ABOUT THE PROCEDURE
During a lateral brow lift, incisions are placed in the hairline at the temples towards the sides of the face. The lateral brow lift removes excess skin, lifting the outer corners of the forehead.
ANESTHESIA TECHNIQUE
Lateral Brow Lift can be done with local or general anesthesia.
LENGTH OF SURGERY TIME
The surgery will take one to two hours.
LENGTH OF STAY IN HOSPITAL AFTER SURGERY
Patient will stay in the hospital for 1 day
PREPARATION BEFORE THE SURGERY
Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
THE SURGERY
The surgeon will then make the incisions. Incision length and placement depends on the type of brow lift you are having. Your surgeon should make every effort to end up with inconspicuous scars.
Your surgeon will then dissect your skin and the muscles of your forehead. This means that he or she will loosen them from their attachments so that they can be moved and rearranged. He or she will then either remove excess, loose skin and possibly remove excess fat in the brow line. The muscles of the forehead may also be moved or rearranged. If suspensory sutures are being used, the surgeon may place a tiny attachment called a surgical barb in the skull to which the sutures will be attached.
The surgeon will then lift your brow skin to its new position and close the incision, usually with sutures or staples. Lastly, he or she will then apply a dressing to your face and head to protect the incisions, keep the tissue in the proper place during recovery, and put some pressure on the area to reduce swelling. This dressing may run from around the top of your head to under your chin.
PROCEDURE RISKS / SIDE EFFECTS / CONTRAINDICATIONS
• Unfavourable scarring
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Poor wound healing
• Anaesthesia risks
• Blood clots
• Correctable hair loss at the incisions
• Elevated hairline
• Facial nerve injury with weakness or paralysis
• Facial asymmetry
• Skin loss
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation or intense itching
• Changes in skin sensation
• Eye irritation or dryness
• Eyelid disorders that involve abnormal position of the upper eyelids (eyelid ptosis), loose eyelid skin, or abnormal laxness of the lower eyelid (ectropion) can coexist with sagging forehead and eyebrow structures; brow lift surgery will not correct these disorders; additional surgery may be required
• Fluid accumulation
• Pain, which may persist
• Skin contour irregularities
• Skin discoloration and swelling
• Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
• Possibility of revisional surgery
TAKING CARE AFTER THE SURGERY
The first night after your surgery you may be groggy from the anesthetic and/or oral medications. You might not remember much of the first day or two. You should take it easy for the first 7 to 14 days, or however long your surgeon suggests.
You will be instructed to keep your head elevated for several days. Sleep with your head on two to three medium-sized pillows.
Take your temperature regularly. An elevated temperature could mean an infection. Take your antibiotics on time and do not skip any doses or stop taking them early.
You will usually be told to use cold compresses on your head and face to keep swelling and bruising to a minimum. Any pain should be alleviated by your prescribed pain medication, but if you have excessive pain, redness, pus or other symptoms that do not appear normal, contact your surgeon immediately.
Your forehead will look even swollen the first few days after surgery. As the days pass, the swelling will dissipate. There may be a lot of bruising, and possibly even two black eyes, but this will go away, as well. Bruising and swelling are normal and part of the natural healing process.
Your first postoperative visit may be as soon as the day after your surgery. The surgeon may change your bandages or may wait until the end of the week. Your sutures won't be removed until 5 to 7 days after surgery. Any staples in your scalp may not come out until around day 10.
Your scalp will be numb. This is normal; remember your nerves have been partially separated from their source. Give them time to recuperate. Take it easy but do get up and walk around a few times a day in the days after your surgery. This is good for you.
Even though you may feel better, you must take it easy for the first 3 weeks. Be careful not to bend over or lift heavy objects, anything over 15 pounds or so. Your doctor may say don’t lift anything over 10 pounds. Do not participate in contact sports for at least 6 weeks, although you need to ask your surgeon what he or she recommends specifically.
Continue to avoid alcohol and anything with aspirin or ibuprofen until your surgeon says otherwise. If you smoked before the procedure, try not to start again. Smoking greatly impairs circulation and promoting poor healing and excessive scarring. Quit beforehand and stay off it.
You will notice some odd sensations of tightness, tingling, a sporadic sharp pain, or pulling, burning, and cold sensations on your forehead. These usually subside within the first few weeks. As swelling subsides, you will see a more youthful appearance. This may take some time so prepare yourself emotionally.
RECOVERY
Initial wound healing may take 5 to 10 days, at which time any sutures or clips will be removed. You will be ready to return to work and normal activity at this time. Cosmetics can camouflage any bruising that remains.
Healing will continue for several weeks as the swelling dissipates and incision lines refine and fade and it may take several months for your complete recovery.
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