Do you ever look in the mirror and think you look a lot older and more tired than you actually are? Do you ever think you look grumpy or disinterested because your forehead is wrinkled and your eyebrows are sagging? If so, a brow lift at Salas Plastic Surgery in Miami, FL may be right for you. Today, we’re looking at how long the results of this procedure last and much more to help you decide if it is right for you. Let’s get started.
Is a Brow Lift Permanent?
A brow lift, like any other cosmetic procedure, does not provide permanent results. The procedure reverses the signs of aging in the upper face temporarily by tightening the forehead muscles. Nevertheless, the aging process will continue. Your forehead muscles will continue to weaken under the constant force of gravity, and, over time, you will need a follow-up procedure.
How Long Do the Results Last?
How long a brow lift lasts depends on a number of factors, including your age and the health of your skin. Typically, the older you are, the sooner the results of your procedure, also known as a forehead lift, will fade. For example, if you have a fairly healthy lifestyle and you are in your mid-40s, the results of your procedure may last 15 years. If you are a smoker and in your 60s, the results of your procedure may only last 10 or 12 years.
What Can I Do to Keep My Skin Healthy?
There are several things you can do to keep your skin healthy. Some techniques are easier than others, but it all comes down to protecting the health of your collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Let’s explore some of the most effective steps you can take to protect your skin health and extend the longevity of your forehead lift.
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is one of the easiest, most effective things you can do to protect the health of your skin. When it is healthy and hydrated, the vast majority of your skin is made up of water. This water plays a critical role in your skin’s production of collagen and elastin. If you are chronically dehydrated, even with the help of expensive moisturizers, your skin will be dehydrated and your skin’s collagen production capabilities will be severely hamstrung.
Give yourself the best chance at healthy, smooth skin by making your hydration a priority every day. Although it can be hard to stay hydrated in Miami, particularly during the summer, make a point to carry a water bottle with you and refill it regularly. Hydration needs vary based on gender, size, age, and activity level, but aim to drink between three and four quarts of water and tea per day.
Eat Plenty of Lean Protein
Eating plenty of lean protein is another great way to extend the longevity of your procedure results. It is so important to eat plenty of protein because collagen is one of the critical supporting structures of your skin and it is a type of protein. Your skin produces its own collagen if you eat right and eating right becomes even more important as you age. Starting at the age of 25, your skin starts to produce collagen at a reduced rate every year, leading to wrinkles.
Your skin produces even less skin when you don’t get enough protein in your diet. Since collagen is a type of protein, you need to eat adequate amounts of protein for your skin to keep its collagen healthy and produce as much new collagen as possible. While you’re focusing on the nutrition you should get from your diet, strongly consider eating more citrus fruits, too.
Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables
Although getting enough protein from your diet is important for your skin’s collagen production capabilities, it is only a piece of the puzzle. Getting enough vitamin C through fruits and vegetables is also extremely important because your skin needs vitamin C to be able to produce collagen. To ensure you’re getting enough micronutrients that are essential for skin health, make a point to eat at least one fruit and one vegetable per meal.
For example, you may add spinach and kale to your mango papaya breakfast smoothie. You may have a spinach and strawberry salad with black beans and avocados for a filling, refreshing lunch. For dinner, you may have asparagus or broccoli and finish your meal with a refreshing fruit cocktail. With a little meal planning and intention, you’ll find it is easy to fit at least one fruit and one vegetable into every meal. If you need help with your diet, ask a nutritionist.
Schedule an Ultherapy Session
Scheduling an Ultherapy session is another easy way to increase the longevity of your forehead lift results. A forehead lift primarily tightens and lifts sagging muscles. Ultherapy is a non-invasive soundwave-based anti-aging treatment that harnesses the power of ultrasound energy to induce extra collagen production. Remember, collagen is one of the primary support structures of your skin, and wrinkles and sagging skin occur when collagen weakens.
