Forehead Lift
- A forehead lift or brow lift is a surgical procedure to correct sagging of the forehead skin, eyebrows, and upper eyelids. The procedure removes or alters the skin and muscles that cause drooping eyebrows, "hooding" eyelids, forehead furrows, and frown lines.
- The operation usually involves local anesthesia combined with a sedative unless the anxious patient requests a general anesthesia so he or she will sleep through the procedure and avoid any discomfort experienced when being awake.
- The procedure lasts an average of one hour. The incision is discreet, running from one ear to the other across the top of the forehead, within the hairline. In the case of bald or balding patients, the surgeon may eliminate scar visibility by using a mid-scalp incision. The forehead skin is separated from underlying tissues, and measured for removal of excess tissues. The skin is then pulled, positioned, and sutured or stapled, which ensure disappearance of wrinkles and slight eyebrow elevation.
- The patient stays twenty-four hours in the clinic. A dressing protects the wound for three days and the whole operated area is wrapped with a sterile padding and an elastic bandage to inhibit bleeding and edema.
- The edema subsides after an average of 8 days as well as the inevitable bruising and swelling around the eyes.
- Dissolving stitches or staples are used. Scars are discreet and should fade completely within 2 to 3 months. Foundation or make-up can conceal minor blemishes. Numbness in the surgical site will take longer to disappear as forehead and scalp nerves may take as long as 6 months to regenerate, thus enabling skin to recover its sensory qualities.
- A combined chemical peel can be performed simultaneously to help improve skin quality and increase the overall rejuvenating effect.