Expectations of Brow Lift to Reduce Frown Lines?

Thank you for your question. Shaping the brows is one my favorite parts of using Botox. It requires a very detailed understanding of the underlying anatomy as well as assessing each individual while they are animating their brows. By carefully placing Botox in the muscles that depress the brow, you can cause the brow to rest and relax in a lifted position. There are limits to how much you can lift, and for some surgery is better option. Incorrect assessment or placement can also lead to the reverse effect, so overall technique is critical. You can also shape the brow different. For example, you can raise the tail of the brow vs creating a raised arched brow vs creating a raised horizontal brow. It depends on the individual's desired brow aesthetic goals. I would consider this a very advanced technique so I would query your injector on their experience in this area.
As far as how many units may be needed, this also depends on which part of the brow you want to correct. For the inner brows, you may consider ~20 units (same as the frown line treatment). For the middle or outer brow, I generally use up to 5 units on each side.
You may also want to consider adding fillers to shape and raise the brow. Combining the two products can work synergistically together. As far as surgery goes, it is a better procedure to address any skin laxity that may accumulate in the forehead, upper lid, or address severe brow ptosis.  A physical exam would help determine whether a surgical solution is better for you.  I would recommend that you visit a board certified plastic surgeon who can help guide you with your options.

If the frown lines are your primary concern you can get a nice result with botulinum toxins.  If your brow position also needs to be corrected then I would recommend a brow lift with, corrugator (frown muscle) resection and fat/fascia grafting to prevent reattachment of the muscle.

It is important to understand what causes wrinkles in the forehead in order to determine if a brow lift will help. Forehead wrinkles, like others in the upper face, are related to muscle hyperactivity, which is why they respond to Botox or Dysport. However, the reason the muscles are hyperactive is often because they are working to hold up a sagging brow. In that instance, Botox will make the wrinkles go away but the brow drops. A brow lift will hold up the brow, allowing the muscles to relax, in turn allowing the wrinkles to soften. An experienced plastic surgeon will be able to evaluate and advise as to the best option.

Since Botox (and Dysport) work so well, most surgeons now only use brow lift surgery if the brow position is obviously low, and not so much anymore for wrinkle reduction.

Additionally, surgical removal of the frown muscles can have the side effect of creating a "divot" if the muscles are removed, or the activity can return if the muscles are simply divided.

Botox is easier, less downtime, less risk, and less cost - but requires maintenance.

In a word...Yes!  A brow lift will not only help minimize or eliminate frown lines, but will also "brighten the eyes" or lift the brow. We also in many cases are able to smooth out forehead wrinkles. I would suggest that you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon in your area to discuss other options as well such as Botox or resurfacing procedures. Good luck!

 A brow lift is a long term solution if the muscles are sectioned. Botox is what most patients use if they want a quick fix. A forehead lift done properly will remove excess skin of the forehead, section the muscles that cause the wrinkles between the brows and improve hooding and crow's feet.

Unless you have a lot of forehead lines and significant forehead skin sag with brows then you most likely do not really need a Forehead or Brow Lift. Botox can readily smooth these lines and even more smoothing may be obtained with additional Restylane. In cases of sagging brows leading to the upper lid skin interferring with visibility from the upper visual field a Forehead Lift is indicated. The presentations in between these extremes need to be examined on an individual basis.

A brow lift may help you reduce the frown line. However, Botox or Dysport may be another option for you. Have you had a consultatio with a Plastic Surgeon? I would sit down and ask your questions and explain your goals. A good surgeon will go over all options and help you make the best choice. 

 

A brow lift does just that - lift the brow. If you want lines reduced, sometimes Botox is all you need. If the muscles are cut during the brow lift procedure, they will be improved for a period of time, but often the muscles will find their way back together through scar tissue. This can lead to "odd" looking muscle contractions.  See a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to get a better opinion.

Best of luck.

Frown lines, or glabellar creases, can be eliminated by a combination of weakening the frowning muscles and the nerves that make them contract. This result would be permanent. This result can be achieved in most patients having a browlift.