As you approach the possibility of undergoing brow lift surgery, you will undoubtedly begin browsing brow lift before and after photos. This is a great way to get an idea of what you can achieve with this procedure, as well as what the plastic surgeon you are considering is capable of.
But looking at brow lift before and afters may require more pre-knowledge than you’re aware of. That is, there can be a lot hidden in plastic surgery before and after photos, and it’s important to be cognizant of what to look for as this will help improve your likelihood of attaining successful results.
To help guide the way, we’ve created a list of 5 questions to ask yourself as you look at before and after brow lift galleries. This should help you choose the best plastic surgeon and achieve an optimal outcome to your surgery.
Top Questions to Ask Yourself as You Look at Brow Lift Before & After Photos
1. Is it the same person in both images?
While we all hope that this never happens, in rare situations, a duplicitous source may actually use two different people to show a so-called before and after.
For this reason, always use your best gut-instinct judgement. And also, look only at before and after photos on board certified plastic surgeon’s own websites. Random websites may have before and after photos, but you can’t be sure of their source, so it’s best to avoid these.
2. Is the lighting and position setup the same in both photos?
Ideally, you want to see the same lighting, patient position, camera angle, clothing, and photo crop in both the before and after images. This will help you assess both photos on an even playing field so that you can isolate the improvements and distinctly see the differences.
It can be hard to see whether excess skin or frown lines are actually gone when the lighting creates harsh shadows in one image, but not the other for example. When all variables are the same, you should be looking for a clean, natural-looking, youthful appearance in the after photo.
3. At what stage of brow lift recovery were the “after” photos taken?
After a cosmetic procedure, the patient’s “results” will change with time. At first, after a brow lift and upper blepharoplasty, for example, the forehead may have bruising, the upper eyelids may be puffy and swollen, and incision sites may be quite noticeable.
Over the following months, these symptoms will dissipate, but swelling may still be present. Overall, it’s best to see long-term “after” pictures so that you can most accurately assess the outcome. This usually means getting the “after” pictures taken at least six months to a year out from surgery.
4. Am I looking at surgical brow lift or Botox brow lift before and after photos?
Did you know there are different types of brow lift surgery? A Botox brow lift (sometimes called a cat eye brow lift) uses only a Botox injectable to slightly lift the brow line and reduce forehead and between-the-eyebrow lines (“11 lines”). A surgical endoscopic brow lift involves actual incisions and the adjustment of the tissues beneath the forehead so that the skin is positioned slightly higher, which lifts the brow.
If you are looking at cat eye Botox brow lift before and after photos, it’s important that you know this. This is naturally because, if you like what you see and decide to move forward with a surgical lift, in all likelihood you will not be able to replicate those before and after results. Of course, the reverse is true as well.
5. Am I looking at everyday people or celebrities?
The truth is celebrity brow lift before and after photos are not good indicators of what you can achieve with your surgery. This is typically because celebrities are simply not honest about what work they have done.
You may be looking for a more youthful appearance with a simple brow lift, “just like [INSERT CELEBRITY NAME HERE]” when in fact, that celeb had a browlift and upper blepharoplasty, and a fat transfer to their facial features, and Botox, and rhinoplasty, and chin lipo, etc. Naturally, we want you to achieve the results you desire, but it’s also important to be realistic about what various procedures can achieve.
Other Tips for Choosing the Best Plastic Surgeon
In addition to reviewing a plastic surgeon’s before and after galleries, here are some other tips to help you make the best decision possible.
Ensure the surgeon is board certified.
Make sure your plastic surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This ensures they have the proper skills, training, and ongoing education required to keep you safe and achieve optimal results.
Make sure they specialize in the procedure(s) you want.
Throughout a board certified surgeon’s training, he or she will have studied and practiced nearly ever plastic surgery available — from breast and body work to face and hand surgery, burn reconstruction, skincare, and more. Still, at a certain point in their career, they will typically funnel into one or two areas that they excel in.
If you are interested in undergoing facial surgery, you’re going to want to look for a plastic surgeon who specializes in the endoscopic brow lift or forehead lift, lower and upper eyelid blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), face and neck lift surgery, facial fat grafting, Botox, and other facial procedures. If you’re not sure what a surgeon specializes in, look at their career history, browse their before and after galleries, read reviews, or simply ask them.
Check that they are on-staff and have privileges at a local hospital.
Every board certified plastic surgeon should have privileges at a local, reputable hospital. In rare cases, a surgeon may have their own in-office operating room. But this must be accredited and certified, and they should also have privileges at a hospital as well in the event of a major complication.
Read their reviews from past patients.
Finally, check out the surgeon’s reviews — both on their website and on third-party review sites. It’s always good to see many full-star reviews from patients who are both happy with their pre- and post-surgery experiences and their physical results.
Book a consultation appointment to be sure you feel comfortable with them.
Lastly, when you find a plastic surgeon that meets all of your requirements and expectations on paper, book a consultation appointment with them.
It’s equally important that you feel confident and comfortable when talking with your plastic surgeon. They should be open and honest with you and answer all of your questions. Their staff should make you feel welcome and at-home. And you should feel like you are in the best possible hands every time you come in for an appointment.
Call to Request a Consultation With Dr. Mason
At your consultation appointment with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rachel Mason, you will have the opportunity to outline your objectives for surgery, talk about brow lift cost ranges and financing, ask questions, and more. This is a wonderful chance to get to know Dr. Mason and learn about the best options for your procedure.
Call today to set up your consultation appointment with Dr. Mason. We look forward to hearing from you!
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/finding-the-right-plastic-surgeon-for-you