What it is: A Brow Lift is a plastic surgery procedure meant to address forehead lines, frown lines and sagging eyebrows. Brow Lift plastic surgery is also referred to as a Forehead Lift.
Search terms: Brow Lift Surgery, Forehead Lift, Plastic Surgery Brow Lift, Forehead lines
How Brow Lift Surgery is performed
There are two primary techniques your plastic surgeon may employ for Brow Lift Surgery.
Short Incision Technique
The Brow Lift procedure usually involves incisions in the hair-bearing scalp. Occasionally, incisions may be performed in the forehead, and/ or the upper eyelids. Once the incisions are made, various degrees of undermining of the skin are performed, and the deeper layers of the forehead are ‘lifted’. Muscles that depress the eyebrows may be disrupted. The skin and deeper layers are often then ‘fixed’ or attached to the bone. The results are a reversal of the effects of gravity and tightening of soft tissues of the forehead to restore a more youthful contour to the upper face.
For Frown Lines & Eyebrows: In many instances, an incision is made across the top of the scalp, beginning above the ears and hidden within the hair. Sometimes, the incision may be placed at the front of the hairline or, in some cases, toward the middle of the scalp. The incision is designed to be inconspicuous when healed. Through the Brow Lift incision, your plastic surgeon can modify or remove parts of the muscles that cause wrinkling and frown lines, remove excess skin, and lift your eyebrows to a more pleasing level.
Endoscopic Technique
This Brow Lift technique uses an endoscope, a long, thin tube with a light on the end, attached to a video camera. The endoscope is inserted through several tiny incisions in the scalp and allows the plastic surgeon to see and work on the various internal structures of the forehead. The endoscopic technique has the advantage of requiring very minimal incisions, but it may not be equally beneficial for all patients. In some instances, alternate methods may be preferable, or a combination of endoscopic and other techniques may be used.
Sometimes, if your main concern is frown lines between your eyebrows or across the top of your nose, a limited endoscopic procedure to correct these problems can be done.
Who should consider a Brow Lift?
Brow Lift surgery can improve:
- sagging or low position of the eyebrows, creating a tired or sad appearance
- deep horizontal creases across the forehead
- frown lines, or furrows, between the eyebrows and sometimes across the top of the nose
When gravity and changes in eyebrow shape and position result in the brow area looking aged, many women begin to consider Brow Lift surgery. A Brow Lift can help to create a refreshed and rejuvenated look.
Doctor Consultation: what to ask
In addition to your surgeon performing a history and physical examination, your doctor consultation is the time to ask questions.
- See the Brow Lift consultation checklist
- Read about the experiences of others who've had a Brow Lift. See real Brow Lift reviews.
During your physical examination, your facial bone structure, underlying skin structure, brow position, eyelid and eye aesthetics, skin thickness, texture, and elasticity as well as the extent of facial wrinkles and folds will be assessed. Based on this, a surgical plan will be made, and the goals of the procedure will be discussed. Your plastic surgeon will select the surgical technique that he or she feels will best achieve your desired results.
Getting ready for Brow Lift surgery
If you are a smoker, it is highly recommended to stop smoking well in advance of the surgery. Certain medications that increase the risk of bleeding such as Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and some vitamins/homeopathic regimens should be discontinued prior to surgery. If your hair is short, you may want it to grow out enough to cover your incisions while they heal. Any chemical processing of your hair should be performed prior to surgery since you cannot have any of these procedures for a month of more after surgery. If your Brow Lift will be performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least the first night of following surgery.
During Brow Lift surgery
Your Brow Lift may be performed in a hospital, free-standing ambulatory facility, or office-based surgical suite. Medications are administered for your comfort during the procedure. You and your plastic surgeon will have decided in advance what type of anesthesia is to be used— either intravenous sedation (twilight) or general anesthesia. For your safety during and after the operation, various monitors are used to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse and the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood.
After Brow Lift surgery
When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area. A bandage may be wrapped around your forehead or face. Sometimes small tubes will be inserted beneath the skin to drain away fluid that might otherwise accumulate. There is surprisingly very little discomfort experienced after Brow Lift surgery. However, any discomfort you may experience will be controlled with pain medication as needed. You may be permitted to go home after a few hours, although some patients may stay overnight in a hospital or surgical facility.
Recovery from Brow Lift
The amount of time it takes to recover from Brow Lift surgery varies greatly between individuals.
First few days: Elevation of the head is extremely helpful in reducing the initial post-operative swelling. Your surgeon may also advise you to use ice packs intermittently. Straining, bending, and lifting should be avoided during the early post-operative period as these activities may predispose you to bleeding.
Most swelling is usually noted in the first 24 to 48 hours, and most bruising resolves within 2 weeks.
You should avoid Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for the first few days after your surgery. Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke should be avoided to prevent delays in the healing process.
Beyond the first few days: Once the dressings and drains are removed, puffiness and discoloration may be more pronounced in some portions of the face than others. Do not be alarmed by any unevenness or temporary asymmetry—this is normal. Concealing makeup is usually permitted after the first week. You may experience numbness to the forehead post-operatively, which usually resolves within several months.
Some patients find that mild swelling persists for many weeks. Most stitches are removed within a week of the surgery.
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions that may include caring for the dressings and incisions, directions for your analgesics and other medications, specific concerns to look for, and when to follow up in the office to monitor your healing process.
It may take several months for the swelling to fully resolve, and up to 6 months for the incision scars to fully fade. Avoidance of factors that could reduce the benefits of the surgery, such as excessive unprotected sun exposure and cigarette use, is vital.
Brow Lift Results: what to expect
The results of your Brow Lift may be subtle or dramatic, depending on your appearance prior to surgery and the planned goals set by you and your plastic surgeon. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait several weeks for an accurate picture of your “new look”. Additional minor changes or settling may occur over several months following your Brow Lift surgery.
Brow Lift side effects
Significant complications from facelifts are infrequent. However, anyone considering surgery should be aware of both the benefits and risks. These are best discussed on a personal basis with your surgeon or one of their qualified staff members.
Potential complications may occur include:
- hematoma (an accumulation of blood under the skin)
- infection
- reactions to anesthesia
While plastic surgeons are trained in techniques for safely manipulating facial skin and tissues, injury to underlying structures is possible, though usually temporary. Brow Lift incisions are usually quite inconspicuous; however, this is not entirely predictable due to individual variations in healing. You can help minimize certain risks by following the advice and instructions given to you by your plastic surgeon both before and after surgery.
Brow Lift cost
Brow Lift cost can vary widely as reflected in the Brow Lift cost data posted on RealSelf.com. A surgeon’s cost for a Brow Lift may vary based on his or her experience, the type of procedure used, as well as geographic office location.
Costs may include:
- Surgeon’s professional fee
- Facility fee
- Anesthesia fee
- Medications
- Surgical garments
- Medical tests
Terminology to know
- Forehead Lift: Another name for Brow Lift.
- General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
- Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
- Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
- Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.