit most from a combined plan?
How long would my combined surgery take?
Does it fit safely in one session, or should we stage it?
Will my recovery be longer than a facelift alone?
Does my health history change what I can combine?
What do you recommend leaving out, and why?
Frequently asked questions
Can you combine a facelift with eyelid surgery?
Yes. It's one of the most common combinations. It treats both the lower face and the eyes in one operation and one recovery.
Is it safe to combine facelift procedures?
For healthy patients with a well-sized plan, yes. In 11,300 facelifts, complications were somewhat higher with combined procedures (up to 3.7% vs. 1.5%), but serious problems were still uncommon.
Does combining procedures make recovery longer?
Usually only a little. The recoveries overlap, so the facelift sets the pace. Most people still return to work in one to two weeks.
Can I have a facelift, brow lift and eyelid surgery at the same time?
Often, yes, if the total time fits safely and your health allows. Dr. Palmer will confirm what fits in one session.
What if I can't do everything at once?
The plan can be split into two stages. That keeps each surgery a safe length.
Plan your whole-face refresh
The most natural results come from treating your face as a whole. Dr. Palmer will look at every area, explain what each procedure adds, and help you build a plan that's safe and fits your life. Book a private consultation at our office in Fort Lauderdale, or call (954) 989-5001. Financing options are available. Browse facelift results and eyelid surgery results, or learn more about the Tri-Nova Deep Plane Facelift.
Sources
Palmer RS. Is it safe to combine a facelift, brow lift and liposuction? RealSelf. December 28, 2023.
Gupta V, et al. Preoperative Risk Factors and Complication Rates in Facelift: Analysis of 11,300 Patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2016.
Kim JYS, et al. Surgical Duration and Risk of Venous Thromboembolism. JAMA Surgery. 2015.