Brow Lift Surgery Lexington KY

We probably all remember that time in life when we first looked in the mirror and started to see those unsightly horizontal lines forming across our forehead. This is one of the first signs of aging, and it can be alarming and a little stressful! A heavy brow can cause the eyebrows to sink, making you appear weary, moody, or distressed. A brow lift procedure can have a dramatic effect on the appearance of your brow and help to open up your eyes and lift your whole expression almost overnight.

A brow lift or forehead lift can help elevate and smooth the forehead in a person who genetically has a heavy brow or has begun to experience the effects of aging. If you are a patient who has been pleased with the result BOTOX® injections have given you, then a brow lift may be for you.

The goal of plastic surgery is to make you feel more confident in your own skin—and therefore in the world as well. If you think you could be happier with your appearance, please call our office today. Dr. Gerstle will be pleased to listen to your concerns and fill you in on all the options we have to help you feel great!

To find out more about getting a brow lift in Lexington KY at Lexington Plastic Surgery Center, PLLC, request a consultation or call our office at (859) 279-2111.

Brow Lift Surgery Safety

Dr. Gerstle considers the brow lift to be a very safe surgical procedure. Extremely rare side effects include permanent scarring, infection, nerve damage, or skin discoloration from excess bruising. Even more rare effects could include an elevated hairline, vision changes, or nerve damage. These problems are usually caused by an inexperienced surgeon or one using outdated techniques. Be assured that we take all precautions to minimize these risks.

It is important to stop or at least put a pause on smoking both before and after the procedure, which will aid in healing, and to stop meds that cause bleeding pre-op. Dr. Gerstle will give you instructions that you should follow to the letter.

The Brow Lift Procedure

Depending on your situation, Dr. Gerstle will either insert a small endoscope through discretely placed incisions or will perform a full incision which is hidden in the scalp to access the areas of concern. There are several different types of procedure that can be chosen depending on your particular facial structure and the amount of work needed to address your cosmetic goals. Once he has made the appropriate incisions, the brow will be smoothed and lifted, and then the skin replaced over the new, improved alignment. The procedure usually takes two hours and can be performed under sedation or general anesthesia.

Brow Lift Surgery Post Op

Patients generally can go home after spending a few hours in the recovery area and will then follow up with Dr. Gerstle in the office the next day. Regardless of your follow up schedule, Dr. Gerstle is always available by cell phone or email for any questions or concerns.

Once you’ve been given the OK to head home by Dr. Gerstle and his team, you will want to plan to take it easy. Walking or doing light activity around the house is permitted, but keep in mind that your head will be bandaged and you may have a tube placed to drain any fluid that may ooze from the incision sites. You will want to keep your head elevated for at least one or two nights. Dr. Gerstle will give you clear instructions on what medications to take for pain. You will be able to take a shower after a few days, as long as you take care not to wet or damage the incisions. Be aware of your incisions and keep facial movement or straining to a minimum so that they have a chance to heal. Itching and numbness will gradually subside.

Dr. Gerstle recommends limiting activities for the two weeks, but you may resume light exercise in about three weeks and strenuous exercise in about four weeks or more. You may return to driving after a week or two, provided that your vision is not impaired and your pain meds allow.

Swelling and bruising will gradually decrease and should be mostly cleared after about 10 days or so. You may wish to use makeup to hide any lingering bruising. It is normal to experience some bruising that might last for a few weeks.

Brow Lift vs. Eyelid Lift vs. Botox

Dr. Gerstle will be happy to discuss the various procedures available that can restore a youthful look to the eye and forehead area. Generally speaking, a brow lift improves the forehead and the area above the eyebrows. An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, addresses the area around the eyes from the cheekbone to the brow bone. There is some overlap in terms of correcting hooded, sagging skin around the upper eyelid; both procedures may improve this condition. Botox is a more cost-effective option that can smooth out wrinkling in the forehead area but cannot correct the sagging to the facial structure that comes with age.