What Should a Brow Lift Patient Expect

Outpatient Basis. Brow lifts are usually performed on an outpatient basis. This means you will go home after surgery.

Anesthesia. Most forehead lifts are performed under local anesthesia, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You'll be awake but relaxed, and although you may feel some tugging and mild discomfort, your forehead will be insensitive to pain.

Some surgeons prefer to use general anesthesia, in which case you'll sleep through the entire operation.

Location of Surgery. Brow lift surgery can be performed in either an office-based surgical center or a hospital, depending on the patient’s needs.

Length of Surgery. Forehead lifts normally take one to two hours, depending on the complexity of your individual procedure.

After the surgery. Patients should arrange for someone to drive them home after their brow lift procedure. It is often a good idea for patients to arrange for someone to stay with them during the first day or two after their brow lift surgery.

Classic brow lift patients may experience some numbness and temporary discomfort around the incision, which can be controlled with prescription medication. Patients who are prone to headaches may be treated with an additional longer-acting local anesthesia during surgery as a preventive measure.

You may be told to keep your head elevated for two to three days following surgery to keep the swelling down. Swelling may also affect the cheeks and eyes—however, this should begin to disappear in a week or so.

As the nerves heal, numbness on the top of your scalp may be replaced by itching. These sensations may take as long as six months to fully disappear. If bandages were used, they will be removed a day or two after surgery. Most stitches or clips will be removed within two weeks, sometimes in two stages.

Some of your hair around the incision may fall out and may temporarily be a bit thinner. Normal growth will usually resume within a few weeks or months. Permanent hair loss is rare.

Endoscopic Brow Lift patients may experience some numbness, incision discomfort and mild swelling.

Incision site pain is usually minimal, but can be controlled with medication, if necessary. Endoscopic forehead lift patients usually experience less of the itching sensation felt by patients who have had the classic forehead lift.

The stitches or staples used to close the incisions are usually removed within a week and the temporary fixation screws within two weeks.