Brow Lift Complications?

There are many potential complications that can occur from browlift surgery. The technique with which the surgery is performed and the extent and location of the incisions will have something to do with the frequency of the complications. Your surgeons familiarity with the anatomy will also impact which complications can occur. The list of any surgical complication will be included in your pre-operative discussion with your surgeon. However, the biggest potential complications that I... more

That depends upon the type performed. Endoscopic browlifts generally have a very low risk of complications, but with all these procedures there is a risk of some localized hair loss, elevation of the hairline, scarring within the hairline, and numbness behind the incision (highly unlikely with the endoscopic approach).

Most brow lifts are performed by either the endoscopic approach or the full coronal approach. Potential complications include: Loss of sensation (sensory nerve function) Loss of movement (facial nerve function) Loss of hair due to shock (telogen effluvium) Wide scar lines with absence of hair (alopecia) in the scar lines With any surgical procedure there is always the risk of infection, bleeding, hematoma. With meticulous attention to surgical detail, these complications are uncommon.... more

Possible brow lift complications depend on the technique used. The generic surgical complications include hematoma, infection, and scarring which are all unusual. Others to consider are loss of sensation of the forehead or scalp, a compromise or loss of forehead movement, elevation of the hairline, or hair loss. Your surgeon will be specific regarding the incidence of each depending on the proposed surgery.

There are many methods for perfoming a browlift or forehead lift including an endoscopic browlift (through tiny incisions with the assistance of telescopes) , bicoronal forehead lift (extensive incision from ear to ear across the top of the head) and a tricophytic or hairline browlift. (hidden along the hairline. Each of these techniques achieves a similar result through the brow and the forehead in terms of smoothing of lines and gentle elevation of the brows. The key difference is in... more

This procedure, when done by an experienced plastic surgeon, has surprisingly few complications. Most browlifts are done by use of an endoscope through small incisions, so permanent numbness of the scalp is no longer seen. There is, when the muscle between the eyebrows is removed, always a temporary forehead numbness. Occasionally, there will be some problem with very localized hair loss and some slight dimpling where the scalp is secured to the skull, but these almost always resolve.... more

As with any facial plastic surgery procedure, there are many potential complications of varying degree and significance to each patient. Endoscopic brow lift, done through small (1/2 inch) opening in the scalp was first popularized in the 1990's and offer less pain, much less chance of hair loss and quicker recovery. Of course, the surgeon's experience in performing this more technologic and technique dependent procedure will help ensure a great result and a happy patient. Always ask to see... more

If you go to any real plastic surgeon they can give you a browlift consent form that lists all the complications of that surgery. Some include bleeding, infection (both rare), numbness, motor nerve injury, hairloss, inadequate result, and problems with eyelid closure. There are others that would complete the list. Fortunately, in the hands of a qualified surgeon, these risks are rarely seen as coming true.