The Best Candidates
- Want to achieve a brighter and more refreshed look
- Do not have a history of extensive facial trauma
- Have the appearance of a heavy brow that makes you look sad or angry
- Have trouble applying eye makeup because sagging tissue is in the way
- Have permanent wrinkles along your forehead or between your eyebrows
- Are a healthy, non-smoker and not taking blood thinner medication
The Options
Brow lift is a procedure that can benefit both women and men. There are a variety of surgical techniques that can involve a camera-assisted minimally invasive technique or an incision along the scalp or hairline. Direct lifting above the eyebrows and elevation with a hairline incision are other common options. Often, patients will be good candidates for upper and lower eyelid surgeries or facelift at the same time. Dr. Gallus will partner with you to determine the technique that best meets your goals and can be accomplished in a safe manner that optimizes healing and your appearance.
The Surgery
Brow lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia in an accredited ambulatory surgery center or hospital setting. The procedure can take from 1 to 2 hours depending on the technique used and the extent of surgery performed. The camera assisted brow elevation technique requires a small absorbable implant to be placed at the upper part of the forehead. This small implant may be felt for several months before it dissolves and goes away. In order to maximize the result, the forehead muscles are generally treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic during surgery to keep the muscles from moving while you heal. A lightly compressive head dressing is applied at the end of the procedure.
The Recovery
Once you have recovered from the anesthesia you can return home, as brow lift surgery is an outpatient procedure. You should arrange to have a responsible adult drive you home and stay with you for the next one to two days. Some surgical pain is expected and treated with pain medications. Depending on the technique used, you may have stitches or staples at the incision sites. Your Restore SD surgeon will see you frequently after surgery and determine optimal timing for suture or staple removal. Two to three days after surgery your dressings will be removed and you will be able to wash your hair. You will use antibiotic ointment over the incision sites until they are fully healed. When the camera assisted technique is used, a small absorbable implant is used to hold the brow in its new position. The implant dissolves over several months and it may be felt high on the forehead near the hairline in the months right after surgery. Most patients can return to work after 1 to 2 weeks. It is generally safe to start applying makeup after 2 weeks. Normal daily activities such as showering, eating and light activity such as walking can be resumed within 24 hours after surgery. Some post-operative swelling is normal and resolves in the first 4 weeks in the typical patient. You should refrain from intense physical activity for 4 weeks. During the recovery period, you will have follow up with your Restore SD surgeon and will be guided back to your usual activities. Most complications occur from getting too active too early, so select a surgical date that allows an appropriate amount of time to heal and gradually return to your more vigorous activities.
The Combined Procedures
Brow lift is frequently performed in association with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as eyelid surgery and facelift. Injectable fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic, and laser treatments are all possible at the time of brow lift surgery. You can discuss additional procedures such as breast augmentation, tummy tuck, or liposuction with your Restore SD surgeon to determine what may be safely done at the same time.
