Blepharoplasty or facelift?

[Rosymagic]

Just wondered if anyone had any advice.

I am 47, and the last few years my face has really changed, probably partly due to stress. My upper eyelids are very hooded and seem to have more fat in them, I have deep circles under my eyes, and jowls. I have thought about it for a couple of years and done research, and I am pretty sure that I want to go ahead with a procedure. I have just got through a messy divorce, and want to feel good about myself again! (I know some people may say that surgery is not the answer, but I have decided that it is the right choice for me).

I went to a skin clinic, and there was a doctor there who said that no cosmetic treatments would help my eyes, and she recommended a blepharoplasty. She said twice "Make sure you have it with an oculoplastic surgeon, rather than a general plastic surgeon". I know this is good advice, as obviously they are specialised in the eye area, whereas plastic surgeons often do procedures over the whole body.

However, if I got an oculoplastic surgeon to do the blepharoplasty, then I would need to get a lower face lift or similar done by a different surgeon at a different time. I could get the whole lot done by one surgeon, but I haven't managed to find an oculoplastic surgeon who also works on the rest of the face!

Does anyone have any advice or recommendations?

I just had Blepharoplasty at a surgical clinic. He wasn’t an occuloplastic surgeon but had done literally hundreds of these privately and at top nhs hospitals and internationally including revisions and for eye cancer patients. He was able to advise on brow and face lift at same time (which I decided not to go for at this point). I suggest just go for lots of consultations and find someone you trust. Can recommend my guy in Kent if you are in that area. It’s a big thing and recovery needs patience, so I would rather have it all done together rather than separately.

Hi, thanks for your post! I went for a consultation recently with Dr David Cheung - he seemed very good and thorough, but as he's an oculoplastic surgeon he wouldn't be able to do a facelift at the same time, just a blepharoplasty. So I'm still undecided really. That would be great if you don't mind sharing details of the surgeon you went to. I live south of London but don't mind travelling. How did your blepharoplasty go, I hope you are pleased with the results?

I agree it's probably best to get a lot of consultations but they all seem to charge at least £150 for the consultation, which puts me off going to too many!😬

Bella Vou in Tunbridge Wells. Free consultation and they also offer a free car service for the surgery within 70 miles which you might qualify for. They are all just so lovely.

One issue with having it done separately is that if you decide on a facelift later this might not be possible because your eyes would then be too tight and not close. He did my eyes to what he called a 75% improvement as he said if I want the brow or face lift later it’s still possible.

I am still a bit swollen but I am already really pleased with the result. My eyelids were pushing my eyes closed and I could constantly see my eye lashes. Now I have eyelids! I found the whole thing quite stressful but that’s just me.

I had an upper bleph with an extremely well regarded surgeon (not oculo though) and like PP, had a procedure that will allow for future brow lift if I ever choose it. I’m delighted with the results and again would be happy to recommend. I’m in SW UK and had it in my home city. Was such an easy procedure done under local anaesthetic and didn’t even need painkillers at any point afterwards

@Northernlass99 Ah that's interesting, I've looked at Bella Vou and have heard it recommended on mumsnet before by other posters. Could I ask which surgeon you had? That's great that you're pleased with the result, although I'm sure it's stressful to go through at the time.

I had no idea that if you had a blepharoplasty first you might not be able to have a face lift later as the skin would be too tight. I would just be looking at a lower face lift so I don't know if the same would apply for that. I think I will try to get at least one consultation with a facial plastic surgeon who can give me some advice about that before I decide which procedure to go ahead with!

@BedBathAndBeyonce That's great you're so happy with the results of your blepharoplasty, and amazing you didn't even need any painkillers! Thank you, if you don't mind letting me know the name of your surgeon, it's good to have some recommendations!

I don’t know if the same is true for lower face lift. But as Bella Vou consultation is free you might as well go and speak to them to get a range of views. The surgeon I had was Rado Boca. Amir Nekhdjavi is also often recommended.

did you manage to book anything yet? I just had mine done with the signature clinic Dr Ahmed excellent results

Following with interest. Would anyone mind sharing what they paid? X

£2000 lowers only, signature clinic

@BedBathAndBeyonce would you mind sharing where you had your procedure and an idea of cost with me? Im SW too so trying to find recommendations for a surgeon a bit closer to home. I'd need upper and lower doing and it's a minefield! Are you still pleased with your results?

@PinkCosYouAreSoVery absolutely, I’ll DM you!

Hi all. Reading this thread with interest as blepharoplasty is something I am also considering but lower blepharoplasty now. Maybe upper later (is that even possible?) I am also considering a thread lift to deal with the lower bulldog looking jowls.

@BedBathAndBeyonce does your surgeon do lower? Would you mind sharing the name please?

@Rosymagic I hope life becomes less stressful now post your divorce.

@NoMoreLimbo yes indeed, will DM you!

@NoMoreLimbo Thank you!

@BedBathAndBeyonce I had a consultation with the surgeon you recommended! He seemed very knowledgeable and experienced. I was asking for upper and lower blepharoplasty and also whatever treatment he thought would be best for my jowls. He thought I needed a specific type of neck lift that he didn't often do, so actually recommended me to a colleague/ friend of his in London.

I went to have a consultation with his colleague and again thought he seemed very experienced and has had a lot of great reviews.
I also asked both the surgeons what they thought about a General plastic surgeon doing a blepharoplasty rather than an Oculoplastic Surgeon. They were both objective and said that they thought that general plastic surgeons are more experienced with working on the whole face, redistributing fat etc and that Oculoplastic surgeons are trained in diseases of the eye and then do a subsidiary training in eye plastic surgery. I was a bit concerned about the safety aspect of it, but they both said that they had done many blepharoplasties and had a lot of experience.

So I'm thinking of going ahead with it (with the surgeon on London) in a couple of months, I just need pluck up the courage to book it in!

@Rosymagic — fab! I’m so so glad I took the plunge. Do update us!

@Banana1979 That seems like a very good price for lower bleph. I have seen prices that are at least £4k. I tried googling Signature clinic. Is that the one in Glasgow?

Just an aside here - these periods of rapid ageing /changes in your face are likely due to perimenopause. If you're estrogen deficient then it's hard for your body to make collagen & your facial muscles may lose tone too. It may be worth looking into HRT.

My understanding is that blepharoplasty is usually performed by general plastic surgeons and I know someone who was at a surgical conference recently where this was being discussed. I wouldn't accept the advice you were given about that as gospel.

DivorcedAndDelighted great name!
You mentioning HRT and peri/meno interests me. I've been on it for years, now 76, and never felt my face needed any plastic surgery. Maybe I'm just lucky but obv I'm still getting plenty of oestrogen too.