Brow Lift Recovery Guide

You may resume a regular diet after brow lift surgery. Maintain a healthy diet with a high-protein intake to help with healing and a low-salt intake to help reduce swelling.

Stay hydrated by consuming approximately 8 ounces of water every 2 hours. Limit caffeine intake because the supplied instructions state that it can affect wound healing. Electrolyte-containing fluids such as Gatorade may also be considered.

The supplied instructions suggest considering fresh pineapple and pineapple juice to help reduce swelling and bruising.

Avoid fried or fatty foods for the first 6 weeks after surgery. Avoid alcohol for 1 week before surgery and for at least 2 weeks after surgery. Avoid nicotine or THC of any kind for 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery.

The supplied postoperative pain regimen includes:

• Celebrex 200 mg twice daily for 10 days.
• Tylenol 500 mg every 6 hours for 10 days.

Do not drink alcohol while taking these medications.

The medication instructions state no aspirin or ibuprofen/Advil/Aleve for 7 days. A separate FAQ states that Motrin or aspirin may be taken at 2 weeks, if applicable. This difference should be confirmed before publication.

The supplied instructions include the following additional medications:

• Apply Bactroban ointment to the incisions for 3 days.
• Take cephalexin (Keflex) 500 mg every 8 hours.
• On postoperative day 3, remove the scopolamine patch. Ondansetron 4 mg may then be taken every 6 hours as needed for nausea.
• Take methocarbamol as directed to help reduce tension at the incision.

Anesthesia may cause constipation. The supplied instructions recommend a stool softener or laxative such as Milk of Magnesia or Colace. Colace 100 mg may be taken once daily as needed.

Walk 5 times a day after surgery. The supplied instructions recommend walking to help reduce swelling and the risk of blood clots.

Do not drive if you are visually impaired. The FAQ states that driving may resume at approximately 7-14 days or when you are no longer taking narcotic medication.

Avoid excessive head turning and facial movements. Keep eyebrow movement to a minimum during the first 2 weeks to avoid wrinkling the skin. Avoid aggressive head turning or movement to reduce the risk of bleeding or bruising.

For 6 weeks after surgery, avoid heavy lifting over 10 pounds, straining, bouncing, and exercise. Keep your heart rate under 100 beats per minute. If you need to bend, bend at the knees and keep your head erect.

The FAQ states that return to work may occur at approximately 2 weeks, depending on the type of work.

Plane travel or a long car ride may resume at approximately 10-14 days after surgery, according to the supplied FAQ.

Exercise may resume at approximately 6 weeks after surgery, consistent with the 6-week activity restriction in the supplied instructions.

Keep the head of the bed flat with no pillows. While in bed, sleep flat without pillows so swelling does not pool into the neck. You may prop your knees with pillows.

Do not sleep on your side for at least 6 weeks after surgery. The FAQ also lists side sleeping at 6 weeks.

Do not remove the dressings for 1 week after surgery except for showers.

After the first week, transition to a facial band and wear it for at least 6 weeks.

Lymphatic massages begin during the first week after surgery. The supplied instructions recommend massages 2-5 times per week for 6 weeks.

Sutures or staples are typically removed at 7-10 days after surgery, although they may be left in longer.

You may wash your face on postoperative day 1. Use mild soap without deodorant. Do not rub or scrub the face; allow soapy water to wash over the incisions. Use a fresh white towel and washcloth because dyes may be irritating.

The FAQ states that showering may begin at 24-48 hours. Dressings may be removed for showers during the first week.

Crusting may occur around the sutures and is described as a normal part of healing. Do not try to remove the crust yourself. Allow it to fall off on its own. Daily showering may help minimize crusting.

Mild drainage is expected according to the supplied instructions.

Drains may be removed several days after surgery or may be left in longer, depending on the postoperative plan.

Avoid hair coloring, perms, and other hair treatments for 2 weeks before surgery and 6 weeks after surgery. The FAQ also states that hair coloring may resume at 6 weeks.

Do not use hairspray, hair gels, or leave-in hair products for 3 weeks after surgery.

Avoid curling irons, hot curlers, and blow dryers for 6 weeks to prevent burns to the skin and darkening of the incisions.

