A brow lift (a coronal or open brow lift) is an outpatient surgical procedure that takes approximately two hours. Following the surgery, patients may feel bruising and edema.
The surgeon will incision (cut) in the brow, often towards the hairline. During the procedure, the surgeon will remove excess skin and fat and adjust the position of the forehead muscles.
What is a brow lift?
If you suffer from sagging brows and frown lines, a brow lift might be the solution you’re looking for. This surgical procedure tightens the skin of the forehead and removes excess fat to achieve a more youthful and refreshed appearance.
During the brow lift, your surgeon will make an incision (or multiple incisions, depending on your procedure) hidden within your hairline or behind your ears to release and elevate the underlying tissue. This minimally invasive approach results in shorter recovery, less bruising, and improved healing.
Another method is the endoscopic brow lift, which involves small incisions and fiberoptic equipment to release and elevate your brow tissue gently. This is the preferred approach for many patients. It also results in more natural-looking results. The older coronal brow lift technique has mainly been discarded, as it can cause permanent numbness behind the hairline.
After your brow lift procedure, there will be some swelling and tenderness for the first few days, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications. You should sleep with your head elevated and keep the incision area wrapped for a few weeks. Most bruising and swelling will dissipate in a few weeks, revealing a tighter, more youthful-looking forehead.
How is a brow lift performed?
A brow lift can be performed either with the classic technique, which involves an incision across the forehead, or, as is more commonly done today, with a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, which uses 3 to 5 short incisions. Before surgery, patients are evaluated by an ophthalmologist or opthalmologist to avoid issues like ptosis (abnormally low eyebrow) or lagophthalmos (insufficient closure of the eyelid opening).
During the pre-surgery office visit, your surgeon will review your medical history and take photos of the areas to be treated. They will also ask about your expectations and reasons for wanting a brow lift.
Then, before the procedure begins, a standard sterile preparation process is followed, and an anesthetic is administered. Once the anesthesia has taken effect, your surgeon will carefully make the incisions and remove or modify sections of muscle and skin that create deep frown lines or drooping brows.
Sometimes, the lateral brow can be lifted by weakening the muscles that pull it down with neurotoxin injections. For example, by injecting the orbicularis oculi muscles (that create crow’s feet) and the procerus and corrugator muscles that make the 11’s between the eyebrows, the brow can be lifted slightly to soften this area and give the face more youthfulness. This more conservative method can only be used in exceptional cases.
What are the risks of a brow lift?
If you’re considering a brow lift, it’s essential to communicate your desired outcome with your surgeon. This procedure has the potential to make noticeable improvements to your appearance. Some possible risks include anesthesia complications, asymmetry of the brow position, incision marks, hair loss, facial nerve injury, and numbness of the forehead or eyelids.
Usually, this process is performed as an outpatient surgery, so you will not have to stay in the hospital overnight. However, it is essential to bring someone with you who can drive you home after the procedure and stay with you for a day or two in case you experience any discomfort.
The recovery period after a brow lift will vary depending on your surgery type. Most of the time, you will have stitches or staples that must be removed within a week. You may also have some swelling around the eyes and cheeks that will diminish within a few weeks.
Your doctor might suggest a PDO thread treatment for a more minimally invasive brow lift. This procedure is safe and effective for lifting the brow and tightening the skin above the eyes. It also helps remove wrinkles and creases around the eyes and the forehead, and it can help reduce sagging eyebrows that make you look older than you are.
What are the benefits of a brow lift?
A brow lift can eliminate sagging and wrinkles in the upper part of your face, restoring a more youthful appearance. It can also remove or reduce horizontal lines across your forehead and reduce the look of heaviness under your eyes. Most patients can return to work and other activities shortly after the procedure. With modern surgical techniques, a brow lift produces minimal scarring. The surgeon can hide the incisions within your hairline so they are not visible.
Sometimes, the surgeon can perform a brow lift with an endoscopic technique, meaning they make smaller incisions. This allows the surgeon to operate with a greater degree of precision and reduces swelling. It may also be more affordable than a classic brow lift.
Conclusion
Before your surgery, the medical team will review your health history and examine different parts of your face with your eyes open and closed. They will take photos for your records and discuss what you want to accomplish with your brow lift. They will also provide instructions for safe recovery and to help reduce the risk of complications.
Depending on the type of brow lift you choose, you might need to take medications or avoid certain foods and drinks.
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