Banish wrinkles and frown lines with forehead lift surgery:
A forehead lift is a type of cosmetic surgery done to get rid of
wrinkles or frown lines on the forehead and to correct drooping
eyebrows or eyelids. This is an increasingly popular surgery - the
American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that the number of
forehead lift surgeries has risen 172% since 1992.
This surgery is done for cosmetic
reasons. As people age, the forehead shows horizontal wrinkles.
Even those as young as 40 sometimes have horizontal frown lines,
possibly from excessive stress over the years. In addition, the
tissues and muscles in the region of the eyes tend to become loose
with age. This causes the eyebrows or eyelids to droop; this condition
is called ptosis. It can cause the person to look perpetually sad,
angry or upset. A forehead lift can often correct these problems.
There are two different types of forehead
lifts - the classic forehead lift and the endoscopic lift.
A classic forehead lift involves making
an incision along the top of the forehead, usually just behind the
hairline. The procedure is done under local anesthesia. The incision
stretches from ear to ear.
The forehead skin is lifted up and
excess tissue is removed. The muscles responsible for frowning may
be loosened. The surgeon may choose to lift the brow and cut the
excess skin away. He then closes the incision with sutures / staples
or may use a special glue to hold the skin in position.
The face is washed thoroughly to reduce
the risk of infection. Most surgeons cover the area with gauze that
is held in place by a bandage.
One of the disadvantages of this type
of forehead lift is that men often cannot hide the scar line. Women
usually can, because of their longer hair.
The other type of forehead lift is
the endoscopic lift. The endoscope allows the surgeon a direct view
of the tissues and muscles beneath the skin. In this type of surgery,
about four or five small incisions are made instead of one long
incision. Each of the smaller incisions is only up to one inch long.
The surgeon inserts the endoscope through one of the small incisions.
The other incisions are used to insert
specialized instruments to remove unwanted tissue and to reshape
the muscles in the area. The surgeon may place small stitches beneath
the skin to reposition or lift the eyebrows. Alternatively, fixation
tacks may be placed behind the hairline to lift the eyebrows.
After the procedure is over, the surgeon
closes the incisions with sutures. The patient's face is washed
to prevent infections. The area is covered with dressing.
The doctor will usually ask the person
considering surgery to provide a list of all drugs and medications
they are taking, including herbal medications. This is to ensure
that he or she is not consuming any substance that might interfere
with the anesthetic. After the surgery, patients are advised have
someone else drive them home. Patients may get tired easily with
even small physical exertion for a few days after the forehead lift.
The patient may experience headaches
for a couple of days following forehead lift surgery. This is less
common in the case of endoscopic surgeries. There may be some pain
around the incision for a few days. The top of the scalp may itch
or feel numb for a few months. However, a forehead lift normally
does not produce any major complications in most patients.
Successful forehead lift surgery will
make the patient look younger. The wrinkles and frown lines usually
become softer and the forehead looks less creased. These improvements
can last for five to ten years after the surgery.
