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Guide To Cosmetic Surgery - Brow Lift

Brow lift surgery

This is surgery undertaken to smooth out those unwelcome lines that appear on the forehead. It can also correct loose folds of skin and drooping eyebrows as well.

Lines appear on the forehead as a result of the ageing process. The eyebrows appear to drop and the face in general, shows the signs of wear and tear. Another sign is the characteristic ‘puckering’ that appears between the eyebrows.

This is more commonly seen in older people but younger people are also choosing to have this procedure although for different reasons.

Younger people choose to have surgery because their eyebrows are in too low a position which makes the eyelids appear to have excess skin.

Their eyebrows can be corrected or ‘repositioned’ which then avoids the need for an eyelid lift.

A brow lift can be combined with other procedures such as a face lift and eyelid surgery. A face lift or ‘rhytidectomy’ re-drapes the skin of the face to achieve a smooth and young looking you. Eyelid surgery or ‘blepharoplasty’ can correct bags under the eyes as well as loose folds of skin over the upper eyelids.

Suitability for brow lift surgery

Am I suitable for a brow lift?   This will be determined by your age, reasons for surgery and state of health. If you have inherited low eyebrows or have deep furrows across your forehead and/or between the eyebrows then a brow lift can help.

Other factors include being a non-smoker, realistic in your expectations of the surgery and a positive, mental attitude.

People aged between 40 and 60 are the usual patients for this surgery but it can be performed on younger people, especially if they have noticeable genetic traits. These include deep frown lines or low eyebrows.

All of these will be taken into account when discussing your suitability at the initial consultation.

Preparing for surgery

There are steps you need to take to prepare for your operation. These will include what medications to take, or to stop taking, the time of your last meal before surgery and what you need to bring with you to the hospital.

Don’t worry, these and other instructions will be given to you by the surgeon. These guidelines cover what will happen before, during and after surgery.

In respect of medications; if you are taking any prescribed medication then mention this to your surgeon. It is important you do so as failure to do so may affect the results of your surgery.

There is also the risk of your medication reacting badly with any medicine administered during or after surgery.

If you take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medicines then stop taking these.

If you take vitamin or mineral supplements or herbal remedies then you will have to stop taking these before surgery. They can cause problems with anaesthesia or excessive bleeding during or after surgery.

These include Ginseng, Gingko, and Evening Primrose oil, St John’s Wort, Garlic, Valerian, Kava and Echinacea.

If you have taken any of the above then mention this to the surgeon. He or she will advise you to stop taking them a certain period of time before surgery. He/she will also advise you as to when you can resume them after surgery.

Another thing you will have to do is stop smoking. If you are a smoker then stop two weeks before your surgery and don’t start again until two weeks after surgery. Ideally, the surgeon would prefer it if you stopped completely but recognises that this can be difficult. If you are looking to stop smoking then he or she may be able to help in that direction.

You will find that surgeons will not operate on patients who continue to smoke right up to the day of their surgery.

Find out how long the recovery period will be and how long you will be away from work. If this is a week to 10 days then arrange for this time off from your employer. Once you know this then ask someone to drive you to and from the hospital.

A general anaesthetic can make you feel dizzy and tired and driving is not recommended so arrange a lift with someone.

In respect of the recovery period, there are things that you will need to get ready for that time. This includes having an ample supply of any permitted medication and painkillers, dressings, gauze, petroleum jelly (for scars), moisturising cream and antibacterial soap.

Do your food shopping in advance and make sure you have enough meals in for the first week following surgery. Buy bottled water (sports bottle type) and light snacks such as soups, fruit juice, yoghurt and protein drinks. Also buy fresh fruit and vegetables as the vitamins from these will help with your recovery.

Prepare ice packs in advance as these can help reduce any swelling and ask your surgeon about Bromelain and Arnica Gel as these too can help with swelling and bruising.

Many people find that making a ‘To Do’ helps as there will be many things for you to do before your operation.

The brow lift procedure

To start with there are two types of procedure: endoscopic and coronal.

