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Pain Following Endoscopic Foreheadplasty Surgery in Women
Julia C Lassegard1, Bruce J Dubin, Peggy Compton2
1UCLA School of Nursing, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Aesthetic Surgery Journal
|December 11, 2021
Summary
Most women experience moderate to severe headache pain after endoscopic foreheadplasty surgery (EFS), often with migraine-like symptoms. This pain can persist for up to a month, impacting functional and emotional well-being.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Pain Management
Background:
- Endoscopic foreheadplasty surgery (EFS) is common, yet postoperative headache pain and symptoms are poorly understood.
- Limited research exists on the characteristics and management of headaches following EFS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the intensity, quality, location, and duration of headache pain in women post-EFS.
- To compare post-EFS symptoms with migraine criteria.
- To assess medication efficacy and functional/emotional outcomes after EFS.
Main Methods:
- Observational, repeated-measures design with 42 women undergoing EFS.
- Prospective recruitment from cosmetic practices in California.
- Telephone interviews using validated questionnaires on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, and 30.
Main Results:
- 93% reported moderate to severe pain on postoperative day 1, with diverse pain qualities.
- Moderate pain was most frequent on postoperative day 3; mild pain predominated on days 3 and 7.
- 79% of symptoms met International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria for migraine; analgesic relief was inconsistent.
Conclusions:
- Post-EFS headache is common, often severe, and may resemble migraine.
- Pain and associated symptoms can persist for up to 30 days.
- Functional and emotional status may not fully recover within the first month post-EFS.
