At Maia Plastic Surgery, patients often come to us asking:
“Should I do everything at once, or break my facial rejuvenation into stages?”
It’s one of the most important decisions in aesthetic planning—and one that Dr. Munique Maia
addresses daily in consultation. Whether you’re considering a facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery, or a brow lift, this blog will help you understand how these procedures work together—and when it makes sense to combine them.
Why Combine Procedures?
Facial aging is not isolated to one zone—it involves the upper, mid, and lower third of the face, all of which age simultaneously but differently. When multiple areas are treated together, the outcome is more natural, more balanced, and often requires just one period of downtime.
Key Benefits of Combining Facial Procedures:
- One anesthesia session
- One recovery timeline
- Comprehensive, harmonious result
- Lower long-term cost compared to separate surgeries
What Can Be Combined?
1. Facelift + Neck Lift
The face and neck are anatomically connected through the platysma muscle, which runs from the collarbone up to the lower face. A proper lift requires upward tension—not just horizontal tightening.
When the neck is lifted in isolation, you lose the natural upward pull provided by a facelift—limiting the result and creating visible disconnect between facial and neck contours.
This is why Dr. Maia performs facelift and neck lift together in most cases.
2. Eyelid Surgery + Brow Lift
If your main concern is around the eyes—sagging eyelids, heavy brows, or hollowing—combining upper blepharoplasty with a brow lift restores an open, rested look.
- For some, upper eyelid skin can be removed under local anesthesia alone.
- For more complete rejuvenation, Dr. Maia often adds a temporal lift and fat grafting to the cheeks and under eyes for volume and support.
3. Full Facial Rejuvenation: Facelift + Neck Lift + Eyelids
For patients ready for a full transformation, combining all procedures offers the most streamlined experience.
- Downtime: Slightly longer—expect 2–3 weeks of swelling, with full social readiness around 6 weeks
- Results: Smoother transitions, better proportions, and a global improvement to facial youthfulness
“Most of our patients choose to do everything at once. The results look more natural, and the recovery is condensed into one timeline.”
Can You Stage Procedures Instead?
Yes—many patients prefer to begin with smaller steps:
- Upper eyelid surgery under local anesthesia
- Fat grafting alone to restore volume
- A neck or brow lift individually
However, these staged approaches may lead to longer total recovery time across multiple procedures and often create visual imbalance between treated and untreated areas.
Understanding Facial Anatomy: Why Matching Matters
Facial harmony comes from balanced elevation. Treating just the neck without lifting the face can create pulling in the wrong vector. Lifting the face without addressing brow descent can lead to upper facial bunching.
That’s why matching the lift across all zones—the brow, midface, jawline, and neck—creates the most elegant, undetectable result.
Your Consultation with Dr. Maia
Every face is unique. During your consultation, Dr. Maia will evaluate your anatomy, concerns, and comfort level to design a tailored plan—whether it’s a single procedure or a combination approach.
We offer both virtual consultations, or in our Tysons Corner clinic to accommodate your schedule and location. Facial rejuvenation is personal—but the right plan can make all the difference.
📍 Schedule your consultation and explore your custom facelift plan with Dr. Maia.
Posted on behalf of
8100 Boone Boulevard Suite 730 Tysons Corner
Tysons, VA 22182