Different techniques are utilized to achieve a brow lift

There are different techniques utilized to achieve a brow lift. The open browlift technique is a more traditional technique used to achieve a brow lift with a long incision across the scalp within the hair, or along the hairline. 

The endoscopic browlift has been more utilized for the past 10-15 years using smaller incisions and with the aid of an endoscope (camera). The open techniques can be more dramatic, but this is not always desired. Additionally, numbness and 'painful' itching sensations are not uncommon.  These 'side effects' are less common with the endoscopic techniques.

There are a number of alternative surgical techniques for lifting sagging brows. The endoscopic technique utilizes several smaller incisions in the scalp to tunnel beneath the forehead and 'release' the brows. The sagging brows along with the skin of the forehead are then shifted upwards and resuspended in a more youthful position. No skin is removed. In the open technique, a longer continuous incision is made across the scalp, the tissues are lifted, 'frown' muscles are weakened, and a strip of redundant skin is removed in order to permanently lift the brows. This is the key difference between the two techniques.

The controversy in recent years has centered on whether the endoscopic technique can achieve as lasting a result. Since the stretchy skin is only shifted upwards and not removed, there is a greater chance that the brows will settle lower with time. This is especially true for someone with heavy tissues and thick skin.

One important thing to understand is that the endoscopic technique not only shifts the brows but also shifts the hairline upwards. If you already have a 'high' forehead, this may not be such a good thing. So, the endoscopic technique may be a good option if you have thin tissues and a normal to low hairline to begin with. Of the different open techniques, the trichophytic incision is a really wonderful approach. This incision hugs the hairline in such a way that the hairs grow back through the scar. It can achieve a great natural result and can even lower the hairline for those who've noticed it creeping backwards over the years. If done correctly, the incision should be essentially invisible.

It sounds as if you are talking about a forehead lift done with a coronal or side-to-side incision across the scalp versus one performed through small incisions in 3 or 4 strategically located areas of the scalp. Each have advantages and disadvantages.

The main difference is the length and amount of incisional scar. The coronal lift is certainly effective at the price of a long incision and scalp numbness and some potential for loss of hair. The endoscopic lift has the advantage of small scars but perhaps less long-lasting effectiveness and less nscalp numbness, although some surgeons would disagree.

Get opinions from a couple of surgeons and then allow them to help you decide how to get the result you are looking for. Ingeneral, if you can achieve the results with the endoscopic lift, then that would be the less traumatic and risky. If you or the surgeon don't feel you can, then the coronal lift is certainly tme-honored.

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An endoscopic forehead lift is a forehead lift that uses the endoscope and small incisions in order to address the brow ptosis.

In general the regular brow lift(open brow) needs a longer incision either at the hairline or inside the hair. There is more affection of sensory nerves so the scalp may stay numb for sometime after surgery. Due to the longer incision more healing problems could be expected. The upside with this procedure is a more lasting result.

The endoscopic brow lift uses 3-4 (1cm incisions) for dissection.The key is proper release of all brow components.It is a great tool with the right training. The downside is a potential for brow ptosis overtime.

More board certified plastic surgeons are doing a combination of endoscopic and open to get the benefit of both.

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