Brow Lift Cosmetic Surgery (cont.)

What You'll Need At Home After Surgery

You should make sure your house is stocked with plenty of gauze and clean towels once you've arrived home after the surgery. Also make sure to have the following on hand:

• Plenty of ice
• Container to use for ice or cold water
• Plastic freezer bags to hold the ice OR you can also keep bags of frozen corn or peas on hand
• Aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol, for instance)
• Pillows (you'll have to keep your head elevated for a period of time)
• Ointment for the incision area (which your surgeon can recommend or prescribe, if necessary)

The Day of Surgery

Typically, you can undergo this procedure at your surgeon's office, in a hospital or outpatient surgery facility. Your surgery should be completed within two hours and you will not need to stay overnight. However, you will need to bring someone along who can drive you home and, if you live alone, stay with you the first night or two.

Your surgeon will use local anesthesia. But, if it makes you more comfortable, you can request an anesthesia that will put you to sleep during the operation (general anesthesia). Once the operation has ended, your surgeon will close the incision areas with stitches or staples. Then he or she will cleanse the area to remove blood, etc. and cover the wound area with a soft, sterilized bandage that will surround your face.

It's very important to follow the instructions on how to care for the bandage and how frequently you should change it.

What To Expect After Surgery

Your recovery is going to vary depending upon which procedure you had: classic or endoscopic.

In either case, you will have stitches or staples in the incisions which will need to be removed in about a week. If you have temporary fixation screws, these will be removed in about two weeks (these fixtures are installed beneath the hairline to hold the elevated brow in place).

You will probably experience swelling and bruising, which can also affect other parts of your face, in including your cheeks and eyes. The swelling should be gone in about a week. For at least two days following surgery, you should keep your head elevated to alleviate the swelling, and you can gently apply ice packs to the affected region.

For those who undergo surgery via the classic method, you will most likely experience more pain during your recovery. Your doctor will also give you a prescription for a painkiller. You may also experience more itching, which can last for a few months.

Those patients who undergo surgery via endoscopic method will also receive a prescription painkiller. Itching can also be a side effect for those who have undergone the endoscopic method, though much more mild than classic.

In either case, you may also experience numbness or tingling. This will subside over time. Those who underwent the classic procedure may experience more numbing.

Most patients can return to work or school within 10 days, some sooner, depending on which procedure you underwent and your own personal rate of recovery.

You should be sure to avoid heavy lifting, vigorous exercise or other activity for the first few weeks after surgery.

Though the side effects are minimal, possible complications can include infection, scars, complications with eyebrow movement or the loss of sensation around the incision site. It's important to remember that these occur rarely.

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