SEGMENT INFORMATION - Segment Revenues and Profit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May 26, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Segment reporting information
Revenues		$ 1,664	$ 2,152	$ 3,676	$ 4,168
Amortization of intangible assets		(436)	(488)	(872)	(977)
Asset impairments		(1)	(13)	(15)	(16)
Restructuring and integration costs		(7)	(4)	(11)	(24)
Acquisition-related contingent consideration		(11)	(20)	(24)	1
Other expense, net		(107)	(8)	(130)	(5)
Operating (loss) income		(27)	257	221	544
Interest income		2	3	9	7
Interest expense		(385)	(409)	(781)	(815)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	$ (27)	(27)	(33)	(51)	(40)
Foreign exchange and other		0	3	(13)	3
Loss before benefit from income taxes		(437)	(179)	(615)	(301)
Bausch + Lomb/International
Segment reporting information
Revenues		883	1,208	1,997	2,326
Salix
Segment reporting information
Revenues		404	509	881	954
Ortho Dermatologics
Segment reporting information
Revenues		116	122	249	260
Diversified Products
Segment reporting information
Revenues		261	313	549	628
Operating Segment
Segment reporting information
Revenues		1,664	2,152	3,676	4,168
Operating (loss) income		680	942	1,574	1,842
Operating Segment | Bausch + Lomb/International
Segment reporting information
Revenues		883	1,208	1,997	2,326
Operating (loss) income		169	337	494	656
Operating Segment | Salix
Segment reporting information
Revenues		404	509	881	954
Operating (loss) income		289	332	608	620
Operating Segment | Ortho Dermatologics
Segment reporting information
Revenues		116	122	249	260
Operating (loss) income		38	41	86	98
Operating Segment | Diversified Products
Segment reporting information
Revenues		261	313	549	628
Operating (loss) income		184	232	386	468
Corporate
Segment reporting information
Operating (loss) income		$ (145)	$ (152)	$ (301)	$ (277)