Aging is a part of life, but sometimes the wrinkles on your face don’t reflect the number of your years. Early wrinkling can be caused by a number of factors like genetics, sun damage, smoking, and stress. If you’re already seeing signs of aging on your forehead, consider getting help from a skin specialist.
One simple procedure can do wonders to shed off some years. Here’s everything you need to know about brow lift surgery.
Is It Time for Brow Lift Surgery?
Men and women who only get minor wrinkles when they smile or laugh may not need surgery yet. But, you could be a good candidate for forehead lift surgery if you have:
- Frown lines
- Drooping or heavy eyebrows
- Wrinkles or sagging skin on the forehead
- Misinterpreted facial expressions when relaxed
Don’t look in the mirror and make a decision right away. You might be able to fix some skin issues with non-surgical options. These include BOTOX injections or skin tightening procedures, such as Ultherapy.
To make the best, most informed decision for your forehead wrinkles, schedule a consultation with a licensed specialist.
What Is the Purpose of My Consultation?
The consultation is arguably the most important part of your brow lift surgery. This is your chance to talk about what’s really going on with your appearance and the kind of results you’re looking for. Don’t leave a consultation without making sure you cover all your bases:
Get to Know Your Doctor
It’s one thing to read reviews and get recommendations from friends about how great a doctor is. It’s another to meet him or her for yourself and see how comfortable you are with them. You should be able to feel like your doctor has your best interest in mind. After all, you’re trusting them with your face!
For even more peace of mind, ask about their experience and credentials. The best doctors will have years of practice under their belts, and a few recognitions and awards to show for it.
Ask Questions
Once you’ve established a doctor’s qualifications, it’s time to talk about you. Bring up every single concern you may have – nothing is too minor to discuss. Some common questions brow lift surgery patients have include:
- What are all of my options for treating wrinkles?
- What is my role in the preparation before and care after surgery?
- How long does the procedure last?
- Will it hurt?
- Are there any possible side effects?
- How do you plan to handle complications?
- Should I expect to come back for follow-up surgeries down the line?
These might seem a bit repetitive or in-depth, but they are worth talking through. The more questions you ask before you schedule a forehead lift surgery, the more confident and relaxed you will be going into the procedure.
Set Expectations
Another pre-surgery confidence booster is a clear set of expectations. Remember, your appearance is not like anyone else’s. You can’t expect to look exactly like your best friend who went to the same doctor or to see a transformation like the before and after pictures you’ve been looking at.
As such, make sure you’re getting a reasonable assessment from your doctor. He or she should be able to tell you where exactly they are tightening, sculpting, injecting, or otherwise working on your face. This is a detailed explanation that usually happens while you look in the mirror. Some doctors might even draw on you to show you every point of incision.
Also, confirm the person who is carrying out your forehead lift surgery is the same person who did the consultation. Some doctors have assistants help them throughout the process, which can sometimes cause confusion for patients. All it takes is one simple question to keep such a situation from happening to you.
While you’re on the subject of surgery details, bring up payment options. Double-check when your separate payments or total sum is due.
What Happens During Surgery?
Try to take it easy in the days leading up to your forehead lift surgery. Rest, and make sure you have all the items you need at home or in your hotel room for a comfortable recovery. This should include everything from snacks to comfortable clothing to maybe a few books or movies to pass the time.
On the day of your surgery, show up on time and focus on your only job: to relax. The doctor will first administer an anesthetic to numb the forehead. The number and size of incisions will vary for each person, but will have been pre-determined in your consultation.
Most lift surgeries take a few hours from the moment you walk in the door, get a numbing treatment, and the doctor completes the procedure. Plan to take the rest of your surgery day as slow as you can.
Post-Surgery Recovery
It’s easy for most patients to understand why they should sleep off their surgery on the day of, but it’s important to remember a full recovery may take weeks or a few months.
In the days following your surgery, refrain from strenuous or heavy activity. Sorry fitness junkies – this means a few days out of the gym. For those who work in high-stress or fast-paced environments, you may need to request a few sick days.
Maybe ask a relative or close friend to help you during this time. If you’re flying in for your surgery, consider bringing a travel buddy. If you’re local, make sure your family is aware of your post-surgery plans and needs.
Scheduling Your Skin Transformation
If you’re fed up with the wrinkles on your forehead, stop stressing about aging and do something about the wrinkles you don’t want to see in the mirror anymore. If you aren’t sure about a forehead lift surgery versus non-surgical options, your surgeon can help you figure everything out.
Elizabeth Whitaker, M.D., F.A.C.S., is double board-certified and among the most experienced facial plastic surgeons in Atlanta, having performed thousands of facial cosmetic procedures. She has been recognized as one of America’s Top Plastic Surgeons in a national survey of her peers.
