How Long is Recovery for a Brow Lift and Eyelid Surgery when Done Together?

Recovery varies from technique to technique and patient to patient.

Generally for a lateral browlift at a subcutaneous plane, the recovery to being public averages 4 days.

For an Endotine browlift done at a subperiosteal level, the recovery will be considerably longer.

For our book chapter on browlifts, feel free to read the online version.

My Brow Lift patients typically go back to work at 2 weeks. Most still have some swelling and minor bruising that can be  generally addressed with makeup.  At the one month mark, most patients are looking good enough to attend black tie functions. However, if it is a super special event , I always advise having the Brow Lift done to allow for 2-3 months recovery.  Good luck!

Before and After Brow Lift photos below, with Brow Lift video.

 

Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez

Baltimore , Maryland

Swelling and bruising is expected with this combination procedure.  It is about 2 weeks that this has calmed down enough that other will not notice for the most part.  Now it is generally the case that you will notice swelling for the first 6 to 8 weeks.  Overall it really is a full year before everything has fully healed.  As a practical matter you will feel very well healed after 10 weeks.

After a few days, you will be able to resume light activities. To return to a regular schedule, you will need about a week to two weeks. For an important social occasion, you may want six weeks.

Oh goodness, your surgeon is being incredibly conservative.  I usually advise patients that they will be presentable without glasses with a bit of makeup 6 to 8 days after a blepharoplasty, and with the browlift 8 to 9 days.  Some bruising can be concealed with makeup.

You can expect to return to work, daily activities 1-2 weeks after endoscopic browlift and eyelid surgery. Bruising can take 7-10 days to resolve but can be camouflaged with makeup. All incisions are typically either hidden in the scalp hair or behind the eyelid or in the eyelid crease. In cases where excess skin is removed from the lower eyelid, the incision just below the eyelashes heals well and quickly.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

Generally, you should be able to go out in about 7 days with some make up. This of course, depends on the technique which also varies from surgeon to surgeon. There should be minimal bruising unless you bruise easily. It is the swelling that take longer to resolve but nothing that should prevent you from going out.

The swelling from browlift (even when done in isolation) can last for over a week, but does not limit patients from going out.  Eyelid surgery will produce swelling as well.  Most of the recovery is waiting for the swelling to resolve, so patients can do most of their usual activities within a few days (with sunglasses to hide some of the swelling).

Bruising and swelling following eyelid and brow lift surgery usually take 2 weeks to resolve. However, for your face to look fairly normal and "adjusted" to the new surgery takes 6-8 weeks. Thus i recommend that my patients not plan an important social function or pose fopr photographs until at least 6 weeks after surgery.

Some people recover quicker but you have to plan for the unforseen so be safe and plan 6 weeks. You will however be able to be out and around with make up and or sun glasses after two weeks on average

 I have performed Brow Lifts and Eyelid Surgery for over 20 years and the recovery for both done together is 1-2 weeks before you can put on makeup, go out and look good.  I'm not sure why you were told 6 weeks.  IMHO, you may want to have another consultation as the Endoscopic Brow Lift with any fixation device does not give the reliability that the Coronal Brow Lift can deliver.