Eyebrow lift Brochure

What is a brow lift?

In some individuals, eyebrows may sag due to aging or hereditary factors. This can make you appear more tired or stern and may cause issues like headaches, fatigue, or a feeling of pressure. A brow lift, performed by a plastic surgeon, lifts the eyebrows to alleviate these concerns.

In short:

• The procedure is outpatient, meaning you won’t be admitted to the clinic.
• If you use blood thinners, please inform us.
• Local anesthesia will be administered.
• The operation takes approximately 45 minutes, with minimal stitching afterward.
• You cannot drive yourself home after the procedure; someone must pick you up.
• Paracetamol can be taken for postoperative pain.
• Follow the advice in this leaflet once you’re back home.
• If you encounter issues after the surgery, contact the Plastic Surgery outpatient clinic at Haaglanden Clinics.

Preparation for the surgery:

Before undergoing the operation, there are a few things to arrange:

• Ensure someone can drive you home as you cannot participate in traffic immediately after the procedure.
• Refrain from consuming alcohol 24 hours before the operation as it thins the blood and may cause complications.
• It is advised not to smoke, as smoking can slow down wound healing.
• If you wear contact lenses, do not wear them on the day of the operation.
• Avoid wearing makeup on the day of the operation, and make sure your face is clean.
• Postoperatively, you need to cool regularly, and we recommend using a cool pack or frozen split peas in a washcloth.

Medication:

If you are taking blood-thinning medications, inform the plastic surgeon during the initial intake interview. You will receive instructions on the use of blood-thinning medications before the procedure. You can also use the homeopathic remedy Arnica (tablets, not the ointment), purchased at the drugstore or pharmacy, to potentially reduce swelling and bruising. Start this two or three days before the procedure. On the day of the operation, you can start using the pain reliever paracetamol. You can take 1000 mg four times a day. Do not use Aspirin or Naproxen; these are blood thinners.

Operation:

The procedure takes place in one of the treatment rooms. You can eat and drink normally beforehand. The brow lift is performed under local anesthesia, meaning only the skin around the eyebrows is numbed. You will be awake during the procedure. A small piece of skin is removed above the eyebrows, and the skin is then reattached to lift the eyebrows. The scars are concealed within the eyebrow hairs. The procedure takes about 45 minutes.

After the operation:

After the operation, you will return home. You will receive an appointment for a follow-up at Haaglanden Clinics, approximately 1 week after the operation. If the wounds are healing well, the stitches will be removed during the follow-up appointment, and you cannot drive yourself, so ensure someone picks you up. The anesthesia wears off after about 2 hours. After the operation, you may experience some postoperative pain. If necessary, you can take paracetamol, up to 4 x 2 tablets of 500 mg per day. The skin around your eyebrows and upper eyelids may be a bit bruised and swollen after the brow lift, but you can still see. After a few weeks to months, the scars are hardly visible. We recommend cooling the scars in the first days after the operation. This can be done with a cool pack or a washcloth containing frozen split peas. This helps prevent swelling and possible postoperative pain. Try to avoid pressure on your head in the first weeks after the operation to prevent fluid buildup and postoperative pain. Do not bend forward. Do not lift heavy things. Do not exercise. Sleep with an extra pillow under your head for a week. You can shower the day after the operation. You can leave the adhesive strip in place; it may get wet. However, you cannot take a bath or visit the sauna. Do not apply makeup or ointments to the wounds after the operation. You can start using them again after the stitches are removed. Sports or other strenuous physical activity puts extra pressure on the wound area. Therefore, we recommend not exercising or exerting yourself heavily for the first 3 weeks after the operation. Sunlight can cause a scar to heal less attractively. In the sun, but also under the sunbed, it is advisable to cover your eyes well for the first year. Use a sunscreen with a protection factor of 30 or higher. It is useful to use a lipstick (such as Labello) with SPF 30 or higher. The final result can be seen after about three months. Do not drink alcohol in the 24 hours after the operation; alcohol thins the blood. We advise against smoking; smoking slows down healing.

Risks and complications:

Complications with this operation are fortunately very rare but not excluded:

• A bleeding may occur at the wound due to the operation.
• A wound infection can occur due to the operation.
• The original complaints may return.

Important:

For all physical complaints or questions, or if you suspect something is wrong, please contact Haaglanden Clinics.

Questions and accessibility:

For questions, you can contact Haaglanden Clinics at telephone number 070-2 21 21 21.