How Does a Brow Lift Work?

A brow lift or forehead lift reverses the effects of gravity which naturally occurs as we age. Brow lifts tighten the soft tissues of the forehead and restores a more youthful appearance of the forehead skin, upper eyelids and eyebrows. There are various methods used for brow-lifts. The different procedures use varying incision lengths in different locations. A youthful brow at rest is positioned just above the orbital rim. It has a gradual arch laterally, and the lateral end of the brow is located higher compared to the medial end. As people age, it is common for the brow to droop into a flat or horizontal position. When a sagging brow inhibits the natural facial expressions, an eyebrow lift can be an effective method for rejuvenating the upper section of your face. Every year, thousands of patients opt to undergo a brow lift surgery which has high success and satisfaction rates.

If any of the following apply to you, it may be time to consider getting a brow lift:

• Sagging or low eyebrow neutral position which gives a tired, sad or even grumpy appearance
• Deep horizontal skin creases across the forehead
• Frown lines or furrowed skin between the eyebrows or across the top of the nose
• Excess skin or fatty tissue which hangs over the eyes

Brow Lift Procedure

Brow lift procedures have evolved from the original open techniques to the current methods which involve complex, short incisions and endoscopic techniques. A brow lift usually requires incisions placed in the hair-bearing scalp. In some cases, the incisions are made in the forehead or on the upper eyelids. Your surgeon may use one of the following techniques:

• Open brow lift:The surgeon will make a long incision across the forehead. The incision will either be around the hairline or in one of the existing creases of the forehead. The surgeon will then lift the skin away from the underlying tissues, loosen the muscles and remove fat. They will then remove any excess skin, pull the remaining skin down and stitch the brow into the new location. Other names which can be used to describe the open brow lift technique include a classic, coronal or trichophytic brow lift.
• Endoscopic brow lift:The surgeon inserts an endoscope through several tiny incisions strategically placed in the scalp. An endoscope is a long, thin tube with a light at the end and is attached to a video camera. The tool allows the surgeon have visibility and work on the internal structures of the forehead. The endoscopic technique requires very few incisions, however, it may not be equally effective for all patients.
• Limited incision technique:This technique is considered a hybrid of both procedures and is non-endoscopic with limited incisions. The method uses a small portion of the ends of the coronal technique incision to elevate the exterior portion of the eyebrows under direct vision without the use of an endoscope. The incision scars are hidden behind the temporal hairline. This can even be used in balding men who have minimal temporal hair present. While this procedure does not address the center region of the brow, it can reduce the wrinkles or “crows feet” at the corners of the eyes. Because many forehead-lift procedures are performed in addition to an upper blepharoplasty, the upper eyelid incisions are also used to complete the forehead-lift procedure.

The brow lift procedure your surgeon selects is typically based on your facial features and desired goals. Your plastic surgeon’s goal is to help you achieve beautiful and natural-looking results and ensure you have a positive experience.

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