Browlift is a procedure that restores a more youthful, refreshed look to the area above the eyes and brows. The procedure corrects drooping brows and improves the crows feet lines that can make a person appear sad or tired.
In a forehead lift, the muscles and tissues that cause the furrowing or drooping are removed or altered to smooth the forehead, raise the eyebrows and minimize frown lines along all the forehead with a bigger operation. With the browlift or mini-brow lift only the lateral sides of the forehead will be operated to lift the outer sides of the dropped eyebrows and crows feet will be reduced with a minor surgery.
Brow lift is most commonly performed in the 30-70 age range to minimize the visible effects of aging. Mini brow lift can be done alone or combined with a facelift to provide a smoother overall look to the face. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) may also be performed at the same time, especially if a patient has significant skin overhang in the upper eyelids. Sometimes, patients who believe they need upper-eyelid surgery find that a brow lift better meets their surgical goals.
Botox is the easiest procedure used for brow lift. With the simple tread method, a couple of tiny needle holes are used to hang the eye brows up. The conventional surgical method, in which the incision is hidden just behind the hairline; a hair bearing skin strip is removed and outher sides or the eye brows are pulled up and tightened. Or it may be performed with the use of an endoscope, a viewing instrument that allows the procedure to be performed with minimal incisions. Both techniques have advantages and disadvantages, should be choosen according to the patients anatomy and expectations.
Mini browlift commonly done alone. This procedure can also be done together with facelift or upper eye lid operation, or instead of the upper eyelid operation in whom main problem is severe droopiness of the forehead.
Getting prepared for an operation under anesthesia: blood tests must be done, medications for chronic problems you’re on should be estimated with your surgeon and your doctor dealing with, smoking must be stopped, aspirin, vitamin E, gingko and ginseng containing stuff and certain anti-inflammatory drugs that can increase bleeding should be avoided.
Mini brow lift operation takes one hour. It is most commonly performed under local or twilight anesthesia. It may be longer if combined with facelift or other procedures. After the administration the anesthesia, incision is done inside the hair line, skin is lifted form underlying muscles via the planned incision. Skin flap is pulled back and up, excess part is removed in open surgeries, but not in the endoscopic approach. Wounds are closed with stitches, generally dissolving ones which don't need to be removed. Dressings and bandage will be applied to cover the wounds.
After the operation you may experience slight pain and mainly discomfort. You may have a certain amount of swelling and bruising in the first 7-10 days following the surgery. In some patients, this condition may include the cheek and eye area as well as the forehead. You will be advised to keep your head elevated in order to reduce swelling. Cold compression may reduce swelling. As the incisions heal, you may have some numbness as well as itching, which will diminish with time. If bandages have been used, they are removed in one to three days. It is important to follow the advice of your surgeon on resuming normal activities. For most patients, the recovery time will not exceed two weeks, but patients may still be advised to avoid strenuous activities for longer periods. In the early period face may look different, mimetic movements can be rough, ant this may take a couple of months to heal. Any prolonged bruising can be camouflaged with standard make-up techniques.
Brow lift operation risks include: anesthesia risks, bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, hair and skin loss, facial nerve injury with weakness, temporary or permanent hair loss at the incisions, fluid accumulation, numbness or other changes in skin sensation, persistent pain, unfavorable scarring, prolonged swelling, skin irregularities and discoloration, sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal, unsatisfactory results may include: asymmetry, unsatisfactory surgical scar location and unacceptable visible deformities at the ends of the incisions. (It may be necessary to perform an additional surgery to improve your results), deep vein thrombosis, life threatening cardiac and pulmonary complications.
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your cosmetic surgeon.
