FACE
Brow Lift
No one expects to be immune from the aging process, but sometimes, we show age earlier than we’d like. If your eyes and forehead become droopy and lined, it can be particularly troublesome because this can cause you to look tired, angry, or sad, and that’s not the image you want to convey to others. If you are concerned about your sagging, wrinkled forehead and heavy brows, a brow lift may be a good option for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
A brow lift, also called a forehead lift or eyebrow lift surgery, enables a person to eliminate sagging skin on the forehead. It repositions the underlying forehead muscles and tissues, resulting in a smoother, more youthful contour in the upper portion of the face.
A brow lift raises drooping brows, which can cause a tired, angry, or sad expression to be a permanent fixture of the face. A brow Lift also relaxes the brow and smooths forehead wrinkles. Excess skin is trimmed away, while the remaining skin and tissue is tightened. The procedure may be performed through either traditional techniques or an endoscopic approach that requires smaller incisions.
A brow lift offers many benefits, including:
• Enhanced facial appearance: Frown lines and wrinkles across the forehead may make an individual look older than his or her actual age. A brow lift helps a person eliminate these signs of aging, delivering an improved facial appearance.
• Brighter, more youthful eyes: For many patients, the eyes appear brighter and more naturally alert after a brow lift surgery.
• Increased self-confidence: Brow lift surgery may help a person feel better about his or her facial appearance, leading to increased self-confidence.
A brow lift often helps patients who want to improve the appearance of the forehead and eyes. You may be a candidate for a brow lift if you experience any of the following:
• Drooping brows: With brow lift surgery, the brows are repositioned to a natural, youthful position on the face for a refreshed, alert appearance.
• Furrows between the brows: A brow lift can reduce frown lines (vertical creases between the eyebrows) by pulling the skin taut and smoothing it for a friendlier, happier demeanor.
• Horizontal forehead wrinkles: Excess skin is removed to achieve a smoother texture. This method reduces lines and wrinkles for a more youthful appearance.
To determine if a brow lift is beneficial and safe, it is important to consult with Dr. Hancock or Dr. Nachlas, who will provide you with expert insights into all aspects of brow lift surgery and find out if you qualify for the treatment. If Dr. Hancock or Dr. Nachlas determines that you are a good candidate for a brow lift, they will develop a personalized treatment plan. They can also answer any questions regarding brow lift surgery to help a patient make an informed treatment decision.
A brow lift raises drooping brows, which can cause a tired, angry, or sad expression to be a permanent fixture of the face, and also relaxes the brow and smooths forehead wrinkles. Excess skin is trimmed away, while the remaining skin and tissue is tightened. The procedure may be performed through either traditional techniques or an endoscopic approach that requires smaller incisions.
• Traditional brow lift: Small incisions are made in inconspicuous locations either behind the hairline or directly in front of the hairline. Any excess skin is removed, and the eyebrows are raised to an attractive, natural-looking position. If your forehead is being shortened, an additional incision can be made in the anterior hairline to pull skin downward. Incisions are then closed using removable or absorbable sutures, skin adhesives, or surgical clips.
• Endoscopic brow lift: Tiny, short incisions are made within the hairline, and an endoscope (a thin tube with a camera on the end) or a lighted scope is inserted. Tissue and muscles under the skin are adjusted to reduce furrows, and brows are lifted and repositioned on the forehead. Making incisions in the hairline results in virtually undetectable scars. Incisions are then closed using removable or absorbable sutures and skin adhesives.
To determine if you are a candidate for either a traditional or endoscopic brow lift, schedule a comprehensive cosmetic consultation with Dr. Melyssa Hancock or Dr. Nathan E. Nachlas. During your consultation, they will learn about your desired rejuvenation results, analyze your facial features, and determine what non-surgical and surgical treatment options will help you achieve your facial rejuvenation treatment goals. Dr. Hancock and Dr. Nachlas will develop a personalized treatment plan designed to help you achieve a balanced, natural-looking facial appearance.
Changes in the forehead, eyebrow, and eyelids all contribute to brow drooping and eyelid hooding, and delineating the exact combination is important before making a plan for correction. Some patients may only need correction of one of these features, while others require a combination of procedures, such as an Eyelid surgery with a brow lift.
Although often used in combination, Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is different than a brow lift.
As part of your initial consultation, Dr. Hancock and Dr. Nachlas will explain the differences between brow lift and blepharoplasty treatments. By doing so, you can work together to determine which procedure or combination of procedures will deliver the optimal results.
Dr. Hancock and Dr. Nachlas customize each brow lift surgery with your specific rejuvenation needs in mind in order to help you achieve a balanced and natural-looking facial appearance. As a result, Dr. Hancock and Dr. Nachlas may recommend a combination of procedures in conjunction with a brow lift surgery to ensure that you can achieve the best possible results. Some of these procedures include:
• Facelift: Reverses the visible signs of aging in the face such as jowls and sagging or loose skin
• Neck Lift: Reduces or removes loose or sagging neck skin, excess fat in the lower face or chin, and other visible signs of aging in the neck
• Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty): Eliminates excess skin from the upper eyelids and removes under-eye bags and redundant skin from the lower eyelids
• Submental Liposuction: Eliminates excess fat causing the appearance of a double chin and improves the contours of the chin and jawline
• Botox: Smooths fine lines, wrinkles, and furrows caused by excessive muscle movements
• Dermal Fillers: Enhances the facial appearance without surgery by restoring volume to create a more youthful facial contour
• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Hair Loss Treatment: Stimulates new hair growth and improves the health and strength of existing hair
The aforementioned procedures may be performed on their own or in conjunction with a brow lift surgery. To determine which procedure or combination of procedures can help a you achieve your desired facial rejuvenation goals, schedule a comprehensive cosmetic consultation with Dr. Hancock or Dr. Nachlas.
After a traditional brow lift procedure, you will have an incision hidden within your hairline that is closed with sutures that come out within the first 7-10 days after surgery. After an endoscopic brow lift, you will have small incisions hidden within your hairline that are closed using dissolvable sutures; these sutures dissolve within a few weeks. Regardless of the type of brow lift procedure, your forehead will likely feel tight and sore and you may experience some mild to moderate discomfort, which can typically be managed with prescription or over-the-counter medication. Some patients also experience temporary numbness above the brows. You may experience some swelling and bruising and these side effects will improve within a few days. Keeping the head elevated will help to alleviate the swelling. Most patients find that they are able to return to work and social activities after approximately 7-10 days.