A convenient 30-minute Ultherapy session will result in your skin producing extra collagen for two to three months. Some people even report that their skin improves for up to six months. After that, your skin will remain healthy, tight, and smooth for a couple of years. For the best results, we recommend scheduling regular Ultherapy sessions so your skin never has the chance to sag and wrinkle.
Wear Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen may be the hardest method of maintaining the health of your skin. After all, it is easy to lose track of time when you are napping or reading your favorite book on the beach. However, if you want flawlessly smooth skin, you need to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen every four hours while the sun is out.
If you’re planning a full day on the beach and you’re worried about losing track of time, set an alarm on your phone and bring a portable charger for your phone. The sun’s UVC rays will decimate your skin’s collagen without the regular application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
Although we can’t tell you whether you are a good candidate for this procedure without an initial consultation, we can tell you what we usually look for in potential candidates. To summarize briefly, we look for healthy adults who are concerned about the appearance of their upper face. Let’s explore this in a little more detail.
You Have a Strong Support System at Home
The best candidates for this procedure have a strong support system at home. It is possible to recover from this procedure alone but it is highly advisable that you have someone stay with you for at least the first 24 hours during your recovery period. Although everyone’s recovery experience is unique, we recommend having someone stay home to care for you for at least three days so you can focus on your rest.
You may need help around the house for longer than three days if you have a small child or pet. You can’t lift anything that weighs over 10 pounds for the first six weeks following your procedure, so someone will need to help you with any children or pets you may have. If you have older children in the home, explain to them that your rest is extremely important so they need to leave you be when you are napping.
You Don’t Smoke
If you’re not a smoker, there is a very good chance you will be considered a good candidate for this procedure. Your comfort is ensured during this procedure through the administration of general anesthesia. However, you must be in fairly good health to receive general anesthesia. If you have a heart or lung condition, for example, we cannot recommend you be put under general anesthesia.
Unfortunately, tobacco consumption drastically increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and a number of other health conditions that may preclude you from being considered a good candidate for this procedure. Furthermore, nicotine drastically weakens your existing collagen and slows the collagen production process. Furthermore, nicotine elevates your blood pressure. If you are a smoker, you must stop for several weeks to normalize your blood pressure.
You Don’t Drink Alcohol
Alcohol also elevates your blood pressure and increases your risk for serious medical conditions. If you drink, you must abstain from alcohol consumption for at least two weeks before your procedure to be considered a good candidate. Furthermore, you must not drink for at least two weeks following your procedure because alcohol dehydrates you and flushes essential micronutrients out of your body that are necessary for your skin’s recovery.
You Feel Self-Conscious About Your Upper Face
You may also be a good candidate for this procedure if you feel self-conscious about your upper face. This procedure involves the lifting and tightening of your forehead muscles to erase wrinkles and help you look years younger. If you are concerned about sagging cheeks or jowls but do not feel self-conscious about the appearance of your forehead, this is not the appropriate procedure for you.
Similarly, many people think they would be a good candidate for this procedure because they are concerned about the appearance of their eyes. Although this procedure lifts the eyebrows, making the eyes appear younger and more alert, it may not be enough to enhance the appearance of the eyes fully. Depending on why you feel self-conscious about your eyes, you may need to pair a forehead lift with an upper or lower eyelid lift for your ideal results.
You Can Take Time Off From Work
You must be able to take time off from work to be considered a good candidate for this procedure. If you have an office job, you may only need to take five days off from work. However, you need to be able to take 10 days off from work if you have a physically demanding job. Before you consider this procedure, talk to your supervisor about whether the scope of your job can be altered temporarily. It is important to not lift too much for six weeks post-op.
Learn More About Refreshing Your Face Today
Your eyes are often the first thing about you someone notices. Unfortunately, the first impression you give off may be less-than-positive if you have forehead wrinkles and sagging eyebrows. Come see Dr. Salas at Salas Plastic Surgery in Miami, FL to learn more about how a brow lift can rejuvenate your upper face.