Do not tweeze, wax, or bleach facial hair for 6 weeks. The FAQ states that beard shaving may resume at 1 week, if applicable.

Do not wear pullover clothing or hair pieces for 3 weeks after surgery.

Do not apply moisturizers for 2 weeks after surgery.

The surgical-site instructions state that cosmetics may resume after 10-14 days. The FAQ states that makeup may be applied at 10 days using clean brushes, if applicable. This timing should be standardized before publication.

Avoid direct sun exposure. If sun exposure is unavoidable, use sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater that contains zinc oxide. For prolonged sun exposure, or even on cloudy days, wear a brimmed hat and sunscreen for at least 6 months.

Do not wear earrings until 6 weeks after surgery.

Glasses and sunglasses may be worn after the bandages are removed.

Do not wear contact lenses on the day of surgery. If eyelid surgery was performed in combination with the brow lift, avoid contact lenses for 6 weeks.

Apply a cool compress for at least the first 72 hours to reduce swelling. Keep the cool compress on for 15 minutes and off for 15 minutes. Do not place ice directly on the skin.

Avoid swimming in pools, the ocean, lakes, or ponds and avoid bathtubs or whirlpools for 6 weeks after surgery. The FAQ also lists swimming or dipping in a bath at 6 weeks.

The supplied FAQ states that dental work may resume at approximately 3 months after surgery.

Bruising and swelling are expected to resolve in approximately 2-3 weeks. Swelling is expected to reach its maximum at approximately 72 hours after surgery.

Yes. The surgical area may feel firm or tight to the touch and should soften with time. Maximum discomfort is expected during the first few days after surgery.

Lumpiness may occur in the forehead and is expected to resolve within a few weeks after surgery.

The supplied instructions state that numbness should improve after approximately 12-18 months.

Discoloration of the incisions is expected to subside in approximately 2-4 weeks.

Based on the supplied postoperative instructions:

• Day 1: Face washing may begin; use mild soap and avoid rubbing or scrubbing.
• First 72 hours: Use cool compresses in 15-minute on/off intervals; swelling may reach its maximum around 72 hours.
• Day 3: Remove the scopolamine patch; ondansetron may be used every 6 hours as needed for nausea.
• First week: Keep dressings in place except for showers; lymphatic massage begins within the first week.
• 7-10 days: Sutures or staples may be removed, although they may remain longer.
• 10-14 days: Travel by plane or long car ride may resume; cosmetic use may resume in the 10-14 day range; patients may be socially presentable in this period.
• 2 weeks: Return to work may be possible depending on work type; eyebrow movement restrictions apply during the first 2 weeks; moisturizers remain restricted for 2 weeks.
• 3 weeks: Hairspray, gels, leave-in hair products, pullover clothing, and hair pieces remain restricted until this point.
• 6 weeks: Exercise, side sleeping, swimming/soaking, earrings, hair coloring/treatments, hot hair tools, facial hair tweezing/waxing/bleaching, and the facial-band period reach their listed 6-week milestone.
• 2-3 months: The supplied guide states that patients may be able to attend an important event in this period.
• 3 months: Dental work may resume according to the FAQ.
• 4-6 months: The supplied guide describes patients as mostly healed.
• 9-12 months: The supplied guide describes patients as completely healed.

The supplied instructions state that smoking or second-hand smoke exposure can reduce the quality of wound healing and increase the chance of wound infections. Nicotine and THC are restricted for 6 weeks before and after surgery.

If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar daily. The supplied instructions state that poor blood sugar control can lead to delayed wound healing.

The FAQ states that tamoxifen or anastrozole may be resumed at 1 week after surgery, if applicable.

Call Landford Plastic Surgery immediately if you experience:

• Unusual yellowish-green discharge or a foul odor from the incision or drain site.
• Temperature over 101 degrees.
• A dramatic increase in pain that is not relieved by medication.
• Persistent nausea or vomiting for more than 24 hours.
• A change at the surgical site, including swelling or tissue breakdown.
• Problems with surgical drains.
• Continuous bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control.
• Significantly more swelling on one side than the other.

For an emergency such as severe abdominal pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, dizziness or fainting, mental-status changes, or any other acute issue, call 911 and go to the local emergency room. Once you are stable, have the emergency team contact Landford Plastic Surgery.