A forehead lift, sometimes referred to as a brow lift, is one of the most popular anti-aging procedures. It is used to reverse the signs of upper facial aging by smoothing glabellar lines, erasing crow’s feet, and lifting the eyebrows. Today, our aesthetic experts at Mountain State Cosmetic Surgery in Beckley, WV are discussing everything you need to know about this procedure, including what to expect during and after the procedure.
What Is Involved in a Brow Lift?
Before your brow lift begins, you’ll be administered an anesthetic to keep you comfortable during your procedure. Whether you receive general anesthesia or a local anesthetic and sedation will depend on the scope of the procedure and your health. Typically, if you opt for a mini-forehead lift, you’ll get a local anesthetic. On the other hand, if you opt for a full forehead lift, especially if it is accompanied by other anti-aging procedures, you’ll get a general anesthetic.
Once your comfort during the procedure is ensured, incisions will be made through which we will manipulate your facial tissues, rejuvenating your appearance. Where the incisions are made depends on several factors, including your unique cosmetic goals. The technique that we will use will be determined during your initial consultation once we have a solid understanding of all of your aesthetic goals.
Classic (Coronal) Forehead Lift
A classic forehead lift, sometimes referred to as a coronal forehead lift, involves an incision that is made just above one ear in the hairline. It then continues through the hairline and ends above the ear. Through this incision, we can adjust fat tissue, muscle tissue, and skin tissue to lift the eyebrows and eliminate forehead lines. Also, we can eliminate any excess skin that is contributing to your aged appearance. Then, the incision will be sutured closed.
Endoscopic Forehead Lift
An endoscopic forehead lift entails numerous small incisions made in the hairline. Through these incisions, highly specialized equipment is used to elevate the brow tissue as necessary to rejuvenate your appearance. Typically, this technique is preferred because the recovery period is usually shorter following an endoscopic forehead lift. This is due to the minimally invasive nature of the small incisions made.
Temporal Forehead Lift
Due to the minimally invasive nature of a temporal forehead lift, you will probably receive local anesthesia if you opt for this technique. This technique is similar to an endoscopic forehead lift, but it is most appropriate for individuals who don’t have numerous severe cosmetic concerns.
What Can I Expect After This Procedure?
What to Expect During Your Recovery
As a general rule of thumb, you can expect for your recovery to take between 10 and 14 days to complete. However, the actual length of your recovery will depend on the scope of your procedure and how well you follow your post-op care guidelines. Typically, you can expect a shorter recovery period if you opt for a mini-forehead lift due to the minimally invasive nature of the procedure.
Also, you can expect your recovery period to be shorter if you take care to rest as much as possible, stay hydrated, and make sure you get enough nutrients in your diet. Specifically, you can benefit from sleeping on your back at least 7.5 hours nightly and napping whenever you feel particularly tired. Additionally, you should make sure that you are drinking at least half a gallon of water daily and getting your RDA of vitamin C and protein.
How Long the Results of This Procedure May Last
If you opt for a full forehead lift, you can expect the results of your procedure to last for 10 to 12 years. However, your results may not last quite as long if you only opt for a mini-forehead lift. Note, regardless of the scope of the procedure, you can expect your results to last longer if you make a point to care for your skin. Specifically, you can expect your results to last longer if you take steps to protect your skin’s supportive structures, collagen and elastin.
Fortunately, there is a lot of overlap between what is required for healthy collagen and what is required for healthy elastin. One of the best things you can do to protect the health of your skin and extend the length of your results is to stay hydrated. You can also encourage your skin to produce as much collagen and elastin as possible by moisturizing your skin regularly. Other things you can do to extend your results as long as possible include:
- Wearing plenty of sunscreen
- Eating plenty of protein
- Getting your RDA of micronutrients
Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
We will determine whether you are a good candidate for a brow lift when you come in for your initial consultation. Typically, if you have concerns about the appearance of your forehead, you will be considered a good candidate for a forehead lift. However, you need to come in for an initial evaluation because we need to ensure that you are healthy enough to receive this procedure and verify that it is the correct procedure to treat your cosmetic concerns.
For instance, we need to ensure that you are not suffering from any medical conditions that require you to take blood-thinners. To qualify for this procedure, it is essential that you can follow all preparation instructions, including not taking drugs or supplements that thin the blood. Therefore, if you suffer from heart disease or a blood disorder, you may not qualify for a forehead lift. Here are some of the preparation instructions you must follow.
Don’t Smoke
To be considered a good candidate for this procedure, you must be able to go several days before your procedure without consuming nicotine. It is important to refrain from nicotine consumption because nicotine constricts blood vessels, significantly increasing blood pressure. However, it is essential that your blood pressure is within a normal range at the time of your procedure.
Also, to qualify for this procedure, you must be able to go several days after your procedure without consuming nicotine. This is important because if you smoke or consume other tobacco products, your recovery period will last longer than it should.
Don’t Drink Alcohol
It is also crucial that you don’t drink alcohol in the days leading up to your procedure. Like nicotine, alcohol significantly elevates your blood pressure. The primary difference is nicotine elevates blood pressure by constricting blood vessels. At low consumption levels, alcohol relaxes and widens blood vessels, dropping blood pressure. However, at high consumption levels, alcohol acts as a vasoconstrictor, elevating blood pressure by constricting vessels.
Note, you shouldn’t even consume small quantities of alcohol in the days leading up to your procedure. Even if you don’t drink enough to elevate your blood pressure, alcohol consumption results in a loss of crucial fluid and nutrients. However, you need to be hydrated at the time of your procedure, and you need to be properly nourished.
Fast
If you opt for a classic forehead lift, you will probably receive general anesthesia to keep you comfortable during your procedure. If you receive general anesthesia, you must fast for eight hours before your procedure. Specifically, you cannot consume any food in the eight hours leading up to your procedure. However, drinking translucent fluids is okay. In the two hours leading up to your procedure, you need to stop drinking, too.
To be clear, you can safely drink water, plain coffee or tea, and clear sports drinks, like Gatorade or Powerade. Pedialyte is also okay for consumption up until two hours prior to your procedure. You can also drink Ensure Clear, but you can’t drink any Ensure milkshake variations. Also, it is okay to drink clear fruit juices, like white cranberry juice or apple juice. However, orange juice should not be consumed as it is not see-through.
Discover Today How You Can Turn Back the Hands of Time
A brow lift involves manipulating fat, muscle, and skin tissue to erase lines and wrinkles from the upper face and lift the eyebrows. The recovery period following this procedure usually takes between 10 and 14 days, and the results of the procedure last for 10 to 12 years.
To find out whether this procedure is right for you, contact us today at Mountain State Cosmetic Surgery in Beckley, WV to schedule your initial forehead lift consultation. We look forward to helping you rejuvenate your upper face.
