Brow Lift Recovery Time & Surgery Expectations^4,20

Read below to find details on preoperative and post-brow lift surgery expectations, as well as answers to several frequently asked questions.

What to Expect from an Endoscopic Brow Lift Procedure

A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, is a procedure in plastic surgery that involves lifting the tissue and skin of the forehead and the brow, helping a patient achieve a more youthful appearance.

In order to get a clear idea of what to expect from a brow lift procedure, we'll go over the steps that happen between the preoperative and postoperative phases of a brow lift procedure, as well as what occurs during the surgery and how long it can take to recover from it.

Here is what you should expect before, during, and after brow lift surgery:

Pre-Brow Lift Surgery Expectations

First and foremost, when deciding on getting brow lift surgery, you should first make an appointment with a Board-certified plastic surgeon and discuss the procedure with them.This initial appointment is about establishing expectations for the procedure as well as evaluating whether you are a good candidate. There may be cases when a patient's medical condition or vital prescription medication makes them unsuitable for the procedure. Here are some steps that the surgeon will most likely take:

• Reviewing Your Medications and Medical History – Your surgeon will first go over your medical history, discussing any present or previous medical conditions you've had and prior surgeries. They may also ask about any medications you have taken or are currently taking and if you are allergic to any particular medicines. Be sure to have this information prepared before the appointment and be thorough, as these details help your surgeon ensure you are aware of any potential risks associated with receiving a brow lift.

• Performing an Exam – After reviewing your medical history, your surgeon may perform a brief examination, particularly around the surgical site, which would be around your brow and forehead. At this point, they might take photographs of your face from various angles for future reference.

• Discussing the Procedure with You – Finally, when your surgeon is assured that you can safely receive a brow lift, they will likely discuss the details of the procedure with you and may also lay out different treatment options. This is the best time for you to discuss the reasons you want a brow lift and how you would like your appearance to change once it is completed.

It is also important to note everything your surgeon says at this point, as they may go over what happens during the surgery as well as the potential risks and complications that could arise.

Make sure you also record and follow any specific instructions your surgeon gives, as that can improve your chances of avoiding possible complications during and after your surgery. Here are a few specific instructions your surgeon may give before getting your brow lift:

– Refrain from taking medications such as anti-inflammation drugs, pain medication, and certain supplements, as these can potentially cause excess blood loss.

– Stop smoking, as it can reduce the amount of blood flow in your skin, which can negatively affect the healing process. Ideally, you should avoid smoking before your surgery and throughout the length of your recovery period.

– Make plans for your recovery period, as you will have to avoid strenuous activity for a few hours after your brow lift. Ask a friend or family member to help drive you home and assist you on the first night after your procedure.

Preparing beforehand can help ensure things go smoothly as you go into your surgery and when you are undergoing brow lift recovery.

What Occurs During Endoscopic Brow Lift Surgeries

On the scheduled date of your brow lift, your surgeon may instruct you to go to a hospital of their choosing or even return to their outpatient facility. Once there, you will be prepped and placed in a comfortable position then you will receive sedation or general anesthesia at the surgical site. The surgeon will then begin the procedure.

Brow lift surgeries generally involve the following steps:

• The surgeon makes several small incisions at the surgical site, which is often around the hairline.
• They then insert a long, thin tube through one of the incision lines.
• The small tube has a tiny camera inside, allowing the surgeon to examine your facial muscles and tissues beneath the skin.
• Through another incision, the surgeon will use an instrument to lift your forehead tissue.
• They will then secure the forehead tissue in place at the lifted position, using a medical device such as Endotine.
• The surgeon will then remove the thin tube and close the incision lines with stitches or clips.

Once your surgeon is finished, your forehead may be loosely wrapped to reduce potential swelling and bruising and provide you with a cold compress. They may also place a tube near your incisions so that they are drained of excess blood.

After that, once you are cleared to be released, you can meet your friend or family member so they can take you home. Overall, endoscopic brow lifts may take around one to two hours to complete.

Brow Lift Recovery Time

Since each patient is different according to their age, lifestyle, and genetics, such factors can affect the recovery process, and thus, each patient will have a varied recovery time. A safe estimate for how much time a brow lift recovery takes would be at least 10 to 14 days or a few weeks at most.

During this period, make sure to schedule follow-up appointments with your surgeon so that they can track your recovery process and ensure your incision lines have healed and any remaining instruments have been removed or dissolved.

Additional Post-Brow Lift Surgery Expectations

After your brow lift procedure is complete, you should expect to experience numbness, along with some swelling and bruising on your forehead, brow, and face, as your body undergoes its healing process. Generally, this should fade within the first few days. Immediately after your surgery, be sure to drink plenty of fluids, and when you're hungry, consume liquid foods, as they require less facial movement from biting and chewing. In addition, here are a few things to do that can help reduce swelling and ensure good final results from your brow lift:

• For the first few days after your surgery, lay down to rest, but be sure to keep your head elevated. This will help minimize swelling and bruising.
• Also, while lying down with your head elevated, minimize swelling by keeping your head and face cool using cold compresses.
• Avoid heavy lifting and other strenuous activities for the next several weeks.

Over the next several weeks of recovery, keep your forehead loosely wrapped to further minimize swelling, and make sure to remove your bandages when your surgeon or doctor has instructed you to do so. Most importantly, be sure to call your doctor immediately if you show symptoms, including:

• Sudden swelling of your head or forehead that doesn't go away.
• Chest pain or discomfort.
• Excess blood from the surgical site.

The final results of patients' brow lifts occur once their head, forehead lift, and skin heal — as we mentioned previously, recovery time can vary with each patient according to their specific lifestyle, genetics, and age. It could take several weeks and up to six months.

To ensure the best results, continue to meet with your surgeon in follow-up appointments to check on your healing process.

Surgical Risks ^{4,5,6,7,9,20,22}

Although problems are rare and usually minor, it’s important to understand that there are potential risks inherent in Endotine procedures. It's best to discuss possible complications with your surgeon.

You may experience discomfort, infection or wound-healing problems over the implant. In addition, you may feel the device under your skin which may be sensitive to the touch. Much less likely, but possible, your skin or hair may become thinner over the device, and you may experience some scarring if there is a wound-healing complication around the device. Although the Endotine implants are bioabsorbable, you may experience prolonged absorption time. If your sensitivity to the device is great enough that you don't want to wait until the implant dissolves, you and your surgeon may decide to remove the implant, which requires a minor procedure.

It’s important to discuss potential complications with your surgeon and to remember that you can help minimize risks by following the advice and instructions received from your plastic surgeon, before and after surgery.