Lateral Brow Lift 

How to Prepare for Surgery

You will come in for a pre-surgical appointment 1-2 weeks prior to your surgery date to go over post op instructions and give you a list of medications that will be called in prior to your surgery. All prescriptions are to be taken after surgery. If you have someone that will be taking care of you, it is recommended that they come to this pre-surgical appointment to hear and understand post-op instructions. We will provide one dose of arnica to help prevent bruising, which you can begin taking 8 days prior to your surgery. If you would like to take another dose post-surgery, arnica supplements can be purchased at our office or in common drugstores. We recommend obtaining all necessary items before surgery, that way after surgery you can go straight home and relax. 

What Can I Expect After Surgery?

• Facial swelling and bruising (particularly around the eyes) are normal to experience after a browlift. Generally, swelling starts to minimize within 5-7 days. We recommend sleeping in a reclined position for at least 3-5 days to help minimize swelling. 
• Your forehead, scalp, and other portions of your face will be slightly numb for several weeks or months. Sensation will return as healing progresses. When this happens, you may experience a “pins and needles” or an “itching” sensation. This is a sign that your nerves are recovering and is completely normal. Avoid any exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures to avoid burning your skin. You may not be able to feel it due to decreased sensation.
• You will leave the office on the day of your procedure with a head wrap which can be removed 24 hours after your procedure. You do not need to replace the head wrap after it is removed.
• There will be sutures in the areas where the brow was lifted. Please apply Aquaphor to the incision sites 4-6 times per day. 

Prescriptions After Surgery  

• You will be prescribed medications based on your health history. 
• You will receive pain medication to use for the first 3-5 days after surgery.
• A prescription migraine medication will be prescribed, and is often preferred to the pain medication.
• An antibiotic will be prescribed for you to start taking the day after surgery.
• An oral steroid will be prescribed to help reduce swelling.
• Anti-nausea medication will help limit any nausea you may experience after surgery.

Wound Care for the Surgical Site

• The wound dressing may be removed after 24 hours. You may gently shampoo your hair 48-72 hours after surgery, but please do not get the incisions wet. If the incisions get wet, it can cause them to re-open. Avoid having your hair treated with dyes for 4 weeks after surgery or until you receive clearance from Dr. Sanovich. 
• Apply a thin layer of Aquaphor on the incisions multiple times throughout each day.
• Once the sutures are removed (usually 1-2 weeks after surgery), incision care will be reviewed and recommendations to achieve minimal scarring will be made. 

Skin Care After Surgery

• We will provide a scar cream (Silagen Scar Refinement System) at your one-week follow-up for you to begin using. You will apply this cream twice daily to achieve minimal scarring.
• Protect your facial skin from any sun exposure for months after surgery. Please use sunscreen anytime you are outside. Exposing the healing scars to the sun can cause more prominent scarring.

Activity Level After Surgery 

• Avoid any strenuous physical activity for 1 week. 
• You may return to school or light duty work (non-physical labor) within a week of the surgery, or as tolerated. 
• Although you just had surgery, we recommend you do not stay in bed while awake. The more movement and blood flow, the easier recovery can be.  
• Try to transfer to a chair and walk around the house. You want to be as active as possible, but avoid doing anything too strenuous.
• The swelling will worsen over the first 3-4 days after surgery, which is expected, but it will begin to subside shortly thereafter.

What Happens at the Follow-Up Visits?

• You will have a 1 week follow-up after the procedure to assess your incisions and overall healing progress. Some sutures may be removed at this appointment. 
• We have a Candela Vbeam Prima Perfecta Laser Machine, a pulsed-dye laser (PDL), that will help reduce the appearance of dark red or purple bruising more quickly.
• We take photos at each follow-up appointment to monitor your healing progress.
• You may call or email at any time during your recovery if you have questions or concerns between follow-up appointments.

When Should I Call My Doctor? 

• If you have difficulty breathing 
• If you have difficulty closing your eyes after surgery 
• If you are unable to urinate 
• If you have severe pain that is not improved with medications 
• If you experience a rash, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, severe constipation, or other unexpected reactions 
• If you have an oral temperature over 100.5 degrees. 
• If you have a question or concern that must be addressed prior to the follow-up visit. 

Who Should I Call if I Have Questions? 

Please call our office at (972) 914-3660. You may also email photos or questions to info@dsa.live and someone will get in touch with you within 24-48 hours.