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   |  Face Lift | Eyelid Lift | Brow Lift | Lip Enhancement | Rhinoplasty | Botox Injections | Fat Injection | Restylane / Perlane | Thermage Brow Lift A brow lift is often performed to treat conditions associated with aging. It may be done in conjunction with other rejuvenative surgery to achieve a more harmonious facial appearance. A brow lift is also appropriate for treatment of certain inherited traits. Younger adults who have a low brow or who already have deep frown lines due to stress or overactivity of muscles may benefit from the procedure. Am I a good candidate for a brow lift? Any one or combination of the following conditions may indicate that you are a good candidate for a brow lift:
Your Personal Consultation During the initial consultation, your plastic surgeon may ask you to look in a mirror and point out exactly what you would like to see improved. Sometimes, patients may focus their attention on excess skin in the upper eyelids and not realize that sagging of their eyebrows contributes to this skin redundancy. You should be very frank in discussing anything about your appearance that bothers you, as well as what you hope to achieve with surgery. This will help your surgeon to understand your expectations and determine whether they can realistically be achieved. How will my plastic surgeon evaluate me for my brow lift surgery? You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history. This will include information about any medical conditions you may have, medical treatments you have received, previous surgeries including aesthetic eyelid or facial surgery, and medications that you currently take. It is important for you to provide complete information. There are a variety of ways to elevate the brows and correct aging changes in the brow area. Your plastic surgeon will closely examine your entire brow and upper eyelid region, noting the muscle activity when you assume various facial expressions. The particular surgical technique that your surgeon recommends will depend on many factors such as the position of your eyebrows, the amount of excess upper eyelid skin and the height of your hairline. How a Brow Lift is Performed Because of individual factors, not everyone will achieve the same results from a brow lift. Your plastic surgeon will select the surgical technique that he or she feels will obtain the best outcome for you. How is my plastic surgeon able to improve my frown lines and the position of my eyebrows? In many instances, an incision is made across the top of the scalp, beginning above the ears and hidden within the hair. Sometimes, the incision may be placed at the front of the hairline or, in some cases, toward the middle of the scalp. The incision is designed to be inconspicuous when healed. Through the brow lift incision, your plastic surgeon can modify or remove parts of the muscles that cause wrinkling and frown lines, remove excess skin, and lift your eyebrows to a more pleasing level. Another brow lift technique uses an endoscope, a long, thin tube with a light on the end, attached to a video camera. The endoscope is inserted through several tiny incisions in the scalp and allows the plastic surgeon to see and work on the various internal structures of the brow. The endoscopic technique has the advantage of requiring very minimal incisions, but it may not be equally beneficial for all patients. In some instances, alternate methods may be preferable, or a combination of endoscopic and other techniques may be used. Sometimes, if your main concern is frown lines between your eyebrows or across the top of your nose, a limited endoscopic procedure to correct these problems can be done. Alternatively, if you are having upper eyelid surgery performed to remove excess skin, it may be possible to treat your frown lines by the same upper eyelid incisions. Understanding Risks Fortunately, significant complications from a brow lift are infrequent. Every year, many thousands of people undergo successful brow lift surgery, experience no major problems and are pleased with the results. Anyone considering surgery, however, must be aware of both the benefits and risks. I understand that every surgical procedure has risks, but how will I learn more so that I can make an informed decision? The subject of risks and potential complications of surgery is best discussed on a personal basis between you and your surgeon, or with a staff member in your surgeon's office. Some of the potential complications that may be discussed with you include hematoma (an accumulation of blood under the skin that may require removal), infection and reactions to anesthesia. In some instances, the normal numbness and itching that follow brow lift surgery may be prolonged. Occasionally, patients experience minor hair loss at the location of scalp incisions, but this is usually temporary and easily concealed. You can help minimize certain risks by following the advice and instructions of your plastic surgeon, both before and after surgery. Your Surgical Experience The goal of your plastic surgeon and the entire staff is to make your surgical experience as easy and comfortable for you as possible. How should I prepare for surgery? If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs can cause increased bleeding, so you should avoid taking these medications for a period of time before surgery. Your surgeon will advise you and provide additional preoperative instructions. Brow lift surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis. If this is the case, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you at least the first night following surgery. What will the day of surgery be like? Your brow lift may be performed in a hospital, free-standing ambulatory facility or office-based surgical suite. Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. Frequently, local anesthesia and intravenous sedation are used for patients undergoing brow lift surgery, although general anesthesia may be desirable in some instances. For your safety during the operation, various monitors are used to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse and the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood. When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area where you will continue to be closely monitored. Often, a head dressing or headband may have been placed around your brow and scalp to minimize swelling. Sometimes, a thin tube will have been temporarily inserted beneath the scalp to drain fluids, but you will not feel this at all. In fact, there is surprising little discomfort from the surgery. You probably will be permitted to go home after a few hours, although some patients may stay overnight in the hospital or surgical facility. How will I look and feel initially? It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly. The first evening after surgery, you should rest quietly with your head elevated. Initially, you may experience some mild discomfort that can be controlled with oral medication. Remember, you must not take aspirin or certain anti-inflammatory medications, and you should not smoke or be exposed to heavy secondary smoke for a while following surgery. You will notice some temporary puffiness and discoloration that may involve the eyelid and cheek areas as well. Typically, swelling and bruising will be almost totally resolved within a couple of weeks. You may use camouflage makeup almost immediately. If incisions were placed in front of the hairline, you should be careful not to apply makeup directly on any stitches. Expect temporary numbness and possibly some itching of the scalp as the nerves heal. Any head dressings and drain tubes that have been inserted are usually removed one or two days after surgery. Showering and washing your hair will be delayed a day or two later. Stitches or clips, if used, will be removed within a couple of weeks. When can I resume my normal activities? You should avoid staining, bending and lifting during the early postoperative period. In many instances, however, you will be able to resume most of your normal activities in ten days or less. You will be advised to wait several weeks before resuming strenuous activity and exercise. You should be temporarily avoid exposure to direct sunlight and, for the long-term, be conscientious about the use of a sunblock to protect your skin. Results of Your Brow Lift A brow lift eliminates the tired, worried or angry expression often caused by low eyebrow position and deep brow furrows. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several weeks to get an accurate picture of how you look. How long will the results last? How long the results of your brow lift will last depends of many variables including your heredity and lifestyle factors. Even though the aging process continues, patients are usually happy with their appearance for many years following a brow lift. Some patients find that they want to make additional improvements at a later time. Maintaining a Relationship with Your Plastic Surgeon You will return to your plastic surgeon's office for follow-up care at prescribed intervals, at which time your progress will be evaluated. Once the immediate postoperative follow-up is complete, many surgeons encourage their patients to come back for periodic checkups to observe and discuss the long-term results of surgery. Please remember that the relationship with your plastic surgeon does not end when you leave the operating room. If you have questions or concerns during your recovery, or need additional information at a later time, you should contact your surgeon. |
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© 2003 Dr. Joseph Kiener | All rights reserved. | |