As you grow older, you might notice that your forehead begins drooping and becomes furrowed with heavy lines, making you look like you're always tired or angry.
This droopiness can be counteracted with a minor plastic surgery operation called a browlift.
Over time, the muscles in your forehead weaken, loosen and begin drooping over the eyes.
This is the cause for the frown or worry lines you often see on older people.
A brow lift or forehead lift can raise that sagging skin back to its natural position, and relieve the heaviness above your eyes.
The result is a more youthful, perky appearance.
You alone can determine if the procedure is appropriate for you.
It depends on what your doctor thinks after consultation, but there are a few things you should keep in mind.
The operation takes less than two hours, and few people ever stay at a hospital.
The recovery time for the operation is a week to ten days, and during that time you will probably have to stay home from work and refrain from strenuous activity.
Like all surgeries, there is a recovery period, and you will need to follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
There will be swelling and possibly bruising, and your doctor may give you a cold compress.
There may also be itchiness and numbness in the first few days after surgery.
While this may be uncomfortable, it is almost never painful.
There is also a small chance of side effects such as nerve damage or bleeding.
These complications are both very rare, however, and your doctor can answer all of your risk-related questions for you.
For the procedure, your doctor will usually make the incision right behind your hairline, in much the same way a facelift incision is made.
Depending on the shape of your hairline, your doctor might deem it best to make the cut in the middle of your forehead, right at the hairline.
Your doctor will make the cut wherever he or she feels the scar will be least visible.
There are several kinds of incisions, and, during your consultation, you should discuss with your doctor which is best for you.
Once the incision is made, your doctor will simply tighten or remove forehead muscles and skin.
This is the most complicated part of the operation.
There are two methods most doctors employ to accomplish this: the open browlift or the endoscopic browlift.
With the open brow lift, extra skin is teased away from the tissue underneath, muscles are either taken out or tightened, and the eyebrows are raised.
In the endoscopic brow lift, several small cuts are made and a tiny camera, called an endoscope, is inserted.
This way, the doctor can see in detail under the skin without removing it.
Muscles are removed or tightened, and eyebrows are raised and stitched into place.
And remember, as with any surgical procedure, the success or failure of your operation depends on communication with your doctor.
Make sure that you have a doctor you can trust and talk to, and make sure you both understand what is going to be done.
This is the key to a successful surgery! Ask questions and explain thoroughly the results you want to see.
The effect of a forehead lift on a person's eyes is amazing.
You can go from downcast eyebrows, and an angry or tired look, to a more energetic and youthful face.
A brow lift can make you look much more youthful, alive and vigorous.
Talk to your doctor today!