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How to Address Forehead Numbness After a Browlift?

asked 3 years ago by jacob Batatt in naples florida
Latest answer by Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Question viewed 1,486 times
Tags: scar, surgery scar

hi, i had an eyebrow lift in argentina , the dr. used an old technique and cut above the eyebrows not endoscopic, now 11 months later the numbness in the forehead and scars that hurt when i lift my eyebrows. thank you jacob

16 answers to How to Address Forehead Numbness After a Browlift?

Pain and Numbness after Surgery

Sorry to hear of your discomfort after a brow lift. The "direct" brow lift, with incision just above the brow hair, is still a valid technique. It is still possible that the numbness will improve. The pain you feel with lifting your brow should be evaluated; there may be some helpful treatments to make the pain less.

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Not much can be done at this point

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if your numbness is permanent. This can still occur even with traditional, open browlifts, but it sounds like your surgeon did not discuss with you the risk of this occurring. Endoscopic browlifts usually are less likely to result in permanent numbness, but it still can occur. If the scars hurt when you elevate your brows, it may be due to some poor scar healing or contracture, which can be treated surgically. I would recommend seeing a Board... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

An Evaluation is Needed

The technique used is sometimes beneficial for men and is known as a "direct browlift". The pain you describe is probably related to sensory nerve re-growth and is generally likely to improve over time. However, in rare circumstances, a granuloma can form on a sensory nerve ending in the healing process and can lead to continued discomfort. There is a possibility that your situation could be improved with scar revision because after 11 months, the scars are reaching maturity... more

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

There is really nothing you can do

The technique you had is still ised for certain circumstances in men especially if they have a receeding hairline. The numbness will either resolve over the next 2-3 years, or it will not. B complex vitamines and amssage may help but basically the nreve recovery takes a long time and will either happen or not and you will be permanently numb. This is one good reason not to go out of the country for plastic surgery just because it is less expensive. I am sure your doctor in Argentina has... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Direct brow lift

It is possible with a direct brow lift to damage the superorbital and supratrochlear nerves (nerves that control sensation) in the eyebrow area. Anytime there is numbness postoperative from a brow lift usually with time it gets better, however it is possible to have permanent numbness in the area of the brows after surgery. It is one of the risks of the procedure.

Chris Thiagarajah, MD
Washington DC Oculoplastic Surgeon

Browlift numbness

It sounds like you had a direct browlift. In this case perhaps the sensory nerves were cut. When an open coronal brow lift is performed, nerves are commmonly cut, but then usually regnerate over a years time. You may not get it back from that positoin.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Numbness after a brow lift

Brow lifts are an extremely popular and effective way to reposition the brow and smooth the forehead. It is possible to have some swelling and numbness in the brow after the surgery. This is usually due to the nerves of the forehead having been stretched. Your sensation should return in several months. At this time it is too early to perform any corrective procedure.

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Numbness May Improve but There Is No Treatment

Numbness after surgical procedures is common. This can take 1-2 years or sometimes longer to resolve. In this case though, without improvement in 11 months, this may represent a permanent problem. Unfortunately there is nothing to be done about the numbness, The pain and scarring is a different issue. There are some procedures or injections which can be done to help these problems. I would consider seeing a facial plastic or plastic surgeon to discuss your options.

D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

How to address forehead numbness after a direct browlift?

The brow lift technique you describe is used in rare cases where either a CORONAL (ear to ear incision over the top of the head) or ENDOSCOPIC (3-4 small incisions in the front of the scalp are used to allow the work to be done underneath) - are for some reason not doable. In your technique the scar is partially hidden by the upper margin of the brow BUT it is so close in depth to the nerves supplying the Forehead that numbness is a common complication. Unfortunately, at 12 months or so... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Possible permanent, but still some hope.

The type of browlift you descirbed usually spares the nerves exiting from the skull and innervation the brow and scalp. Short term anesthesia is common but after 11 months, I would be a bit pessimistic. Sensory nerves, however, might repopulate the area in the future so don't give up.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Numbness likely to be permanent

There is nothing that can be done for numbness above the incision from your coronal forehead lift. Endoscopic techniques or nerve grafting will not help for this problem.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Brow Lift numbness may take a while and could be permanent

The old technique above the eyebrows will cause a lot of numbness in the forehead and scalp area. This approach goes directly through these larger nerves to cause this numbness. To get the feeling back your nerves have to grow over all of the areas and sometimes this doesn't come back fully. So this could be a permanent thing. Nerve grafting could be a possibility but would be a significant procedure and the results are variable. This option is a complicated approach. Time and waiting can... more

Philip Young, MD
Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Massage

The numbness may take another year or so to finally settle. You may get all back or you may not get any more back. The scars should not hurt at this point. I would recommend massage of the wound to desensitize and soften it. Hopefully this will take care of the tenderness. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Not much that one can do

Jacob We usually give temporary numbness about a year before deciding that it is permanent numbness. In your case, it sounds like the numbness is permanent. Have you gone back to your doctor in Argentina? I just wonder whether he/she sees this as a common problem with that type of brow lift and whether he has seen any return of feeling after this long? Unfortunately, numbness and pain at 11 months may not get better. As some of the other doctors point out, going to other countries is... more

Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

You must define "numbness"

“Numbness” and pain, unfortunately, can be a problem with any procedure, but especially with a brow lift where there are so many small nerves in a very compact space. Different techniques can compound the problem, depending on exactly how they are done. To determine what can be done, you have to determine what type of “numbness” you have. If you have an area of totally no sensation, then you may have had one of the supra-orbital nerves cut. If this is the case, that... more

Robert T. Buchanan, MD
Highlands Plastic Surgeon

The dangers of medical tourism

This may be permanent. There is no way to determine this for sure. Surgical exploration could perhaps determine if the nerves were severed. In this event repair could be attempted but would not likely to be successful. Essentially you are describing two different issues. One is pain The other is numbness. To some degree they are related and treatment depends on your goals. To manage the pain, you may want to massage the area, or use topical creams with capsacin (pepper derivative) which... more