Speed Healing After Your Brow Lift

A brow lift can take years off of your appearance by smoothing wrinkles and reversing eyebrow sagginess. A brow lift, otherwise known as a forehead lift, can subtly freshen your appearance, and depending upon the type of lift you choose, you will either be given general anesthesia or a local anesthetic. Here are some things you can do at home to help hasten your recovery after your procedure. 

Enjoy Citrus Fruit

Including more citrus fruit into your daily meal plans after your procedure may help speed your healing. Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit are rich sources of vitamin C. This essential antioxidant helps promote optimal collagen production, which can help your tissue heal better after surgical procedures. In addition to boosting optimal collagen function, vitamin C is also thought to reduce inflammation and lower the risk for postoperative infections due to its antimicrobial properties.

If you cannot tolerate citrus fruit because of a digestive disorder such as acid reflux, talk to your physician about taking a low-dose vitamin C supplement to help promote effective healing after undergoing your brow lift procedure. While low-dose vitamin C supplements can help promote healing, taking large doses may lead to abdominal pain and severe diarrhea, which can result in dehydration, and in some cases, nutritional deficiencies. 

Don't Smoke

Cigarette smoking can slow down the healing process after cosmetic procedures, and because of this, you should try quitting prior to your brow lift. If you are unable to completely quit smoking, try cutting down. Your physician can recommend treatment options for quitting smoking such as chewing nicotine replacement gum, wearing a nicotine patch, and attending smoking cessation support groups.

Cigarette smoke contains numerous toxins that can negatively affect your capillaries and impair blood flow. This can slow wound healing and heighten your risk for infections of your surgical sites. The smoke from cigarettes can also irritate your eyes, causing burning and itching, which may cause you to rub your eyes and disturb your surgical sites.

If your surgery involved general anesthesia, cigarette smoking after your procedure may raise the risk of breathing problems and lung infections. While these risks are uncommon in patients who have been given local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia, it is still prudent to avoid smoking regardless of which type of anesthesia you had.

If you have any questions regarding the above interventions, talk to your surgeon. He or she will address your concerns and answer any questions you have pertaining to optimal healing after your procedure.