How do I prepare for my brow lift procedure?
Your surgeon will provide thorough preoperative instructions, answer any questions you may have, take a detailed medical history, and perform a physical exam to determine your fitness for surgery.
In advance of your procedure, your surgeon will ask you to:
- Stop smoking before undergoing surgery to promote better healing.
- Limit your alcohol consumption and avoid certain medications.
- Avoid taking aspirin, certain anti-inflammatory drugs, and some herbal medications that can cause increased bleeding.
- Hydrate before and after surgery for safe recovery.
- Grow out your hair if it is short to help cover any scars.
- Fill all prescriptions before surgery.
- Set up your recovery area ahead of time. You should have easy access to fluids, prepared meals, pillows to elevate your head, and reading materials and entertainment.
A brow lift procedure is usually an outpatient procedure. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery, and you should have someone to take care of you on your first night home and, if possible, the two days following surgery. You should also plan for the recovery period by taking time off from work and ensuring that you have everything you’ll need close at hand while recovering.
What can I expect the day of my brow lift surgery?
Below is what you can generally expect, but be sure to consult with your surgeon before your surgery so you have the most accurate expectations.
- You may have your brow lift procedure in a surgeon's office-based facility, an outpatient surgical center, or a hospital.
- Most brow lift procedures take about one to three hours to complete.
- The surgeon will administer medications for your comfort during the surgical procedure.
- Local anesthesia combined with sedation is commonly used during brow-lift surgery, though general anesthesia can be used instead. If general anesthesia is used, an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will be present to administer sedatives and assist in monitoring.
- For your safety during the surgery, various monitors will be used to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse, and the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood.
- Your surgeon will follow the surgical plan discussed with you before your operation. Once surgery has begun, the surgeon may decide to combine various techniques or change a technique to ensure the best result. It is important that you feel comfortable and trust your surgeon to make these decisions.
- The surgeon will secure sections of hair away from the surgery area.
- After removing excess tissue, skin, and muscle, your surgeon will close the incision with stitches or staples. Your hair and face will be washed so the scalp skin does not get irritated.
- The treated area will be wrapped with a sterile padding and an elastic bandage to prevent bleeding and swelling (edema). You will have sutures and a dressing on your forehead for the first few days after surgery.
- After your procedure, you will go to a recovery area for continued monitoring.
- You may choose to go home on the day of surgery or spend the night unless you and your plastic surgeon have made other plans. Under no circumstance will you be permitted to go home alone.