What is Forehead Lift?
Forehead Lift or Brow Lift is a surgical procedure that
corrects drooping brows and improves the horizontal lines
and furrows on the forehead or area above the eyes, giving
the patient a more youthful and refreshed look.
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Effects of Forehead Lift
A Forehead Lift will elevate your eyebrows and create a
smoother forehead. This will give you a more relaxed and
refreshed look. This procedure eliminates the tired,
worried, or angry expression that is usually caused by low
eyebrow position and deep forehead furrows. The results of
this procedure will completely appear weeks after the
surgical procedure.
The results of the procedure can last variably depending on
different people. Heredity and lifestyle are also factors
in finding out how long the results would last.
Most Forehead Lift patients are usually happy with their
appearance for many years, while some patients find that
they want to have additional improvements in the future.
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Candidates for Forehead Lift
The usual patients who undergo Forehead Lifts are within
the age range of 40-60. They choose to have it in order to
minimize the visible effects of aging. However, anybody
from 20 years old and up, especially those who have
developed furrows or frown lines due to stress or muscle
activity, are also candidates for this procedure. Other
good candidates are those who inherited conditions like low,
heavy brow, or furrowed lines above the nose since this
procedure can give them a more alert and refreshed look.
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Your
Consultation
In the initial consultation, BHMG’s Certified Surgeon may
ask you to look in a mirror and point out exactly what you
would like to improve in your appearance. There are cases
where patients do not realize that their eyebrows may be the
ones that needed to be worked on. Be very frank in
discussing anything that bothers you about your appearance,
as well as what you hope to achieve with the procedure.
This will help your surgeon understand your expectations and
determine what surgery you really need to have done and
whether the look you want can realistically be attained.
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The Forehead Lift
Procedure
The Forehead Lift basically removes or alters the muscles
and tissues that cause the furrowing or drooping, in order
to smooth the forehead, raise the eyebrows and minimize
frown lines to give you a more pleasing appearance.
An incision is mostly done across the top of the scalp,
beginning above the ears and hidden within the hair. Other
times, the incision is at the front of the hairline or
toward the middle of the scalp in some cases. Like most
incisions, it is designed to be inconspicuous when healed.
Sometimes, a limited endoscopic procedure should be the one
done to remove frown lines between your eyebrows or across
the top of your nose. Alternatively, if you are having
upper eyelid surgery performed to remove excess skin, it may
also be enough to remove those frown lines.
The whole procedure takes around 1 to 2 hours under a local
anesthesia with sedatives.
Options
and Alternatives
The
Endoscopic Procedure
An
endoscope is a long, thin tube with a light on the end,
attached to a video camera. In this procedure, the
endoscope is inserted through several tiny incisions in the
scalp, allowing the plastic surgeon to see and work on the
various internal structures of the forehead. This technique
requires very minimal incisions, but it may not be equally
beneficial for all patients. In some cases, alternate
methods may be preferable or a combination of endoscopic and
other techniques can be used to attain the desired results.
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Recovery
The amount of time needed for recovery varies with every
patient. During the first evening of the surgery, you
should rest quietly and your head should be elevated. You
may experience mild discomfort but it can be controlled with
oral medication. You must not take drugs containing aspirin
or any anti-inflammatory medicine. You must refrain from
smoking or inhaling secondary smoke several months following
the Forehead Lift.
Some temporary puffiness and discoloration in the eyelid
and cheekbone areas may appear. Swelling and bruising will
be almost totally resolved within a couple of weeks. Do
expect some temporary numbness and itching of the scalp as
the nerves heal after surgery.
Any head dressings and drain tubes that have been inserted
during the Forehead Lift are usually removed 1 or 2 days
following surgery. Any stitches or clips used will be
removed within a couple of weeks.
Women
may use makeup almost immediately to hide the scars, but be
careful not to directly apply it on the stitches. Showering
and washing of your hair will be delayed a day or two later
after the procedure.
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Risks
As with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of
bleeding, but a pressure dressing that will be put on the
patient post-operatively will diminish this risk.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: How
should I prepare for surgery?
A:
Think
about what you need in the house for a month following
surgery. Do your shopping, gassing you car tank,
withdrawals, appointments, and work, even your hair coloring
at least 2 days before surgery. After that, use the next
day to relax. Do not eat or drink anything from midnight
before surgery.
Q: How
will my plastic surgeon evaluate me for my Forehead Lift
surgery?
A:
You
should come to the initial consultations prepared to discuss
your medical history including any medical conditions you
have, medical treatments you have received, previous
surgeries you have done (including aesthetic eyelid or
facial surgery), and medications you currently take. After
the surgeon has taken checked your overall health, he will
examine your entire forehead and upper eyelid region to note
the muscle activity for your various facial expressions.
The surgical technique that your surgeon will recommend in
the end is dependent on many factors such as the position of
your eyebrows, the amount of excess upper eyelid skin, and
the height of your hairline.
Q: Are
there any medicines I should not take before surgery?
A:
Yes. BHMG's medical staff will give you a list of medicines
to avoid before the procedure. Most of these are
aspiring-containing drugs, anti-inflammatories, and even
vitamin E which may increase the risk of bleeding.
Q: Do I
have to sleep in a special position?
A:
You may sleep with your back to the bed and your head
elevated. Just remember to avoid pressure on the area of
surgery and follow any special instructions you may have
been given by the BHMG medical staff.
Q: When
can I resume my normal activities?
A:
After the Forehead Lift, you will be able to resume most of
your normal activities in 10 days or less. Any strenuous
activity and exercise may be done in 2 to 4 weeks following
surgery.
Q: How
long will the results last?
A:
The results of the procedure can last from 5 to 10 years,
depending on each individual. Heredity and lifestyle are
also variables in finding out how long the results could
last for you.
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