Are you finding that the skin around your face, brows, and eyes seems to be drooping or sagging? Do you notice that your skin doesn’t stretch or keep its shape the way it used to? Is loose skin changing the way you look and making you appear tired, angry, or sad? If so, you may want to consider a brow lift or an eyelid lift. Both of these treatments can give you a younger and more energetic appearance. You can even combine the two procedures when you visit the caring medical experts at Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO.

Why Does Skin Become Looser When We Age?

It’s an unfortunate truth that as we age, our bodies start to produce less and less of the proteins we need in order to help our skin retain its shape. Both collagen and elastin are crucial proteins in maintaining skin strength and elasticity. Without enough of these substances, our skin can become loose or saggy.

When not enough collagen is present in the skin, it starts to droop or sag. Often this is first visible around the eyes or brows, which is why so many people notice these areas first.

Why Do People Get Brow and Eyelid Lifts?

With a brow or eyelid lift, the skin is repositioned just enough to stretch it out and give it a taut appearance once again. Brow lifts are often used to eliminate forehead lines or pronounced frown lines. Meanwhile, eyelid surgery Denver can be used on either the lower or the upper eyelids to reduce baggy, droopy lids and even improve vision.

What Is a Brow Lift?

This type of lift, often also called a “forehead lift,” is one of the most effective ways to change your appearance when the brow starts to droop. Forehead lifts can be done a number of different ways, depending on your needs, but the basic idea is that a doctor makes an incision along or near the hairline and then repositions the skin of the face so that it is tighter.

This causes the entire brow and forehead to be raised or lifted slightly. Forehead lines disappear or are significantly softened by this technique. Frown lines and crow’s feet are also corrected. It is an extremely common brow lift Denver procedure, with millions of people getting it every year. Complications are not common

What Are Eyelid Lifts and Suspensions?

When it comes to eyelids, we do two different sorts of procedures at Murphy Plastic Surgery. The first is technically called blepharoplasty and is often referred to as an “eyelid lift.” This procedure can be done on both lower and upper lids or both. The second procedure is called a canthopexy, or “lower eyelid suspension.” Here, the goal is to raise and tighten the lower eyelids.

Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

An eyelid lift is most frequently used to correct sagging eyelids. This condition is usually caused as a result of aging, when the skin of the eyelids stretches and the surrounding muscles lose some of their strength. Because drooping eyelids can occur on either the lower lids or the upper lids, the procedure is sometimes used on just one set or on both.

Our eyelid lifts are often paired with brow or forehead lifts as these two procedures complement one another. An eyelid lift can be done primarily for cosmetic reasons or because drooping eyelids are affecting self-esteem. It can also serve to correct a situation where a patient has excess skin or bags under the eyes, which can have a negative impact on vision.

Eyelid Suspension (Canthopexy)

A canthopexy is a procedure that specifically targets the lower eyelids and is therefore often referred to as a lower eyelid suspension. Lower eyelids can become damaged by overexposure to the sun, by aging, and sometimes by past eyelid surgery. By raising the lower eyelids, a patient can get rid of some excess skin as well as improve vision and reshape the look of their eyes to a more aesthetically pleasing contour.

The Benefit of Combining Brow and Eyelid Lifts

When both of these procedures are done at the same time, it allows us to plan a comprehensive approach that takes into account the entire look of the face: not just one part of it. In addition, the procedure requires a recovery period that often lasts for a week or two. If both the blepharoplasty and the forehead lift are done together, the patient can complete the recovery period at the same time rather than having to go through two recoveries.

FAQs

Will I Have to Remain in a Hospital Overnight After Surgery?

There are some instances where a brow lift will necessitate supervision and rest enough that it is better to wait before going home. However, in most cases, a patient will be able to return home on the same day as the procedure is performed. They are advised to rest and follow all the particular instructions that the doctor provides.

It will be very important to arrange transportation home, as patients should not drive a car or operate any sort of heavy machinery immediately following the procedure. An anesthetic will be used during the procedure.

Will I Be Awake for Surgery?

