An eyebrow lift, also called a forehead lift, is a cosmetic surgery that restores youth to the area around, leaving the patients with a more natural and younger look. This procedure will remove excess sagging skin on your forehead and adjust the underlying muscles and tissues. Although, as we know, our forehead suffers from aging first since it carries our facial expressions during the years, a sagging and furrowed eyebrow could make you look worried or angry all the time.
However, doing an eyebrow lift surgery will adjust your sagging brow and eliminate deep furrows, which will give you a smoother, more youthful contour to the upper one-third of your face.
What is the recovery time for an eyebrow lift recovery?
Your wounds or incisions around your eyebrow may take 10 to 14 days to heal. This is because your surgeon will remove the sutures by then. Most people return to work and other normal activities after 10 to 14 days of surgery. However, you may experience some swelling or bruise around your incision lines. Do not worry; they will be gone after several weeks; you have to expect your healing journey to continue for few months to have a complete recovery after eyelid surgery.
Eyebrow lift recovery week by week
It is essential to know what you should expect during your eyebrow lift recovery; we give a week-by-week recovery guideline.
In the first week following eyebrow lift surgery:
Many patients will experience mild to moderate pain and discomfort in their eyebrows and forehead immediately after the procedure. However, you can manage it by taking prescription pain medication. You may also feel some itching sensations or tightness around the incision sites; this is normal and considered a part of the healing process. Swelling and bruising around your eyes and forehead will also be in their worse cases in the first 3 days of surgery.
In the second week following eyebrow lift surgery:
Most patients will notice a big reduction in pain and discomfort after the first week; however, you may still notice some bruising and swelling around your eyes. Your doctor will likely remove your stitches and staples by this week, too—7 days post-procedure. You can now start taking showers but keep cleaning your incision area and applying antibiotic ointment every day. Your doctor may tell you to wear a tennis headband all the time, except when showering.
In the third week following eyebrow lift surgery:
Most patients can go back to their work or school by now; they can do light daily activities. Swelling and bruising will continue to fade, and the results of the procedure will start to appear. You may feel that your eyebrows are more elevated, but do not worry; they will return to a lower and more natural position during recovery time. You may be able to start wearing makeup again; however, you do not have to clean your incisions, apply antibiotic ointment, neither wearing a headband after this point.
In the fourth week following eyebrow lift surgery:
Patients will now begin to see the final results of their eyebrow lift surgery, especially since most or all of their swelling and bruising will be disappeared by now. At this point, you can resume even the most strenuous physical activity. You will also notice by then that your eyebrows have settled into their final position, exposing the procedure’s outcomes.
Eyebrow lift recovery tips
Results of your eyebrow lift surgery are often visible after a short time of surgery. However, few tips will make you recover faster and will leave you with even better-looking final results. i
- Follow all post-surgery instructions from your surgeon; they could be different from one patient to another.
- Do not ever take any aspirin or anti-inflammatory medicines for at least two weeks before and after surgery since they increase bleeding and delay recovery.
- Use natural or saline eye drops when feeling dry or irritate eyes.
- Sleep with your head elevated during the first few weeks.
- Avoid doing any exhausting work that would raise your blood flow, and get lots of rest during the day.
- Attend all post-op appointments as scheduled by your surgeon.
- Give yourself a decent time to rest after surgery; this will give your body the best energy for your healing.
- You may need someone to help you during the first week, especially when caring for your young children or preparing breakfast.
- Do not wear contacts until your doctor clears you; however, you can wear glasses.
- Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes for at least 2 or 3 weeks before and after the procedure.
- Do not take any medications that your doctor does not clear.
- It is ok to use an ice pack or cold compress to help reduce bruising and swelling.
- Get rest and sleep as much as possible.
- Eat light and healthy foods and drink lots of water.
How painful is the eyebrow lift recovery process?
Patients will typically experience minor pain after an eyebrow lift surgery; however, it is widespread to feel slight discomfort and a tightness sensation around your forehead and eyes. In addition, the patient will notice some swelling and bruising during the first two weeks after surgery.
How to speed up healing after eyebrow lift?
To speed up the healing process after an eyebrow lift surgery, you should rest and sleep with your head elevated, take pain medication and apply antibiotic ointment as recommended by your doctor. Applying cold compresses or an ice pack will help reduce the swelling. You need to rest and sleep as much as possible and eat healthy food for the best results.
References:
https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/face/brow-lift-guide/
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/brow-lift/recovery
