Neither Dr. Morton, nor any of his written materials describing the procedure, mentioned anything about the "ruts" which permanently disfigured my face, below the hairline on the forehead. Had any mention been made, I'd definitely have decided against the procedure. I'm scarred for life, in a very obvious place. Also, Morton did numerous post-op exams on my eyes and the area around them wearing gloves which had touched contaminated surfaces such as door knobs. And this occurred after I suffered a serious post-op infection in both eyes. I can only imagine what occurred in the operating room when I was anesthetized. I respect medical professionals. I considered medicine before pursuing law. But this doctor doesn't deserve respect. He is arrogant and didn't even acknowledge the problems I've described, other than to be so concerned about the infection that he wanted to hospitalize me.
I'm 56 years old. I needed a bleph very badly, and dr. said I also needed a brow lift. I wanted the best result possible and I do look better. But almost three months post I'm so miserable with the scalp itching. I've used up 10 years of saved vicodin, and I simply can't ice enough to stop it. I think about it every few minutes I am so aware of it. Has anybody out there who itched badly done scalp steroid injections and/or neurontin to blunt the nerves? Did it work? The benefit of the brow lift won't be so great when I'm BALD. Updated on 9 May 2015: The good news: I look mostly okay. Surgery was performed skillfully. I had a high hairline to begin with and my brow lift made it slightly higher, which I don't like. But my eyes look good and I can wear eye make up again, and I'm glad. I have read some real horror stories on this site and I'm so sorry for those who went through all this for a bad result. The bad news: My eyes still feel a little tight, but the side effects of the brow lift are terrible. If I had had any idea I would still feel this bad six months later, I would never have done it. My forehead is still so uncomfortably tight; I have a constant low grade headache from it. The itching across my hairline where the staples were and along the top of my head to the crown is as bad as it was three months ago. If something startles me, or if I even think a bad thought, like "oh crap I forgot to..." I have a stress sensation of pins and needles across my forehead that takes my breath away for the moment. My doctor has given my hydroxozine for the itching, which is strong. I ice as much as I can. I get accupuncture, I get my head rolfed and regular massage, I meditate, I use essential oils on my scalp, and I get only temporary relief. I am now hoping that in maybe a year, the itching and tightness will have lessened. But I am now aware of being depressed because this has gone on so long. I would say that brow lift is a big deal, and my body is not recovering. The bleph was good but the brow lift was a mistake. The only thing I really want in life now is to recover from this trauma eventually. Updated on 29 Nov 2015: After one year, my final verdict is Not Worth It. The bleph was okay, and my eyes look a little better for it. But I have lasting, constant discomfort from the brow lift that in all likelihood will be permanent. My forehead is still way too tight, my temples are still numb, and I have this constant itch from my hairline to the crown of my head. If anything, the itching and hypersensitivity on my scalp is actually getting worse. But, I have read enough doctor comments on this website to know that I have nerve damage, and that there can be recovery for up to two years. And the fact that it itches more and is more hypersensitive means that the nerves are trying to come back. So I am helping it every way I can. Neurontin/gabapentin wipes me out, but I do weekly massage, and occasional rolfing, and accupuncture (to establish new neural pathways, says acupuncturist) and I ice it when I need to and try not to scratch too much. I found a very soft hairbrush (called a wet brush) and I can run that across the top of my head a hundred times without tearing up my scalp. I can have my massage person work on my head for 90 minutes straight, which sounds insane. But I feel like it soothes the forehead muscles and gives the nerves the stimulation they need. When I can't stand it, I take a strong allergy med and ice my head and try to sleep it off. The best it ever feels is at the end of my shower, I turn the water on full cold, and bend over and let the cold water hit the crown of my head and run down the top to my forehead. It is so soothing, and it lasts for a while. I know it sounds terrible and it is, but I'm not letting it ruin my life. I do my gratitude list daily, and I work out regularly and that makes me feel better. Lots of other things in life are very good, so I'm just learning to adapt to this. And just maybe, in another year, the nerves will be a little better, and maybe the forehead skin will loosen. But if I could go back in a time machine, knowing what I know now, I would running screaming the other direction from the surgery center, and I would have spent my money on an awesome vacation. And I will never have another medically unnecessary surgery as long as I live. I am well aware this isn't a happy PS story, but it's an honest one. Maybe it will help somebody else.
As others have said you can expect from 3-4 months. Runners with thin body habitus and low body fat may see shorter effect. Some will see longer as well. You may not know that this is one of the first muscle treated with Botox. As an oculoplastic surgeon and ophthalmologist, I have been using Botox since 1989 when it was tested on blepharospasm, a devastating disease that limits eye opening and normal function. It was in these patients that the cosmetic benefits of Botox was identified. How reassuring though to use a cosmetic treatment that has so many years of use and an unparalleled safety record!
Sedation and pain control is usually given just before the treatment. You should not drive yourself home. You should not need a great deal of pain medicine after the first day. Benadryl will help you sleep and minimize itching in the treated area. This will keep you from rubbing.
