Combining Facelift and Blepharoplasty: What You Need to Know

A facelift and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) are often performed together to address multiple signs of facial aging in a single procedure. By rejuvenating both the lower face and the eye area simultaneously, this combined approach can create a more balanced, refreshed appearance while allowing patients to undergo just one surgery and recovery period.

What Is a Facelift?

A facelift addresses sagging skin, deep creases, jowls, and loss of muscle tone in the mid-to-lower face and neck. Unlike outdated techniques that simply pull the skin tight, Dr. Sean Freeman performs his “Preservation Deep Plane Facelift,” also known as the “Triplanar Preservation Facelift” – the next evolution of the deep plane facelift.

Drawing on more than 20 years of performing deep plane procedures, Dr. Freeman tightens underlying muscles, repositions tissue, and redrapes the skin to restore a youthful, V-shaped contour without a “stretched” appearance.

What Is Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)?

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that rejuvenates the appearance of the eyes by addressing age-related changes in the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both.

Upper blepharoplasty is designed to correct:

• Excess skin that creates a hooded or heavy appearance

• Fat deposits that cause puffiness in the upper lids

• Eyelid laxity that can contribute to a tired or aged look

Lower blepharoplasty focuses on concerns beneath the eyes, including:

• Under-eye bags and puffiness

• Hollows and tear-trough deformities

• Loose skin and loss of definition between the eyelid and cheek

Dr. Sean Freeman’s advanced lower blepharoplasty technique goes beyond simply removing excess fat and skin. By repositioning fat and reinforcing the deeper supportive structures of the lower eyelid – without external incisions – he creates a smoother, more natural transition from the lower lid to the cheek while maintaining long-lasting support and contour.

Benefits of Combining Facelift and Blepharoplasty

Combining facelift and blepharoplasty allows the whole face to age gracefully and in balance. Key advantages include:

• One surgery, one recovery. Both procedures are completed in a single session, so you recover once instead of twice – less total time away from work and social activities.

• One anesthesia experience. You go under anesthesia a single time, with one visit to the surgical facility.

• A unified result. Treating the face and eyes together produces a harmonious, refreshed, and natural outcome.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Combined Surgery?

You may be a good candidate if you:

• Notice sagging in the lower face or neck and tired, heavy, or puffy-looking eyes

• Are in good general health, a non-smoker, and able to tolerate a longer single procedure

• Have realistic expectations

• Prefer to consolidate your downtime into one recovery period

The most reliable way to know is a personal evaluation with Dr. Sean Freeman.

Who May Not Be Suitable for a Combined Approach

A combined procedure isn’t right for everyone. Patients whose concerns are limited to a single area may do better with a focused procedure, such as a standalone deep plane facelift, a neck lift, or eyelid surgery. Some patients also prefer to space their procedures out for personal or scheduling reasons.

What to Expect from Combined Surgery

Dr. Sean Freeman performs both surgeries within the same session and under the same anesthesia, integrating the techniques seamlessly. The lift achieved in the cheek area during the Preservation Deep Plane Facelift beautifully complements the lower eyelid rejuvenation from the SOOF Lift Blepharoplasty. Because eyelid surgery is often an efficient, one-day procedure, pairing it with the facelift adds comparatively little to your overall surgical experience.

How Combining Procedures Can Affect Recovery

The key advantage is a single recovery period rather than two. Dr. Sean Freeman’s procedures are designed for faster healing, and his “no drains” recovery adds to patient comfort. Adding blepharoplasty typically does not dramatically lengthen the healing period, since much of the recovery overlaps. Expect some swelling and bruising around the lower face and eyes in the first 1 to 2 weeks.

Recovery Timeline and Results

Most swelling and bruising fade over the first couple of weeks, with continued improvement in the weeks and months that follow. Many patients return to light, everyday activities once early swelling subsides. Because Dr. Sean Freeman works on the deep structural layers, the final, settled results are long-lasting – the lower face contoured and lifted, and the eyes brighter and more rested.

Conclusion: Is a Combined Approach Right for You?

A facelift rejuvenates the lower face and neck, while blepharoplasty refreshes the eyes – and pairing them offers a single recovery, a single anesthesia experience, and a balanced, natural result. Combining these procedures is a strong option for patients whose face and eyes both show signs of aging and who want a harmonious outcome.

The clearest path forward is a personal evaluation with Dr. Sean Freeman at Only Faces in Charlotte, where your facial structure and goals can guide a plan made just for you.

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