BROW-FOREHEAD LIFT

Brow/forehead lift is a plastic surgery that corrects saggy eyebrows by repositioning the forehead or in other words by raising the skin and the soft tissue of the brows and forehead. Simply put – it lifts the brows. It corrects frown lines between the eyebrows and horizontal creases across the forehead. 

This cosmetic surgery is perfect for patients whose foreheads have changed because of time or gravity and make them appear tired, serious or angry. The skin and soft tissue on the forehead lose elasticity and start to sag. If the sagging is severe it can also contribute to saggy upper eyelids. Other patients choose to have this cosmetic surgery if their brows are asymmetrical. 

This cosmetic surgery is also known as forehead rejuvenation or browplasty. It can be done together with some other surgical procedures like facelift or eyelid lift.

After the procedure, the patient’s eyebrows appear more youthful and refreshed. 

Procedure info at a glance

Will I be awake or asleep during the surgery? Local or general anesthesia can be used, depending on type go lift
Do I stay in hospital after surgery? Might be needed to stay for 1 night
What is the recovery time? When can I return to work/exercise? Swelling and bruising for up to 2 weeks; back to work after 10 day, back to gym after one week
How long will the surgery last? 1-3 hours
How long until the final results of surgery are visible? 6 months after the surgery

WHAT BROW-FOREHEAD LIFT TECHNIQUES ARE THERE?

There are different brow lift techniques that are chosen according to the patient’s desired results. The plastic surgeon chooses the right technique which includes the location of the incisions and the scars which are left after the surgery. 

Endoscopic brow lift

This technique is less invasive because the incisions are small. It requires a short recovery period and leaves minimal scarring. During the surgery, the plastic surgeon makes a couple of small incisions in the patient’s scalp, behind the hairline. Then he inserts a scope or a small tube that is attached to a camera, into one incision to see the muscles and tissue on the screen. At the same time, he inserts another device into a second incision and makes the necessary changes. He lifts the forehead and fastens it with temporary or permanent sutures or with an anchor beneath the scalp. This keeps the forehead tissue firm for a long time and results in a natural-looking brow lift both laterally and vertically. 

Temporal brow lift

This technique is used if the patient needs only a lateral or side lift. In this case, the surgeon makes the incisions at the patient’s temples. This technique can be used to lift saggy eyebrows and side hooding of the upper eyelids. 

Coronal brow lift

This technique is also called the classic lit or open brow lift. The surgeon makes one long incision, across the top of the patient’s head, from ear to ear. If the patient has a high forehead, the surgeon can make an incision that follows the frontal hairline. He then lifts the forehead to a proper position and places the scalp in front of the incision over the scalp that is behind the incision. The scalp that overlaps is removed and the rest of the scalp is sewn. This method is generally not recommended for patients who have high hairlines or very thin hair. 

Hairline brow lift

When using this technique, the surgeon makes an incision between the start of the hairline and the top of the forehead. He removes the necessary amount of skin and tissue from the top of the forehead and not from the scalp. This way the hairline is not pulled back. This technique is usually performed on patients who have high-receding hairlines. The patient’s forehead heals with time, but the scar may be visible along the hairline. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BROW-FOREHEAD LIFT SURGERY?

Brow-forehead lift surgery has numerous advantages.

It can restore the original contour and shape of the eyebrows – the eyebrow arch becomes the same as when the patient was younger. 

After the surgery, the skin on the forehead is tighter. Wrinkles and deep folds are drastically reduced and the patient’s forehead appears younger and refreshed. 

The patient’s eyes become more open and vibrant once the saggy skin on the brows is lifted. 

On the whole, the patient’s facial expression becomes more inviting, less tired and much happier. 

With the proper skincare routine, the patient can enjoy the effects of brow lift surgery for a long time. 

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

  • WHAT DOES BROW-FOREHEAD LIFT SURGERY INVOLVE?

    The first step is a consultation with the plastic surgeon. The surgeon examines the patient’s forehead and upper eyelids. The patient needs to make different facial expressions so the surgeon can see all his/her wrinkles and fine lines. The surgeon reviews the patient’s medical history, including current medications and past medical issues. The patient should inform the doctor if he/she is allergic to any medicines.

    Then the surgeon creates a customized treatment plan that includes the proper technique he will use in the surgery. The surgeon also informs the patient about the outcomes and risks of the surgery.

  • HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE SURGERY?

    There are several preoperative instructions that the patient needs to follow. Some of these instructions include:

    Avoiding blood thinning medications like aspirin or ibuprofen to prevent excessive bleeding.
    Stopping smoking for a few weeks before the procedure because smoking can slow down the healing process.
    Arranging for someone to drive the patient home after the surgery and staying with the patient for the first 24 hours.

  • WHAT HAPPENS ON THE DAY OF THE SURGERY?

    When the patient arrives at the surgical facility, first he/she is prepped for the brow lift surgery. The kind of anesthesia that the patient will be given is predetermined during the consultation with the anesthesiologist. For endoscopic brow lift, the patient usually gets light general anesthesia which is better tolerated and the patient wakes up quickly after the surgery. For other techniques local or general anesthesia is given, all depending on the surgeon's choice.

    When the surgery starts, the surgeon makes an incision in the hair or at the hairline. Then he makes the necessary changes like removing the tissue or skin that causes frown lines or wrinkles. Once the forehead skin is properly lifted, the surgeon closes the incisions with stitches or sutures.

    The surgery can last between 1 and 3 hours.

    The patient can go home soon after surgery unless advised otherwise. Then he/she needs to spend one night at the surgical facility.

  • WHAT DOES THE AFTERCARE INCLUDE?

    The recovery varies depending on the technique used in the surgery.

    Typically, if the patient had an endoscopic brow lift, he/she will experience swelling and bruising on the forehead and eyes for at least 2 weeks.

    If the patient temporal browlift, he/she will have bruising around the temples for 1 week.

    The stitches will be removed after about 1 week. If the patient got sutures, they will be removed after 2 weeks.

    In order to speed up the recovery, the patient should keep his/her head elevated for a couple of days, even during sleeping. This will decrease the swelling. The patient can also put cold packs on the treated area to lessen the swelling. The bandages can be removed after a day or two or when the surgeon confirms.

    The patient might also experience tingling and numbness which resolves with time. This happens because the incisions are healing. The incision lines should fade with time. The patient can conceal the incisions with hair or makeup. The scars will be strategically hidden in the patient’s hair or at the hairline.

    During the first week after the surgery, the patient should avoid strenuous exercise, lifting heavy objects or any other activity that involves moving the head too much.

    Usually, the patient can return to work after 10 days because any residue swelling or bruising can be concealed with makeup. However, it all depends on the speed of recovery - some patients need more time to feel good and continue with their normal daily routine.

  • WHAT POSSIBLE RISKS ARE CONNECTED TO THIS COSMETIC SURGERY?

    All surgeries carry a certain level of risk so a brow lift is no exception. Some possible complications include infection, poor healing of the incisions, scalp itch, bleeding, allergic reactions, and brow numbness.

    Numbness of the brows, forehead or scalp is not unusual if it lasts only temporarily.

    There is also a risk of hair problems. This surgery can raise hairline or cause hair loss at the incision site. The hair loss usually resolves on its own, but if the hair doesn’t grow back, the patient can undergo some other procedures to solve this problem.

    After the surgery, the brows may look asymmetrical. This problem can resolve during the healing period. If it doesn’t, the patient may need another surgery.

  • WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF THE BROWLIFT SURGERY?

    This aesthetic surgery is very effective in improving the appearance of the forehead and the entire face also. It lifts the eyebrows and makes the patient look more awake and younger. The patient’s facial expression becomes friendly, happy and inviting.

    The full results are usually seen after 6 months.

    A brow lift surgery doesn’t prevent the patient from aging and the patient’s skin will start to get saggy again. Also, the surgery can’t permanently resolve the issue of wrinkles. However, if the wrinkles return with time they are never as deep or wide as before the procedure.

    The patient can prolong the effects of surgery and keep youthful expression longer by adopting healthy lifestyle habits. This includes applying a high SPF when exposed to the sun because the sun can damage the skin and make it appear more mature.

    A great benefit of brow lift cosmetic surgery is that it doesn’t change the shape of the patient’s eyes. It just lifts the saggy brows which can contribute to a more awakened look of the eyes.

    However, if the patient has saggy eyelids or puffy under eyes bags, this surgery won’t resolve those issues. These concerns are solved by blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery. The good news is