A brow lift, also known as a forehead or brow lift, is a cosmetic surgery procedure done to reduce wrinkles that form on the forehead. Surgery can be done to remove lines that develop over the years due to frowning and can also be used to reposition damaged or low brows.
Often, brow lift can be combined with blepharoplasty, which are eyelid surgeries. However, unlike blepharoplasty procedures, eyebrow lifting is capable of rejuvenating the appearance, giving a more youthful and rested look.
The process
There are many different techniques that can be used to lift eyebrows. The choice of technique depends on the cosmetic surgeon, who takes into account the patient’s anatomy, the goals and the extent of corrections required to achieve the desired results. Approaches to brow lift include endoscopic, limited incision, and coronal or classic brow lift.
The endoscopic approach is less invasive than other techniques. Small incisions are made near the hairline and endoscopic surgical instruments are used to reposition tissue and muscle and to remove excess tissue where necessary. Browpexy and direct brow lift are also performed.
Let’s talk about brow lift surgery
With limited incision surgeries, also called temporal brow lifts, the incisions are slightly larger than those made for the endoscopic method. Limited incisions are most often done along with blepharoplasty (i.e. eyelid surgery) and are done near the temple. Muscles and tissues are repositioned through these incisions.
Classic brow lifts were once the standard approaches, but are no longer as popular as they used to be due to the availability of less invasive techniques. In the classic approach, an incision is made behind the hairline, running from one ear to the other, in order to reposition the muscles and underlying tissues.
Post-surgery
After surgery, patients generally feel some discomfort and tightness, with some pain in some cases. A week or two after the procedure there may be some bruising as well as swelling.
Other complications that may occur include itching or numbness, which is temporary and limited to the hair and forehead. There may be small amounts of hair loss in the areas where incisions were made. Another complication, although very rare, is injury to the facial nerves, particularly the one responsible for raising the eyebrows.
After surgery, patients are advised to keep their head up. Keeping the head elevated, as well as applying cold compresses, reduces the swelling associated with a brow lift. Symptoms usually subside by the end of the second postoperative week.
However, patients are advised to avoid vigorous physical activities during the healing period. Patients are encouraged to walk home the day after surgery and showering is allowed a day or two later. They can usually return to office work within a week, and exercise can be resumed after about 4 weeks.
bibliographical references
- http://my.clevelandclinic.org/cosmetic-plastic-surgery/procedures/facial-surgery/forehead-brow-lift
- https://www.aafprs.org/patient/procedures/forehead_lifts.html
- http://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/face/brow-lift-guide/
