Brow lift, alternative to Botox

NBC
Published: November 21, 2008

People are tightening their belts and plastic surgery is moving off the priority list for many.

But how about a procedure that is an investment to save money in the long run?

Forty-seven year old Susan Gianbalvo started getting Botox injections when she was 39.

“Right here I get it a lot and in the brow,“ said Gianbalvo.

Her main concern is what’s called the eleven wrinkle between her eyes.
Botox eliminates it, but she has to visit her doctor several times a year and the cost adds up.

“The Botox is $600. every three months and to be completely honest, my priorities in life with having a little one are not going to $600 every three months,“ said Gianbalvo.

So she turned to Plastic Surgeon Dr. Zachary Gerut, for a permanent solution, a mini brow lift to remove the muscles that cause the lines.

“You make two little incisions, you get to those muscles, which is very easy, you remove them and put some filler in to replace them, such as some fat, and you’re done,“ said Plastic Surgeon Dr. Zachary Gerut.

Patients can remain awake or asleep for the hour-long procedure and the recovery is fairly quick.

“Most people are functional in a day or two, you may have to wear tinted glasses because you have a little bruising or swelling,“ said Gerut.

There is a small risk of infection and bleeding after the surgery and patients sometimes complain of temporary numbness in the middle of their forehead that can last a few weeks.

“This is a little paradoxical because usually people have Botox to avoid surgery and here’s surgery to avoid Botox but it is effective and it’s a heck of a lot cheaper in the long run. It costs about as much as two years of Botox and you never need it again,“ Gerut said.

Lisa Trachtenberg had the procedure a couple of months ago.

“Everything was the most smooth process, that I couldn’t believe that I didn’t do it earlier. All the money I could have saved,” said Trachtenberg.