Brow Lift Discharge Instructions

1. One can remove the original dressing and shower and shampoo the hair in 24 hours post-operatively.
2. Any staples or sutures present will be removed in the office on the first post-op visit.
3. One can expect swelling and bruising for the first few days post-operatively. Ice packs applied to the eyes and forehead will help to diminish this. Elevating the head at a 45 degree angle for the first week is also helpful in minimizing swelling.
4. Avoid strenuous activity for a period of 2-4 weeks following surgery. Do not do any heavy lifting (over 10-15 pounds) or bending during this period of time.
5. Bruising and swelling may occur around the eyes even if no surgery was performed in these areas. These are the more dependent areas and are commonly where fluids accumulate.
6. Someone should stay with you the first 24 hours after surgery.
7. Concealer can be applied to bruised areas but makeup over the incisions should NOT be applied for at least 7-10 days. The wounds need to be well on the way toward healing before this is done.
8. Avoid trauma to the area for next 10-12 weeks. Alter your activities accordingly.
9. Numbness over the forehead and scalp may persist for several weeks. Be careful with blow drier temperatures and curling irons in this area to prevent burns.
10. All pain medications can cause nausea when taken on an empty stomach. Please take every dose with food to avoid this problem. A choice of pain medications has been provided. Please choose one and do not change unless a problem occurs with a particular medication or you wish to step down to a lesser strength narcotic. ALL pain medications cause constipation. Please use laxatives or stool softeners as needed.
11. Driving may be resumed once one’s reaction time, pain control and abilities have returned to baseline. One cannot drive under the influence of narcotic pain relievers. Most can return to this activity within 7-10 days post-operatively.
12. Temperature elevations to 100-101 degrees for the first 2-4 days post-operatively are common. This is due to collapse of the small air passages in the lungs after a general anesthesia. This is best treated with increased walking, deep breathes and forcing a cough.
13. Gauge your activity by how you feel. It is very common to tire easily after what you would normally consider to be minimal activity- pace yourself. Mood swings are common also. Don’t be discouraged – healing takes time.
14. If you develop increased redness, warmth, pain, or fevers over 101 degrees, please call our office and have your pharmacy’s phone number available.

Please call our office if you have any questions or concerns not addressed in this instruction sheet.