The anesthetics used for blepharoplasty or a forehead lift are fairly strong, but they are not typically procedures that require a patient to be unconscious. The patient will typically be awake but sedated. This ensures that the procedure goes smoothly and with no discomfort for the patient.

How Long Is the Recovery Period?

The usual recovery time for these surgeries is roughly two weeks. A patient may need to wear a bandage over the incision area for the first 24 hours or more. Over the next several days, the incisions will heal.

Do I Need to Avoid Anything Before Getting the Procedure?

Typically, we recommend that patients avoid aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers. These cause changes in the bloodstream that can lead to bruising or increased bleeding.

Additionally, if a patient smokes, they will need to stop smoking for days or even weeks before the treatment.

Do I Need to Avoid Anything After Getting the Procedure?

Again, smoking should be avoided during recovery. The reason for this is that smoking restricts the flow of blood in a way that can complicate and slow the healing process, meaning that your recovery period could be longer and the incisions slower to heal.

You will also need to avoid any strenuous activities or any movements or motions that could disturb the sutures that have closed up your incisions. Sleeping with your head elevated is also necessary in order to avoid too much blood flow directly to the head. In short, it’s best to take it easy for a few days and take only the pain medications that have been prescribed by the doctor.

What Can I Expect After the Procedure?

Generally speaking, you will need to rest and recover for two to three weeks, but the bandages can usually be removed after a couple of days. Once the recovery period is over, you will notice a tighter look to your face and a heightened and more youthful brow that sits naturally on your brow line.

If you also got an eyelid lift, you may notice improved vision soon after surgery and a significant improvement in the contour of your eyes. It may take a few days in order to see the results properly, as the treated areas will need to heal.

How Long Will My Results Last?

A brow lift usually shows positive results for three to four years, and sometimes even longer, depending on a patient’s age, skin laxity, and health habits. It should be noted that this treatment does not change the composition of your skin as a whole and cannot stop the aging process, but it will counteract those changes that have recently occurred.

In many cases, a forehead lift corrects the earliest signs of aging. By doing this, it gives the patient several additional years of youthful looks, especially in cases where the brow or eyelids have started to droop at an early age.

What Will the Long-Term Benefits Be?

There are many benefits to both of these procedures, including:

• Improved vision
• Softened lines on the forehead
• Softened “worry” lines or “frown” lines
• Softened crow’s feet
• Reduction of saggy eyebrows
• Removal of excess skin hanging over eyes
• Reduction of bagginess under eyes

In addition, many patients note that the main benefit is not, in fact, the physical aesthetic change. Rather, it is the boost of self-confidence that comes as a result of the procedure. Sagging brows can create a noticeable change in the face that otherwise shows few signs of aging, and it can be an enormous relief to get rid of the self-consciousness that this can cause.

Am I an Ideal Candidate?

If you want to correct your drooping brows and sagging eyelids at the same time, then you may very well be an ideal candidate for this combination of forehead lift and eye lift. The ability to do both treatments at once can produce astounding results and does not require a long wait as some slower treatments do.

How Can I Get Started?

Simply get in touch with our office and we will set up an in-person consultation. This in-person consultation (where you can meet our staff) will help determine if these procedures are right for you. Our facility has served the Denver, CO area for years, and our experienced personnel will guide you every step of the way.

What Happens in a Personal Consultation?

We will go over your medical history as well as medications and any conditions you may have. It is important that we learn all significant information about your medical history during this time so that we can make the right determination for both your aesthetic goals and your overall health.

We will make sure that we cover such topics as your outlook and feelings on the procedure as well. During this time, you are also encouraged to ask any questions you have about the process or recovery time. We will provide as much detail as you like so that you have accurate and informed expectations about the process and results.

Contact Us for Your Personal Consultation Today!

If you’re ready to get rid of those drooping brows and sagging eyelids once and for all, then why wait any longer? The change you’ve been waiting for is just a phone call or an email away. Our experienced staff can help perform a brow lift, eyelid lift, or both, and help make you feel great again in your own skin. Contact the medical experts at Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO, today!