POSTED UNDER Eyelid Surgery REVIEWS
Bleph and a Brow Lift - Dreadful Itching That is Driving Me Crazy - San Diego, CA
ORIGINAL POST
I'm 56 years old. I needed a bleph very badly,...
burphFebruary 13, 2015
$7,500
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.
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UPDATED FROM burph
6 months post
Six months post bleph and brow lift
burphMay 10, 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.
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.
Replies (4)
May 11, 2015
So sorry you are still having itching from the brow lift. I've heard others say they had itching also. What kind of a brow lift did you have? I am interested in a brow lift but am very scared to have this itching.
I hope you start feeling better soon.
May 12, 2015
I had an endoscopic forehead lift by a very competent PS who is also an opthamologist - I believe it's called occuloplastic. Thank you for the kind wishes. I think the itching is more common than doctors let on. It's an itch that you can not get to, and if you try, you'll thin your hair by causing damage with your fingers. I was numb for the first two months, then when the feeling came back, the itching exploded. My head is now hypersensitive; it's really weird. Just don't go in expecting it to be easy, because it isn't. Good luck.
May 11, 2015
Difficult to offer advice without knowing exactly what was done, but it's likely that complete transection of sensory nerves at the site of your browlift incision along with tension across the area is at least partly related. A trial of local anesthesia beneath the scar, localization to diagnose neuroma, Neurontin, iontophoresis of corticosteroids, DMSO, ultrasound, and other modalities may be worth a try to allay what sounds like constant misery. Even without these attempts to treat, discomfort will likely improve with the passage of time.
UPDATED FROM burph
1 year post
One Year Post bleph and brow lift - Not Worth It
burphNovember 29, 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.
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.
Replies (4)
December 1, 2015
I am so sorry! I know on a lesser scale how you must feel. I had botox in my forehead several years ago that knocked me for a loop. I had constant migraines and anything that caused my heart rate to go up gave me blinding moments of pain. I spent two months with head aches and the feeling an elephant was sitting on my forehead. I was lucky and time disapated the pain. I sincerely hope the same will happen for you. I don't think anyone knows how you feel right now but you. I am pulling for you!
December 3, 2015
I haven't had a brow lift but my husband had an endoscopic brow lift four years ago. He still has some itching but not as bad as it was. Things that trigger it are spicy foods as well as tomatoes and ketchup. Stress can trigger it also. The good news is it has gotten so much better and I bet yours will too as time passes. So sorry for your discomfort and I hope the nerves continue to heal. Best wishes.
December 8, 2015
Thank you Laura. You are right about the triggers, it's very strange. I'm so glad to hear though that your husband has had continued improvement. There is hope!
Replies (4)
Itching is the worst! So sorry you are experiencing this! I have scalp itching unrelated to a brow lift (haven't had one). The ONLY thing that keeps me from going insane in topical steriods for the scalp. Ask your surgeon or a dermatologist about that option. I hope it subsides soon!