|
dressings : After brow lift
surgery, expect a light gauze dressing to be placed
over the incisions, usually wrapped around the head
to absorb chin. The dressing may also go under the chin
to keep it in place. Most doctors remove the dressing
the first day after surgery, revealing dried blood and
matted down hair. (Some doctors have rinsed your hear
at the end of surgery before applying bandages). Usually,
a gauze dressing is not put back on unless you are still
oozing. You may want to put an old towel over your bed
pillow to prevent any drops of blood from staining your
sheets.
drains: Many doctors do not
use drains with a browlift. If they do, it is a small
tube connected to a bulb that will collect fluid for
the first night. If you have a drain, it will likely
be removed the day after surgery. Be sure to take your
antibiotics because having a drain increases your risk
of infection.
hygiene : Your doctor will
advise you as to when you can shower. Most request that
you rinse your hair a day or two after surgery to remove
blood and betadine (surgical scrub). The cleaner your
scalp, the less chance of infection. Just be sure not
to rub the incisions, as this may cause bleeding or
disruption of the stitches.
food : After sedation or
general anesthesia, it's advisable to start with clear
liquids and then a soft diet before having a more substantial
meal. Juice, gatorade, soup broth, jello, pudding, applesauce,
and yogurt are all good starter foods. (Yogurt is especially
helpful to balance the natural bacteria in your gut
that will be wiped out from the antibiotics). Crackers,
bread, toast, or rice are good to munch on before taking
your medications to minimize the chance of nausea from
the drugs. (read nutrition section)
activity: The less you do
after surgery, the quicker you will heal. No exercise,
lifting, straining, or bending forward for at least
a week or two. Anything that increases your blood pressure
(like exercise) increases your chance of bleeding and
hematoma. Check with your doctor for specific instructions.
swelling/bruising : Some
patients swell and bruise very little, while others
are just the opposite. It is not uncommon for the eyelids
to swell significantly after a browlift. You may also
develop bruising around the eyes (black eyes or "racoon
eyes") as the blood drains down through the tissue
planes from your forehead. Both swelling and bruising
worsen over the first three days after surgery. To minimize
swelling and bruising, your doctor may advise you to
use cold packs on your head (20 minutes on, 20 minutes
off while awake). Keeping your head and shoulders elevated
or the first 1 to 2 weeks, even while sleeping, will
also significantly help to reduce swelling. It can take
weeks for both swelling and bruising to resolve.
stitches and scarring :Many
surgeons prefer using skin clips or staples in the scalp
instead of sutures because it allows for swelling of
the scalp without cutting off the blood flow, and since
hair will cover the staple marks (if any). Stitches
or skin clips (staples) are removed in about a week,
and stabilization screws, sutures, or other devices
used to hold the forehead up while it heals are removed
2 to 3 weeks after surgery. The tendency to scar is
inherited as well as dependent on the surgeon's technique.
If the incision is in the hair, scarring is usually
not an issue unless significant hair loss makes the
scar more noticeable. Scars in the scalp usually resolve
on their own within a year, but injections of steroid
into the scar can help if the scar is thick and raised.
nerve sensation : About half
of patients report areas of numbness or decreased sensation
in the scalp and forehead after a browlift, and moreso
in patients with a coronal incision. As the nerves recover,
you may experience itching, tingling, and electrical
shock sensations. While your scalp and/or forehead are
numb, be extra careful not to burn yourself with a hair
dryer, curling iron, or even ice packs as you wont be
able to tell when it's starting to burn. Nerve sensation
will usually recover within 6 months to a year, although
the sensation may never return fully.
pain/discomfort : The pain
after a browlift ranges from mild to moderate, and rarely,
severe. For most, the discomfort is described as a feeling
of tightness or pressure, such as in wearing a hat band
too tightly. This can give some patients the feeling
of a headache. Many patients only need Tylenol after
surgery, and some use stronger pain medications for
the first few days to a week. If at any time you have
significant pain, increasing pain, or pain that seems
out of proportion to what you expected, call your doctor.
misc- You may be pretty "out
of it" after your surgery, especially after having
deeper anesthesia so it's important to have someone
to take care of you. Your vision may be blurry from
ointment that was placed during surgery to protect your
eyes during the operation, and your eyelids may be heavy
and tired from swelling. Although you may be sleeping
alot the first few days, some people enjoy books on
tape to help pass the time without straining the eyes.
Antibiotics can wreak havoc with some women's gynecologic
systems. If you develop a yeast infection, don't be
shy about asking your doctor for treatment. If you know
that you're prone to this problem, your doctor can even
prescribe some medication ahead of time for you to have
on hand.
Back To
Browlift Overview
Locate
A Browlift Surgeon
See Before and After
Photos of Browlift Surgery
See What You Would Look
Like With a Browlift
Read Articles About Browlift
Surgery
Shop for Browlift Recovery
Aids
Finance Your Browlift
Surgery
|
