Who is a candidate for a brow lift?
Women and men who are in good health and are concerned about signs of aging in the upper face may be good candidates for a brow lift. Constant contraction of the forehead muscles, along with gravity, cause the brow to fall with age. The result is a sad or angry look to the eyes along with wrinkles and folds in the forehead area. A brow lift can correct many of these issues.
What results can I expect from a brow lift?
Following a brow lift, you will look more rested and have a happier appearance of the upper face. The wrinkles in the region of the forehead will look less noticeable. By carefully planning the amount of lifting, a brow lift can produce a very natural result, avoiding that unwanted “surprised” look.
What is involved in brow lift surgery?
There are a variety of ways of elevating the brows to correct the effects of aging in the forehead area. The particular surgical technique performed will depend on many factors such as the position of your eyebrows, the amount of excess upper eyelid skin and the height of your hairline.
The Classic Forehead Lift
An incision is made across the top of the scalp, beginning above the ears and hidden within the hair. The incision is designed to be inconspicuous when healed. The muscles that cause wrinkling and frown lines are modified, excess skin is removed and the eyebrows are lifted to a more pleasing level.
The Endoscopic Forehead Lift
This procedure is performed using four or five short scalp incisions, each less than 3 cm in length. An endoscope, which is a long, thin camera device connected to a television monitor, is inserted through one of the incisions. Using this device to provide adequate visualization, the forehead skin is lifted and the underlying muscles modified as required. The elevated brow is then secured into position using sutures or temporary fixation devices placed behind the hairline. At the time of your initial consultation, Dr. Brown will carefully examine your forehead and discuss the best approach to obtain the desired result. A brow lift is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. Swelling and bruising should be gone within two weeks, and camouflage make-up can be used almost immediately. Patients can resume vigorous physical activity within six weeks.
Risks and Complications
As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur including bleeding, infection and temporary numbness. Fortunately, these occur rarely and can be minimized by carefully following your post-operative instructions and refraining from smoking. Dr. Brown will discuss these issues with you thoroughly at the time of your consultation.
