Brow and Forehead Lift
What is a Brow and Forehead Lift?
A brow and forehead lift is a surgical procedure that raises your brows to the ideal position to achieve rejuvenation of the upper third of your face and improve overall facial harmony. A brow lift increases the vertical distance between your eyes and brows and creates a more approachable, feminine, and alert appearance. There are several brow lift methods available for your plastic surgeon to perform.
Your aesthetic goals and existing anatomy will guide the creation of a customized surgical plan. The different brow lift methods include releasing, redraping, and resuspension of the soft tissue of the forehead, resection of muscles that furrow the brow, and repositioning the brow.
Am I a good candidate for a Brow and Forehead Lift?
- If you have prominent forehead wrinkles along with excess skin and brow ptosis without eyelid ptosis, or have eyelid ptosis solely due to brow ptosis, others may mistakenly perceive you as angry and/or concerned. This can be corrected with a brow lift to achieve adequate rejuvenation in this area.
- If you have eyelid ptosis due to a combination of brow ptosis and excess upper eyelid skin, you may be perceived as tired and angry. These issues can be corrected with a brow lift along with upper blepharoplasty .
- If you are young but are unsatisfied with downward displaced brows and desire a softer and more feminine appearance, you may benefit from a brow lift.
- If you are interested in Asian double eyelid surgery, you may also require a brow lift prior to, or at the same time as your double eyelid procedure.
The Procedure
Endoscopic Brow and Forehead Lift
This technique creates the most dramatic results of the three listed here and is best suited for patients with moderate to severe brow ptosis. Small incisions are created behind your hairline and these are used as access points for your plastic surgeon to operate. A tiny camera within a thin metal tube is inserted to allow visualization and obviates the need for large incisions which were the norm prior to this technology. Long thin instruments are used to release attachments contributing to the undesirable contour of the brow and forehead. Muscles responsible for furrowing the brows are resected—you will never need botox in between your eyebrows, (the glabellar region) ever again. The soft tissue of your forehead is redraped and resuspended, achieving optimal eyebrow positioning. Because all incisions are made behind the hairline, there are no visible scars.
External Brow Lift
This technique is best suited for mild to moderate cases of brow ptosis. An 8mm linear incision is made immediately above each brow. The entire operation is performed through these two incision sites. Your surgeon can also extend the operation upward into the forehead if necessary. Then, just like the endoscopic technique, attachments are released, muscles resected, soft tissue is redraped and then resuspended. Typically, the resulting scar heals inconspicuously.
Internal Brow Lift
This technique is best suited for patients with mild to moderate brow ptosis along with eyelid ptosis. The main advantage of this approach is minimal scarring. The only incision for this method is along the patient’s new eyelid crease, the blepharoplasty incision site. Your surgeon will create an eyelid crease through the blepharoplasty procedure. This incision will serve as the access point for your surgeon to work upward and pass a suture underneath the skin of the arch of your brow. This suture will secure the newly positioned lifted brow. Then, just like the endoscopic and external techniques, attachments are released, muscles resected, soft tissue is redraped and then resuspended.
Classic Brow and Forehead Lift
In the classic forehead lift, the surgeon will make an incision that is similar to a headphone-like pattern. This incision is called a coronal incision and starts at about ear level and continues across the top of the forehead to the other ear. The surgeon then carefully lifts the skin of the forehead removing any excess tissue and fat and, if necessary, realigns the muscles. During the procedure, the eyebrows may also be repositioned at a higher level, and any excess skin is trimmed.
Recovery
- Most patients experience minimal pain after surgery.
- Discomfort and a tightening sensation in the forehead are typical. These sensations usually subside within 2 weeks.
- Swelling is worst on the third day after surgery, but this subsides substantially at about 2 weeks.
- Bruising usually resolves at about 2 weeks.
- You may return to work (desk job) after 1 week.
- You may drive 1-2 weeks after surgery.
- You may gradually resume physical activity 2-4 weeks after surgery.
Possible Risks with a Brow and Forehead Lift
- Although rare, the formation of a scar may occur. It can be treated surgically by removing the wide scar tissue, allowing a new, thinner scar to appear.
- Also uncommon is injury to the nerves that control movement of the eyebrows. This can cause the loss of ability to raise the eyebrows or wrinkle the forehead. Surgery may be necessary to correct this problem.
- The loss of sensation around the incision is especially common with the classic forehead lift. Although it is usually temporary, it can be permanent.
- During the endoscopic forehead lift, there is a slight chance of complications arising causing the surgeon to switch techniques and proceed with the classic forehead lift. This can result in a more extensive scar and a longer recovery period.