Endoscopic is the most popular procedure and as the name suggests, uses an endoscope to assist with the surgery. The
surgeon makes four small incisions in the hairline and then lifts the tissues of the forehead into a higher position. Excess skin and facial muscle may be removed.

The incisions are closed with a series of stitches or clips and small drainage tubes may be inserted to remove any excess blood and fluids.

Coronal is the second and less popular procedure. It is the name given to the type of incision, made across the top of the scalp and behind the hairline. The skin of the forehead is then lifted into a higher position. Stitches or clips are used to close the wounds.

If clips are used then these will be removed after two weeks. The stitches are usually the dissolvable type so do not require any removal.

A light, support bandage will be placed across the forehead.

Whichever procedure you choose will be performed under a general anaesthetic and will involve an overnight stay in hospital. The surgery can take around one to two hours to complete although this will vary if combined with other procedures.

Recovery

Every patient is different when it comes to the recovery. Some people recover more quickly than others and vice versa. On average, the recovery period is 2 to 3 weeks.

The main thing to remember is that it can take weeks, even months before you are fully recovered.

As soon as you have had your surgery then you are into rest and recovery time. This means taking things easy, no straining yourself or undertaking any tasks and allowing your face to heal.

Have someone who can help out or look after you for the first few days. Ask your partner, a member of your family of a friend.

You can expect soreness, bruising, swelling and some numbness after your surgery. You will have been given painkillers to deal with any pain so use these when you need to.

It can help to keep your head elevated for the first two days. This will help with your recovery as well as reducing any swelling. It may seem rather uncomfortable but it will only be for a couple of days.

After a couple of days you will feel more like your usual self and can get up and move around. Still take things easy and don’t try to do too much. You can start to resume your normal activities but do this slowly. Your surgeon will have advised you beforehand about the recovery.

You will have to attend a series of follow up visits or check ups which are designed to monitor your progress. At the first one, the light bandage applied after surgery will be removed and the wounds inspected and cleaned. You will have been given advice on showering and not submerging these scars under water. You can take a shower and/or wash your hair as soon as this bandage is removed.

Any clips used will be removed ten days to a fortnight following surgery.

Avoid any contact sports or strenuous activities for a month and exposure to the sun.

When can you return to work? The vast majority of patients return to work after a week or 10 days at the most.

Benefits of brow lift surgery

You will be pleased with the results. As a result of new and advanced techniques in brow lift surgery your face will look younger and fresher. The frown lines on the forehead and between the eyebrows will have disappeared and it will correct any imbalance between the two.

You will also have a ‘natural’ appearance rather than an ‘android’ look!

The results are long lasting and will boost your confidence and esteem.

Risks of brow lift surgery

You need to be aware of the risks as well as the benefits. The vast majority of patients have brow lift surgery and suffer no side effects, but, things can go wrong in a small minority of cases.

There are risks inherent in all types of surgery which include:

• Adverse reaction to general anaesthesia
• Infection
• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the legs)
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs)
• Excessive bleeding
• Haematoma (bleeding under the skin)
• Delayed wound healing 
  

There are also risks specific to brow lift surgery:

• Forehead lag: a decreased sensation in the forehead as a result of injury or stretching of the nerves.
  
• Hair loss: a brow lift can cause temporary hair loss.
  
• Changes of facial expression: facial expressions may be modified, especially if there is extensive swelling.
  
• Frontal hairline alteration: a reduction in hair density around the incisions.
  
• Lagophthalmos: being unable to fully close the eyes. It can also happen to those patients who have undergone eyelid surgery.
  
• Change in eyebrow shape: the eyebrow can change shape although this is very rare.
  
• Asymmetry: also known as an imbalance. Asymmetry occurs in nearly all faces but is hardly noticeable. There may be a slight asymmetry with brow lift but this can be adjusted if need be.
  
• Eyelid disorders: these include loose eyelid skin, abnormal position of the upper eyelids and loose skin of the lower eyelids.

There can also be skin discolouration and swelling.