Forehead Lift Post-Operative

Instructions

• Have someone drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Plan on taking it easy for at least the first week.
• Follow balanced diet.
• Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to your diet, and be sure to increase fluid intake.
• Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin.
• Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medications.
• Even when not taking pain medications, no alcohol for 3 weeks as it causes fluid retention.
• If you are taking vitamins with iron, resume these as tolerated.
• Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risk of complications.

Activities

• Start walking as soon as possible, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
• Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics).
• Back to work or school in 7-10 days, usually sooner for endoscopic patients.
• Limit vigorous physical activity for several weeks; i.e., heavy housework, sex, bending or any activity that increases your blood pressure.
• Full social activities can usually be resumed in 2 weeks.

Incision Care

• You may shower 48 hours after removal of the drainage tubes.
• Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months.
• Limit exposure to heat or sun for several months.
• Always use a strong sunblock, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater).
• Keep steri-strips on; replace if they come off.
• Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection.
• Shower and shampoo in 2 days or as soon as bandage is removed.
• When using hair dryer, never set temperature on "hot", as you may not have feeling in operated area.
• Hair bleach or permanent can be applied after complete healing, usually 3-4 weeks.
• Facial makeup can be applied to cover up bruising 3 days after surgery, but not on the incisions.

Classic Lift:

• Keep your head elevated for 2-3 days after surgery to help keep the swelling down.

What To Expect

• May feel tired and let down at first.
• Temporary discomfort, tightness of skin, swelling, bruising, numbness and headaches.
• Full recovery from bruising in 2-3 weeks.

Classic Lift:

• Swelling may affect cheeks and eyes for a week or so.
• As nerves heal, itching may replace numbness on top of scalp -- May last up to 6 months.
• Possible hair loss.

Endoscopic Lift:

• Minimal postoperative pain.
• As nerves heal, itching may replace numbness on top of scalp, but there is less of an itching sensation with the endoscopic forehead lift.

Appearance

• Younger, more rested look.
• Final results realized in approximately 6 months.
• Visible signs of surgery should fade completely in approximately 3 weeks.

Classic Lift:

• Normal growth of hair around incision usually resumes in a few weeks or months.

Follow-Up Care

Classic Lift:

• Most stitches or clips are removed within 14 days, sometimes in 2 stages.
• If bandages were used, they will be removed in 1-2 days.

Endoscopic Lift:

• Stitches or staples used to close the incisions are usually removed within a week.
• Temporary fixation screws are usually removed within 2 weeks.

When To Call

• If you have increased swelling or bruising.
• If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
• If you have increased redness along the incision.
• If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
• If you have any side effects to medications; such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting.
• If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees.
• If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
• If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure.
• If you have loss of feeling or motion.

For medical questions, please call:

(734) 998-6022, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

After hours and on weekends, call Hospital Paging at (734) 936-6267 and ask for the Plastic Surgeon on call.