How long does an endotine brow and Forhead lift last?

Endotine is an absorbable material to hold the overlying forehead tissue in the new and elevated position and the premise of the technique is based on new scar formation replacing it and thus marinating the lift over time. It's longevity in comparison to the other forehead lifting techniques have been a subject of debate in the plastic surgery world. One must note that no matter what technique used, the constant effect of gravity on a heavy forehead-scalp complex will lead to gradual recurrence of the drooping phenomenon and it is not a supersize that brow drooping is one of the earliest sign of aging in human face and starts in as early as the second decade of life.

Thanks for your question. The endotine is a device that holds the tissue of the forehead in a rejuvenated position while the treatment area heals. The advantage of the endotine is that it features multiple points of contact to hold the lifted tissue more securely than other methods. The endotine is designed to be absorbed by the body in the months following your surgery. However, by the time the device disappears, your tissue and skin should be healed and able to maintain the new position without the added support. That said, the choice to use the endotine or another device is a personal decision made by a board certified facial plastic surgeon and patient. If it is placed correctly, the results of a brow lift using the endotine should last for many years.
Thank you.
Best,
Jacqueline T. Cheng, MD

I personally favor using Endotine Devices and have found them to be successful.  If the fixation is performed properly it should last a long time if not a lifetime. With that being said, it is important to find surgeon that who can give you satisfying results. If you’re considering having an Endotine put in place see a board-certified facial plastic surgeon.

In my experience, an endoscopic brow lift using and endotine lasts for about 10 years.  I have been using the endotines as anchoring devices for many years and have seen great success.  The endotine dissolves after about 4 months.  During that time patients do feel a small bump behind the hairline, but I have never seen any complications with them.It is also very important to follow post op instructions to ensure the longevity of the surgery.  For a month I suggest not having a "hair blow out" where the hair is pulled away from the scalp.  This can disrupt the healing.  Also it is very important to get Botox to the muscles that depress the brow, meaning the frown lines and crows feet at least twice a year.  This allows the brow to heal in its new position.

A well executed endoscopic brow lift should result in appreciable brow elevation and years of longevity regardless of endotine or hardware (screws) fixation. Results can be variable depending on anatomy, tissue characteristics, eyebrow position, and many factors in a person's life that can affect the way they age. I use screws for fixation that are not absorbable, so I take them out in 3 weeks. At that time the forehead is secure at a higher position so an early recurrence of sagging brows is unusual. Patients with thick heavy skin and and brows may be at higher risk for under correction of eyebrow position with less longevity. Many of my patients at 10 years have stability in the result. Threads usually are not that effective in long-term elevation of facial tissues. 

The Endotine is said to break down over about 1 year.  It does seem to do that. Unfortunately it seems that in significant number of cases, scalp tenderness can develop over the location of the Endotine. When this discomfort keeps people up at night, it is not acceptable. This typically happens in about 30% of the cases where I have used the Endotine.  This necessitates the early removal of the implant. While the removal is very straight forward, it violates the whole premise of the Endotine which is that you place it to support the forehead and it breaks down on its own.  Generally for this reason, I do not recommend the Endotine.

  In our practice, a forehead lift involves removal of excess skin, and anchoring the forehead in it's new location.  In addition, the muscles of expression are also softened which accomplishes weakening of both elevator and depressor functions of the forehead.  A properly performed forehead lift should last a lifetime.

I will sometimes use Endotine with the Irregular Trichophytic Hairline Incision technique to lift the forehead/brows and/or lower the hairline to avoid tension on the incision, achieving more subtle wound healing. The Endotine, which dissolves over about one year is not used to actually lift the tissue.  It is an excellent product; I've never had a complication using this material.

Regardless of the method of brow fixation, a well performed endoscopic brow lift should last for many years, and often a lifetime. I have used these implants for this procedure quite successfully in the past, and if there is any persistent discomfort from these or any other fixation device, they can usually be removed under local anesthesia after periosteal fixation is complete.

Unlike a thread lift to raise the forehead, a surgically performed forehead lift detaches the tissue and allows it to reattach at a higher position. The endotine is merely a way of keeping the tension on the replaced forehead tissue until it can form enough scar adherence. The lift should last for years.