Brow Lift
A brow lift is performed to help reduce age-related creases and wrinkles in the forehead.
read more closeThe majority of brow lift patients are between the ages of 38 and 65. Ideal candidates are healthy people who want to eliminate unwanted wrinkles and deep forehead lines. Other candidates include younger people who suffer from drooping eyebrows and other signs of premature aging. Brow lifts may be used together with other procedures such as fat transfers to create volume, hair transplants to correct receding hairlines, or with blepharoplasty or a full facelift to achieve an enhanced outcome.
Brow lifts may be performed using one of two methods: a conventional incision or an endoscopic method. In the latter, a surgeon makes several tiny incisions in the scalp and uses an endoscopic tool as a visual guide under the skin. A separate instrument is then inserted into the other small incision to lift the skin and to remove excess muscle, fat or skin on the forehead and eyebrows. In order to hold the new position of the brow, temporary screws and sutures are put in place. The sutures or staples are removed by the surgeon within a week, and the screws are taken out one week later. The advantages of an endoscopic method include reduced bruising, a smaller incision, quicker recovery time and minimal scarring.
Side effects of the surgery can include temporary discomfort and/or numbness in the forehead and swelling, both of which can be managed with medication. Complications following a brow lift seldom occur; however, there are risks involved with any surgical procedure. Possible risks include permanent hair loss and scar tissue formation near the incision lines. Though extremely rare, permanent lack of sensation at the incision line is another possible complication. Other minor complications include infection and bleeding.
A forehead lift or brow lift can be performed on an outpatient basis or in a hospital. Patients should discuss anesthesia methods with their surgeon. The procedure typically necessitates only local anesthesia, though general anesthesia may be recommended for certain candidates. The surgery can take from one to two hours, and most patients can return home the same day.