Brow Lift Procedure Details

BROW LIFT PROCEDURE

Typically performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation, the brow lift procedure can take one to two hours. Some of the most common procedures are the traditional coronal lift, mid-scalp, endoscopic, and lateral lift.

With a coronal forehead lift, the incision will start near ear level and run across the top of the head and down to the other ear. Your hair ought to camouflage the scar since the incision is made well behind the hairline.

The mid scalp or hairline lift technique is commonly suggested for people with high hairlines or high foreheads. With this technique, the incision is made at the intersection of the forehead skin and the hairline and runs over the top of the head and from side to side. This avoids raising the hairline any higher when elevating the brow area.

In both the coronal and mid-scalp technique, the skin is lifted so that the underlying tissue can be addressed and the muscles of the forehead released. Eyebrows are lifted as well and excess skin near the incision will be trimmed.

Another prevelant technique is called endoscopic forehead lift. This procedure utilizes three to five incisions within the hair about three fourths of an inch in length. By utilizing a miniature video camera and a fiber-optic instrument, images are delivered to a monitor by the endoscope. The forehead skin is lifted and repositioned (but not removed) and the muscles of the brow are partially resected. Your eyebrows will be lifted and secured into their higher, more youthful, position by one of several types of absorbable devices beneath the surface of the skin and by absorbable microscrews beneath the scalp.

The lateral brown lift focuses on improving the lax skin and crow's feet around the outer sides of the eyebrows and eyes. Incisions are placed in the hairline at the temples and excess skin is trimmed.

With each of these techniques, upon completion of the procedure, the incisions are closed using very fine sutures or staples. Your hair and forehead are washed, and in some cases a bandage is applied.

BROW LIFT PREPARATION

During your consultation you should be very open: provide all of your medical history and list all of the medications, vitamins, and herbs you are taking (even if you don't think they're important).

Here are some tips that may help you reduce scarring, shorten your recovery time, and decrease your chances of complications:

• Discontinue using Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, St. John's Wort, and Vitamin E for one week before and a few days after your procedure. These act as blood thinners and could cause problems with blood clotting.

• Stop smoking for at least two weeks before and one week after surgery as nicotine can impair circulation and healing.

• Avoid excessive sun exposure including tanning booths, facials, steaming masks, and other skin irritants.

• Don't drink alcohol in excess for two weeks before or one week after surgery.

• Drink lots of water in the days leading up to your procedure.

To make your recovery easier and more comfortable, be sure to:

• Arrange for someone to take you home and to take care of you for at least the first day.

• Fill your prescriptions and place them within easy reach where you will be resting.

• Place a bed wedge by to keep your head elevated at all times.

• You may also want to allow your hair to grow out if it is short. This will help hide scars after surgery.

BROW LIFT POST TREATMENT

You should expect some bruising, swelling, and the feeling of tightness. While your face is swollen it will probably look and feel strange to you. Stitches will come out or be absorbed on their own between a week and ten days. Bruising and swelling will subside significantly within a week to ten days. If you feel like you've lost sensation in the treated areas, don't be alarmed. As your nerves begin to regenerate, feeling and sensation should return to normal. Pain is moderate with this procedure but a pain medication will be prescribed to control any discomfort. However, if you begin to have a sudden onset of pain or if your pain becomes severe, contact us immediately.

The recovery process is different for everyone, but within a day of your face lift, you should be up walking around. You may bathe following the surgery as long as you keep your dressings dry. Keep you head elevated at all times for two weeks following surgery. You may also apply small ice packs to help reduce swelling and discomfort. Over the next couple of weeks you face may be very sensitive and you may want to consider using special camouflage makeup as you heal. For the first week or two you should plan on being out of work and away from your usual activities. After this period, you may gradually return to activities such as lifting, exercise, and sex. Avoid any high impact activities for about one month. Stay away from saunas for a few months as the steam can affect healing. These precautions will help you avoid stress to our scars and allow time for your facial tissue to heal and recover.

While there will be permanent scars, in most cases they will be well hidden by your hair. The scares are usually small and become difficult to see as they heal over time. Your facial appearance willl improve over a period of several months and you should be able to keep results that you will love for a very long time.