Sad. Mad. Surprised—the eyebrows can say it all.
When the brows are heavy on the eyelids, a brow lift allows the eyelids to assume a normal position.
As gravity takes its toll, however, a drooping brow (ptosis) can add weight and heaviness to the upper eyelid—sometimes sagging onto the lid itself. Hereditary features such as a natural hooding of the eyelid folds contribute to this effect.
A direct brow lift can correct this effect. Dr. Kaltreider’s precise technique lifts and freshens the brows without producing a surprised appearance. To ensure you are happy with the results, the desired brow shape and exact position are discussed and agreed upon before surgery.
During your consultation, she will describe other methods of brow lifting and explain the risks and benefits of each. She will also describe how you will be made comfortable during and after your brow lift outpatient surgery in her Charlottesville office.
What to expect.
A direct brow lift can be performed in the office if you are healthy – or it can be done in an ambulatory surgery setting if there are health issues or if greater sedation is desired. We offer oral sedation for relaxation in the office setting. Once the local anesthetic is in place, you will not feel pain or discomfort. You may be aware of pressure, gentle movement or tugging. Immediately after the procedure, there is a tight sensation that will resolve over time.
There may be tenderness to touch and a bruised feeling as the local anesthetic wears off. Over-the-counter medications for pain generally work quite well, but a prescription for pain medication may be provided. At the post-operative visit, most patients report either no pain or minimal discomfort.
Cold compresses for two days will speed up the resolution of bruising and swelling. The incision will fade with time, but generally, in the thicker skin of the brow area, the pink of the incision line stays longer than an eyelid incision which is in much thinner skin. In some patients with pink tones in their skin, the incision fades by 2 months – in others, up to 6-12 months. If you are fortunate to have thick eyebrows, the incision may not show. If the eyebrows are sparse and fair, then makeup or bangs may hide the incision lines until they disappear. Other techniques to accelerate or disguise the fading incision include laser therapy or micropigmentation.