A forehead lift, or face lift, is still the number one cosmetic procedure to reverse the signs of facial aging. Visions of Jocylen Wildenstein or Donatella Versace may fill your mind as you consider a face lift, but as medical science has advanced, so have forehead lift techniques.
Face lifts were shelved for a while as new treatment modalities, including injectables, fillers, and Botox™ became available. These were new, fast, less invasive and less expensive! But as the years have gone by, skin care consumers have found that these quick-fix alternatives are no match for the face lift.
Why?
Because injectables and fillers only last for months. Face lifts last for 10 years, and are the only long term treatment for severe facial skin laxity and sagging.
What Can a Facelift Improve?
Face lifting procedures can improve many problems, including but not limited to deep naso-labial folds (creases that extend from the nose to the mouth, otherwise known as laugh lines), midface sagging, deep creases below the eyelids, fallen or displaced fat, jowls, and loose skin and fat under the chin and jawline.
How Does a Forehead Lift Work?
The face lifting surgery usually involves incisions near your ear and in the scalp. The incisions are disguised by natural skin folds, and long hair and beards hide incisions better.
After the incision is made, the skin is undermined, or released from the underlying muscle and fascia and “lifted”. Liposuction, muscle tightening and excess skin removal may occur at the same time, dependent on your needs.
Is a Forehead Lift the Same as a Brow Lift?
Many patients are confused about the terms “forehead lift” and “brow lift.” In fact, they refer to the same procedure: a surgical technique designed to elevate the eyebrows, smooth deep forehead lines, and reduce frown lines between the brows.
This can dramatically rejuvenate the upper third of the face and is often performed in conjunction with a full facelift or eyelid surgery for even more striking results. When you search for “brow lift vs facelift,” remember that a brow lift targets the upper face, while a facelift typically addresses the mid-to-lower facial zones.
Who Do I Consult for a Facelift?
First, to determine if a face lift right for you, consult with a board certified cosmetic surgeon. Shop around, talk with friends who have had forehead lifts, ask to see before and after photos. Experience is key, and even if you have to wait longer and pay more to see an experienced surgeon, it is worth it. You only get one face, so you wanna get it right.
Also, using an experienced surgeon is the best way to avoid the risks, such as scarring, infection, facial nerve injury, and dissatisfaction with the results, to name a few.
During a consultation, a cosmetic surgeon will take a medical history and examine your skin. You will discuss your concerns and expectations, and a good surgeon should lay out a plan that is clear and understandable.
How Do I Prepare for a Forehead Lift?
Quitting smoking, good nutrition, properly taking medication as prescribed are all ways to prepare for your surgery. If you smoke, quitting is very important as smoking lessens blood flow to the skin, and may cause skin death at the incisions. Follow your surgeon’s instructions to the letter.
What Can I Expect During the Procedure?
Generally, you will be anesthetized during the procedure, blissfully unaware of anything during the 2-4 hour procedure.
What Can I Expect During Recovery?
When you awake, your face will be covered with a fluffy protective gauze. During the first 24 hours, face lift patients are bruised and have drainage tubes in place, which are usually removed after 2 days.
Recovery can be 4-6 weeks, however within 2 weeks, the swelling will have gone down enough to have some social engagements. Most patients are fully healed within 7 weeks, however, if you have a major social event, a minimum of 3 months is recommended post-op.