One of the newest trends in beauty and anti-aging treatment is eyebrow lift. Eyebrows are the first thing you notice when you see someone. If done correctly, they can make a person look stunning.
Thread lifts are less invasive, cheaper, and faster than other traditional facelifts. The procedure improves the appearance of sagging skin or drooping eyebrows and for those experiencing eyebrow movement from aging or over-plucking.
According to experts, a patient can be back on their feet after a thread lift in less than 48 hours. Plastic surgery is done to lift and make the eyebrow area look more youthful.
Now that you’ve had an eyebrow thread lift, how do you feel? You may notice that your skin feels tighter and less droopy, and you should also see skin rejuvenation, an improvement in your skin condition.
So, what else after a brow thread lift? Let’s find out!
Brow Thread Lifting Procedure
Is your eyebrow old, or is it drooping because of age or sinus surgery? Are you finding that it’s starting to grow after a sinus procedure? Do you have under-eye bags or wrinkles? Then the brow thread lifting may be a solution to the problem.
As its name suggests, eyebrow thread lift is a procedure that uses sutures made of thread to lift the eyebrow. The gentle lifting effect lasts for months and enhances the youthful appearance of your eyes.
The process starts with the doctor cleaning the skin and applying an anesthetic cream. Then, the surgeon outlines the desired shape of the brow. Afterward, anesthetizing cream or a topical anesthetic like lidocaine is applied to the skin.
The anesthetic cream will help to soften the skin and numb the pain. The doctor will put cuts or incisions using a small needle through the skin and then thread a thin filament under the skin.
The doctor will pull up on the filament to lift the eyebrow. They may place a stitch across the top of the eyelids to help hold the brow in place after it has been threaded. The threads stimulate natural collagen production and hyaluronic acid in the dermis layer, widen blood vessels, and trigger stimulation of skin cells as they travel down.
The technique also improves lymphatic drainage and removes excess fat deposits so that the entire eyebrow area looks younger. The finished product will be a more natural and curvaceous eyebrow shape.
Back to the expectations of a brow thread lift, what are the recovery times after such a lift?
Recovery after a Brow Thread Lift
After an eyebrow thread lift, most people will experience soreness, swelling, and bruising of the area, which should then subside within a few days. This is because the skin is being pulled tightly from the inside.
You may also be wearing a bandage over the area for 24-48 hours. When you remove the bandage, it is not uncommon for your skin to continue to look red and blotchy. It is due to irritation caused by the surgery. Your surgeon may prescribe antibiotic ointment to soothe the surgery site.
Though you may experience rippling on the brow corner because of the thread attachment, it usually takes about 14 days as the procedure’s recovery time. So, do not fret.
How long does a Brow Thread Lift Last?
It depends on the type of threads used. There are Polydioxanone (PDO) threads, Poly-L Latic Acid (PLLA), and Polycaprolactone (PCL) threads. And they can be a barbed thread or not.
Most often, eyebrow lifts using PDO threads are common. But PDO threads are also used in acne treatment, other skin tightening and skin lifting needs, and to remove facial lines and wrinkles.
PDO threads are made of biocompatible and biodegradable sutures that dissolve in the skin afterward. After about three to six months they’ll dissolve through the hydrolysis process.
However, they still leave a renewing influence on the skin; hence the outcome lasts between one to three years. But it varies with various levels of skin sagginess and the doctor’s level of skill.
PLLA threads are made from the same materials but are more effective and last longer than their predecessors. These biocompatible sutures dissolve after about 12 to 18 months and last for more than two years.
On the other hand, PCL threads are not as common as the other two and last more than three years. Why? Because its chemical bonds are tough and intricate, giving it more time to dissolve, about 2 to 3 years.
Aftercare for Eye Brow Thread Lift
After preparation of the brow lift that may involve chemical peels, microdermabrasion, etc., treatment follows, and aftercare sets in.
Patients should expect several things after a thread lift procedure. In fact, during the consultation, the plastic surgeon gives their achievable outcomes for your brow lift, which comprises the aftercare treatment.
Remember, a non-surgical brow thread lift is minimally invasive, so it’s the safest and less risky, especially when done by a skilled dermatologist. Therefore, a go cosmetic procedure option for many.
Besides, there’s less downtime, and you can embark on your daily routine after the procedure, which should give you the oomph to proceed with this procedure without any hesitations.
So, here we tell you about aftercare for eyebrow threading so that you get the best results from your threading procedure.
- Follow-up appointments: During the follow-up appointments, there are several things you need to remember. Your doctor will give some specific instructions on aftercare. Also, your skin will be more sensitive and fragile during this period, so you need to be extra careful.
- Apply a cold compress: Eyebrow is subjected to tissue trauma during thread lift. This could lead to minor pain and swelling. Apply a cold compress or ice towards the forehead during the initial few days after the procedure.
- Makeup: Do not apply makeup for at most two days after the thread lift. This is to avoid getting infections from the makeup and pressure from the rubbing during applying and removing the makeup. It will also allow the brows to heal.
- Sleep on your back: If you had a PDO thread lift, patients are advised not to sleep on the sides but the back for the initial few weeks.
- Exercising: Don’t do strenuous exercises and activities for about two to three weeks. Light exercises like walking are allowed but do not go weightlifting, running, etc., until you’re healed. Yoga isn’t advised as it may need you to keep your head low below heart level, yet your head needs to be upright. But you can resume after a week.
- Avoid extreme heat: do not go to sauna and places with high temperatures for at least one month.
- Pressure: Limit pressure around the area for 14 to 21 days for good attachment and body healing.
- Laser treatments: Avoid laser treatment for almost two months.
- Soap and water: Don’t use soap and water for at least 24 hours.
- Skincare routine. You may have to avoid your skincare routine at least to allow the brows to heal. Skincare involves rubbing your face, which might make the threads move out of place, leaving you with unwanted outcomes. Well, if you can’t do without it, you can do it just before you undergo your brow thread lift procedure. And make sure not to apply any moisturizers till a week or so when you can embark on your normal skincare routine.
Side Effects
The procedure is a painless and fast way to have a fuller, longer, and more defined eyebrow. The benefits of this procedure are that it lasts up to three to four months, and there are minimal to no side effects.
However, similar to other cosmetic procedures, some side effects do exist. They are:
- Thread lifts can be slightly expensive.
- Patient discontent
- Bruising, soreness, and swelling
- Not often facial nerve damage cases
- Slight pain and discomfort
- Exceptional cases of hematoma
- Allergies from the type of anesthesia used
- Projection, extrusion, and movement of threads.
Conclusion
Researching the benefits of thread lifts was the best thing you could have done. Not only will this prepare you for the upcoming process, but it will also provide you with the much-needed knowledge to maintain the effects of your brow thread lift.
A brow lift is a less invasive procedure, so it’s ideal to follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions for a perfect outcome. Slight redness and bruising go away within a week or so. But, you can avoid this by applying sunscreen before you go out into the sun. Also, you can take ibuprofen for inflammation.
Excessive swelling, bruising, bleeding, and itching are signs of a thread lift gone wrong. If you notice such, quickly contact your specialist to schedule follow-up appointments. Make sure that you keep doing this until all signs are accounted for.
So, don’t stress yourself too much during this process – follow the instructions you are given and remember that staying positive can do wonders when it comes to healing.