09 Mar 2026 | by Akshay Sanan, MD, FACS
Patient safety is the most critical component of any treatment plan. No result can be exemplary otherwise. So, when a patient asks me: “How safe is it to combine procedures?”, I am always completely honest. There are certain hard and fast rules when it comes to delivering a safe surgical result, such as total time in the operating room (OR). But it’s also going to depend on the individual patient as well as his or her chosen facial procedure. As a Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon, I have been safely combining procedures to deliver excellent facelift results throughout my career. Thanks to my on-going study, years of experience and dedication to superior surgical techniques, I have a deep understanding of the pros and potential cons of any facelift procedure. Furthermore, I spend considerable time during our initial meetings going through your medical history and examining your anatomy. This is what allows me to create the right treatment for you which is why your first step should always be to schedule an in-person consultation.
Facelift Consultation
I think we can all agree that the internet has had a profoundly positive effect on how we gather information. It’s made it so easy for patients to do their own research so that when they come in to the office, they already know what they want. However, the world wide web cannot see your unique anatomy. This is why it is critical to have an in-person consultation. During our meeting, I will listen attentively to what you don’t like about your face. As mentioned, I will ask a lot of questions about your medical history, family history, lifestyle and prior procedure, including injectables, as well as how your body recovered. I will then perform a physical exam to assess:
• Skin tone & texture
• Fine lines & wrinkles
• Volume loss
• Degree & location of skin laxity
• Chin/Neck juncture
• Muscle laxity in neck, if any
Together, we will discuss the best treatment plan for achieving your desired outcome.
Most Popular Facelift Combination Procedures in Boston
It is rare that I perform just a facelift. The term is a bit of a misnomer as the procedure actually only addresses the lower half of the face. Yet when you look at yourself in the mirror, your face is made up of so many different features including the:
• Brow
• Upper eyelids
• Lower eyelids
• Nose
• Chin
• Neck
One or more of which could also be contributing to your facial aging. This is why I can say, with total honesty, that I have been safely performing combination procedures throughout my career. Well established facial combinations in my practice include:
• Eyelid Surgery (Upper and/or Lower Blepharoplasty) + Brow Lift
• Facelift + Eyelid Surgery + Facial Fat Transfer
• Rhinoplasty + Chin Augmentation
• Laser Skin Resurfacing or Chemical Peel + Surgical Facial Procedures
Combining procedures can not just be beneficial aesthetically. It may also save you time in terms of recovery. However, not every patient can safely combine procedures.
Factors That Affect Safety of Combining Facelift Procedures
Sometimes, your facelift procedures are going to need to be done in stages. The most common reason for this is that the total surgery time in the OR would be too long to be done safely. Other factors that may affect my decision to split up your combination procedures include:
• Underlying medical conditions
• Too many procedures targeting the same area
• Skin quality or vascularity could be compromised
• Recovery would be overly intense
Part of the reason that I spend so much time during our initial meetings going over your health and discussing how your body has responded to any kind of prior procedure is that healing is individual. I want to safely deliver an excellent result, but also one from which you can recover with a reasonable amount of discomfort.
To find out more about a facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, rhinoplasty, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Akshay Sanan at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 402-2768 to schedule a consultation.
