Hello! I'm in my early 30s and have very low set straight brows. I've noted recently that I'm developing wrinkles over my brows, especially the left brow because I'm always raising my eyebrows to keep from looking mad, sleepy, grumpy, etc! When my brows aren't elevated they feel very heavy. What are my surgical and non surgical options?
June 14, 2015
Answer: Low set brows: what are my options? Botox administered around the eyes weaken or paralyze the depressor muscles of the brow, and can noticeably lift the brows. However, it can be difficult to reliably control the shape, and the effects are temporary. For a young person facing years of treatment, I think a surgical option is more cost effective and gives more control, with the potential for a greater degree of lifting.There are a number of techniques for brow lift, but many patients find the incisions and permanent loss of sensation in the scalp region for an open brow lift with coronal incision to be off putting. I favor a limited incision brow lift which has resulted in natural appearing brow elevation without permanent loss of sensation and a predictable expeditious recovery. The procedure can easily be done under local anesthesia with sedation.
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June 14, 2015
Answer: Low set brows: what are my options? Botox administered around the eyes weaken or paralyze the depressor muscles of the brow, and can noticeably lift the brows. However, it can be difficult to reliably control the shape, and the effects are temporary. For a young person facing years of treatment, I think a surgical option is more cost effective and gives more control, with the potential for a greater degree of lifting.There are a number of techniques for brow lift, but many patients find the incisions and permanent loss of sensation in the scalp region for an open brow lift with coronal incision to be off putting. I favor a limited incision brow lift which has resulted in natural appearing brow elevation without permanent loss of sensation and a predictable expeditious recovery. The procedure can easily be done under local anesthesia with sedation.
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June 17, 2015
Answer: Brow lift options When the brow is lower or has less of an arch, either consciously of subconsciously, we all tend to elevate our brows to compensate. We know that it looks better and we can even see better when the brow is lifted. People who have a lower brow naturally, or due to aging, tend to get more forehead wrinkles due to the muscle contraction that it takes to elevate the brow. Botox used alone in the forehead, to prevent the wrinkles, sometimes makes it worse because it relaxes the same muscle that we need to lift the brow. Consequently, a brow lift can decrease the need to use the muscles to lift the brow. (If the brows are in the normal position, we don't feel the need to lift them up, so the muscle doesn't contract, and the wrinkles don't appear). Botox given just before a brow lift is an excellent addition because it relaxes the muscles that tend to pull the brow down. It takes 3 months for the Brow to heal after a brow lift, and Botox works for about 3 months, so it the muscles don't pull the brow down in the postoperative healing phase, it allows the brow to heal in a better position.Discuss all of your options with your surgeon, as there are many things to consider in brow lift surgery. Hairline position, hair style, hair quality, age, lifestyle, and position of the arch. John Standefer MD
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June 17, 2015
Answer: Brow lift options When the brow is lower or has less of an arch, either consciously of subconsciously, we all tend to elevate our brows to compensate. We know that it looks better and we can even see better when the brow is lifted. People who have a lower brow naturally, or due to aging, tend to get more forehead wrinkles due to the muscle contraction that it takes to elevate the brow. Botox used alone in the forehead, to prevent the wrinkles, sometimes makes it worse because it relaxes the same muscle that we need to lift the brow. Consequently, a brow lift can decrease the need to use the muscles to lift the brow. (If the brows are in the normal position, we don't feel the need to lift them up, so the muscle doesn't contract, and the wrinkles don't appear). Botox given just before a brow lift is an excellent addition because it relaxes the muscles that tend to pull the brow down. It takes 3 months for the Brow to heal after a brow lift, and Botox works for about 3 months, so it the muscles don't pull the brow down in the postoperative healing phase, it allows the brow to heal in a better position.Discuss all of your options with your surgeon, as there are many things to consider in brow lift surgery. Hairline position, hair style, hair quality, age, lifestyle, and position of the arch. John Standefer MD
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