What is a facelift?
A forehead facelift is more commonly known as a brow lift or forehead lift. This procedure can erase the signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead, sagging eyebrows, and side eyelid wrinkles. It is usually combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as upper blepharoplasty and facial fat transfer.
The forehead facelift procedure is designed to reduce the signs of facial aging by rejuvenating the upper face. This area extends from the top of the forehead to the sides of the eyes. A refreshed and younger-looking face is characterized by a smooth forehead with raised eyebrows and eyes that appear more open. As part of the natural aging process, deeper wrinkles and prominent skin folds begin to develop on the forehead. The level of the eyebrows may begin to droop with a droopy appearance that partially obscures the eyes. People, despite feeling full of energy, may look tired, which can lead to a loss of self-confidence.
As we age, the elasticity of the skin begins to decrease and this causes loose skin. Loose skin makes us look much older than we really are. Many people may look tired even though they feel happy and energized. The most common features of facial aging affecting the forehead and eyebrows include:
- Droopy eyebrows
- Angry wrinkles
- Deep lines and wrinkles on the forehead
- Crow's feet wrinkles on the outer part of the eye
- Loss of volume in the temples
An upper facelift (frontal facelift) can be a transformative procedure with powerful anti-aging effects. People can regain their youthful and vibrant appearance for a significant boost in self-confidence.
A traditional facelift can be ideal for people who have significant signs of facial aging affecting several different areas of the face, such as the jawline, cheeks, midface, and neck. An upper facelift is more suitable for people who have signs of aging only in the upper part of the face.
The facelift procedure
The upper face lift procedure is performed under general anesthesia. A local anaesthetic is placed in the forehead area. An incision is made that extends across the top of the head from ear to ear within the hairline. This ensures that the incision is well concealed after surgery. The skin of the forehead is delicately separated from the underlying soft tissue. The position of the forehead will be slightly raised and secured with sutures. Excess forehead skin is carefully removed before suturing. The incision should heal well, as the scalp is a well-circulated area.
Recovering from a facelift
The recovery period after surgery usually goes smoothly and without complications as long as you follow the post-operative instructions. The time required for recovery is determined by the age and general health of the patient and the surgical correction required.
A compression bandage is applied around the head to minimize swelling and bruising, which will be removed approximately one week after surgery. Your surgeon may place drainage tubes during the procedure, which are most often removed the day after surgery. We would recommend approximately one week off from work as the wounds may take between 10 and 14 days to heal. All non-healing sutures are most commonly removed one week after an upper facelift.
It is important to keep the head in an elevated position when lying down to minimize postoperative edema. Intense physical activity should be avoided for the first four weeks after surgery. Most patients find that they can go out in public approximately two weeks after surgery. The healing process takes several weeks and you begin to see the results of the surgery once the swelling begins to go down. Full recovery with final results can take 3 to 4 months.
