How to address forehead numbness after a browlift?

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... more

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... more

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.

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.

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... more

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

 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... more

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... more

“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... more

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... more