Brow Lift
Overview
Brow lift (or forehead lift) surgery is a procedure that can dramatically rejuvenate the upper portion of your face. It can make your eyes appear larger, and it can help you look fresher and younger overall.
A popular cosmetic procedure for both men and women, a brow lift can correct:
- Excess or sagging skin under your eyebrows
- Creases on your forehead that are visible even when you are not tired, sad, or angry
- Frown lines (“11” lines) between your eyes
- Eyebrows that are uneven, low, or not arched
- Furrows across the bridge of your nose
Most patients who seek a brow lift are between the ages of 40 and 60. However, if genetics have created deep lines on your forehead at a younger age, or if your eyebrows lack an arch, you can benefit from the surgery. Although the natural aging process continues, you can expect satisfying, long-lasting results from your brow lift.
There are 5 different techniques for brow lift, which you will read about below. The best method for you will depend on your anatomy, your goals, and your desired recovery period. Our surgeons have extensive experience with all of these techniques, so you will emerge from surgery looking very natural. There is no need to fear that you will look perpetually surprised. Your brow lift will not interfere with your normal facial expressions or eyebrow movements.
There is nothing generic about a brow lift. We evaluate your anatomy carefully to determine what portions of the face are causing the effect you dislike. Only then can we devise a detailed surgical plan to give you an optimal correction that will look seamless and natural.
A brow lift only affects the upper portion of the face. To create the most polished, balanced results, you also might want to have a facelift/necklift, a chin implant, eyelid surgery, Botox, dermal fillers, fat injections, or skin resurfacing. Some of our patients decide to have a full facial rejuvenation so that both the upper and lower portions of the face can be improved at once. It is less costly to combine procedures, and they can usually be done concurrently so that you have only one incident of anesthesia and one recovery period.
Even for those patients who do not choose to have full facial rejuvenation, we often suggest the addition of dermal fillers, Botox, or skin resurfacing after a brow lift in order to improve the results. Fine surface lines and wrinkles, for example, are not improved by a brow lift but are improved with a non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatment like laser resurfacing, a chemical peel, or dermabrasion.
“Wonderful experience. Dr. Momeni is a skilled surgeon, and I am thrilled with the results of my upper eyelid lift. The staff is caring and skilled as well. It is only three weeks post-surgery, and I look great.”
Ready to get started?
Your Brow Lift Consultation at Summit Health
When you meet with us for your brow lift consultation, we will have an honest discussion about your desires, expectations, and concerns, as well as the limits and risks of the surgery. We will review your medical history and recommend options that can best help you achieve your goals. We will give you thorough written instructions to prepare for your surgery and will answer any questions you have.
Note that if your main concern is an overhanging upper eyelid, an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) may be a more effective procedure for you. We will discuss your options with you during your consultation.
At Summit Health, the patient experience is of primary importance to us. We customize every single procedure we do so that it is tailored to what is best for you and you alone. We will recommend the brow lift technique that we believe will give you the results you want.
What to Expect from the Brow Lift Procedure
We perform state-of-the-art, precise brow lifts using 5 possible techniques:
Endoscopic Brow Lift involves 4 to 6 small incisions hidden within the upper hairline above the forehead. An endoscope with a tiny camera is inserted into the incisions to allow us to see the surgical area without the need for larger incisions. The muscles and skin are then tightened in order to smooth the skin of the forehead and lift sagging eyebrows. In the case of pronounced frown lines, it may be necessary to remove a portion of the corrugator muscle. The incisions are closed with sutures and may also be held in place for a short time by staples or screws.
While this method is minimally invasive, it must be performed in the operating room. This is the technique we use most frequently.
Temporal Brow Lift involves an incision within the hairline at the temples. This is a common procedure that can be done on an outpatient basis in our office. The muscles and skin are then tightened as needed to smooth wrinkles and lift eyebrows.
Subcutaneous Brow Lift involves an incision across the forehead where it meets the hairline. The muscles and skin are then tightened as needed to smooth wrinkles and lift eyebrows. This method leaves a scar across the hairline, so it is best for those who wear bangs that will cover the incision site.
Direct Brow Lift involves an incision just above the eyebrow. This procedure, which can be done on an outpatient basis in our office, is generally used in older patients with brow ptosis (drooping eyebrows). While not performed frequently, this method allows us to raise the eyebrows and place the sutures just above the hair of the eyebrows so that the scars will not be noticeable when they heal.
Coronal Brow Lift involves a large incision at the top of the head that runs from ear to ear. Muscles and skin are then tightened to smooth the skin along the forehead and lift sagging brows. The hairline is usually somewhat raised with this technique, which may not be desirable for those with a high forehead or receding hairline. This is an older method that is rarely performed today because it is much more invasive with potential for more complications.
The surgery typically lasts 1 hour, during which you will be asleep under general anesthesia. You can go home the same day after a period of time in recovery, but you will need someone to drive you. Please make prior arrangements for a driver and someone to assist you at home the first evening.
Recovering from a Brow Lift
In most cases, you are discharged from the office or operating room with a head dressing. The sutures are usually removed in our office 7 to 10 days after your procedure.
Most patients report only minor post-surgical discomfort, but we can prescribe pain medication for you, if necessary. You can expect some bruising and swelling for about 2 weeks. Most patients return to work about 10 days after surgery, with only some restrictions on activities. Female patients can wear makeup within 3 to 5 days. You can usually resume strenuous activities, such as exercise and sports, within a month.
You might need to sleep on your back for a few nights. You can reduce swelling by elevating your head.
If you have had the unusual technique of a coronal brow lift, numbness at the top of the head usually remains to some degree for up to 6 months.
You will be able to see results from your brow lift immediately, but the tissues will continue to relax and settle into their final position for several months, when you will be able to enjoy your final results. The gradual healing process makes it more difficult for others to notice you have had cosmetic surgery.
Our Plastic Surgery Specialists
Peter Hyans, MD, FACS
Plastic Surgery
Jain Joseph, MD
Plastic Surgery
Reza Momeni, MD
Plastic Surgery
Daniel Pyo, MD, FACS
Plastic Surgery