I have a very flat face where the forehead blends into my eyes with no distinct brow bone separating the top of my eyes. Furthermore, around how much would the procedure cost, how long would recovery take and what could be some potential side effects (short term and long term) e.g. Scarring, nerve damage, loss of muscle and facial movement etc. I live in Vancouver, BC but am open to travel to Seattle, WA or LA, California.
Answer
A filler like radiesse lasts roughly 1 yr and fills the brows out nicely for roughly $750/syringe and you probably need 2 syringes or 3 at the most.
Dr. David Hansen, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Answer
This is not a commonly requested procedure, however, two options exist: Noninvasive filler placement: Radiesse would be your best option hear as it is calcium hydroxyapatite which is the filler which most resembles bone. It is a great way to start to make sure you like your results. The downside is that it is not permanent. Implant: There are a few different implants possible: PMMA, silicone, or medpor. This is a much more costly procedure and would involve a coronal incision (at the crown of your head in the hair) to avoid visible scars. The cost would be in the $7500 range. I would recommend the non-invasive option first before you undergo a major surgery.
Dr. A.J. Amadi, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Answer
The simplest way, especially if u are somewhat uncertain, is to use fillers like the HA's or fat. My preferred permanent way of augmenting the brow is to use methyl methacrylate placed through a coronal incision under sedation.
Dr. Stephen J. Pincus, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Answer
Subtle increase in brow bone size using fillers or implants. I would suggest using a filler such as Voluma as a trial to see if you like this. If this is something you want on a permanent basis then a solid silicone implant can be made specifically to augment your brow bones. The filler will also allow determination of what size of any future implant should be. See an experienced surgeon who can show you results with a hairline approach (Irregular Trichophytic Forehead Incision-which I invented and have done hundreds)and no visible scars after. Any future hair loss would expose this line so this should be discussed with your surgeon as well.
Dr. Toby Mayer, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Answer
There ate a couple of ways to enhance the brow ridge but each has to balance with the rest of the facial contours in order to appear natural. Fillers allow you to see what a long term result could look like: while a carved implant would be the actual long term solution. The latter looks more 'bony' than filler.
Dr. Gerald Wittenberg, MSc, DMD (retired)
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
