A brighter, fresher appearance—made to order
Sad. Mad. Surprised—the eyebrows can say it all.
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 approach brow lift can correct this effect. Dr. Kaltreider’s precise technique lifts and freshens the brows without producing the surprised appearance that characterizes poor cosmetic surgery. To ensure results you are happy with, you and she agree on the desired brow shape and exact position before surgery.
Dr. Kaltreider’s technique removes tissue, extending the lift’s effect indefinitely and minimizing the risk of scarring and numbness.
During your consultation, she will describe those other methods of brow lifting and explain the risks so you understand why her method is superior. She will also describe how you will be made comfortable during and after your brow lift surgery, Charlottesville office on an outpatient basis.
What to expect. 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 – in women – micropigmentation.