A forehead lift is a surgical procedure to correct sagging of the forehead skin, eyebrows, and upper eyelids. It can also help people with inherited conditions, such as furrowed lines above the nose or a droopy eyebrow. This procedure minimizes the creases that develop across the forehead or those that occur high on the bridge of the nose, between the eyes, improves what are commonly referred to as frown lines, vertical creases that develop between the eyebrows. It also repositions a low or sagging brow that is hooding the upper eyelid and raises the eyebrows to a more alert and youthful position.
The usual patients who undergo forehead lifts are within the age range of 40-60. Â They choose to have it in order to minimize the visible effects of aging. Â However, anybody from 20 years old and up, especially those who have developed furrows or frown lines due to stress or muscle activity, are also candidates for this procedure. Â Other good candidates are those who inherited conditions like low, heavy brow, or furrowed lines above the nose since this procedure can give them a more alert and refreshed look.
An incision is mostly done across the top of the scalp, beginning above the ears and hidden within the hair. Â Other times, the incision is at the front of the hairline or toward the middle of the scalp in some cases. Â Like most incisions, it is designed to be inconspicuous when healed. Â
Sometimes, a limited endoscopic procedure should be the one done to remove frown lines between your eyebrows or across the top of your nose. Â Alternatively, if you are having upper eyelid surgery performed to remove excess skin, it may also be enough to remove those frown lines. The whole procedure takes around 1 to 2 hours under a local anesthesia with sedatives.
The area is wrapped with a sterile padding and an elastic bandage to prevent bleeding and edema. You will feel numbness and temporary discomfort in the surgical site, which you can control with medication.After the forehead lift surgery, you’ll keep your head raised for 2 – 3 days after surgery to prevent swelling. Bruising and swelling will occur around the eyes and cheeks, but should begin to disappear in a few days or a week.
As nerves re-grow, numbness of the forehead and scalp will be replaced with itching. It may take up to 6 months for these sensations to fully disappear. The bandages will be removed a day or two after surgery. Within 10 -14 days, the stitches or clips will be removed in 2 stages.
Dr. Edwin Paul V. Magallona is a board certified Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon born in Quezon City and raised in the university town of Laguna. He spent his secondary and collegiate years in the University of the Philippines at Los Banos. Since realizing his inclination in the biological sciences, he graduated with a degree of B.S. Biology, major in Cell Biology in 1990.
He then pursued his medical education at the DeLa Salle University College of Medicine and obtained the degree in 1994.
After a year of postgraduate internship at the Makati Medical Center and passing the August 1994 medical board exams, he decided to further train for 5 years in the specialty ofGeneral Surgery at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center. And immediately after completion of training, he decided to further subspecialize with another 3 years in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery under the Consortium I program (consisting of UERMMMC, Makati Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center).
He passed and topped the written examination and later successfully completed the oral examination given by the Philippine Board of Plastic Surgery, the only organization that looks over fellowship and resident training and ultimately officially certified plastic surgeon.