Cosmetic Facial Surgery and Procedures

Forehead Surgery

Commonly referred to as a brow lift, forehead surgery can correct for drooping brows, horizontal lines and furrows that can make a person look angry, sad or tired. The procedure is designed to minimize the visible effects of aging and other causes such as inherited conditions of a low, heavy brow. It is important to clearly define your expectations before undertaking this or any plastics procedure.

What to expect the day of the procedure

Brow lift is typically done in our office in the outpatient surgical suite. It will typically take one to three hours depending on the type of surgery being performed. Upon your arrival to our offices, you will typically be given an oral sedative to help you remain calm and relaxed throughout the surgery. Most forehead surgery is performed under a local anesthetic, so your forehead will be numb and you will be awake during the surgery. You may experience some tugging sensations and some occasional discomfort during the surgery, but the anesthetic typically makes the forehead insensitive to pain during the procedure. The surgeon will make an incision just inside the natural hairline. Adjustments may be made for receding hairlines as needed. The surgeon works through the incision to carefully lift and remove underlying tissue and adjust or release muscles as needed. Excess skin can be trimmed away at the incision point after the eyebrows have been lifted. The surgeon will close the incisions with fines stitches.

After surgery, you will need to keep your head elevated for several days and to use cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising. You may experience some numbness on the top of the scalp which may be replaced by itching as the healing process begins. Some temporary hair loss may be experienced around the incision site but normal growth usually resumes within a few weeks. You will be prescribed pain medication during your recovery phase to use as directed by your surgeon. Stitches are typically removed in about seven days following your surgery. You can expect to resume normal activities in about 7 to 10 days. You should avoid strenuous activities for several weeks, including jogging, rigorous sports, bending, lifting, or any activity that increases blood pressure.