Brow Lift - Does it Rejuvenate the Eyebrows?

When a person ages, the brows might start to be a little lower on the forehead due to sagging or drooping. This can result in an appearance of the brows that looks like a “hood” over the eyelids. The issue of brows that are sagging or drooping can be addressed with a brow lift, AKA a forehead lift, which repositions the eyebrows, so they look more alert and youthful. In this article, get ready to discover how a brow lift is performed and how it rejuvenates the forehead.

Brow Lifts – Different Types

In general, the two techniques used to lift the brows are a classic brow lift and an endoscopic brow lift.

A classic brow lift is when the surgeon creates one continuous incision that starts at the ears and goes all the way upwards around the hairline. The surgeon will remove excess skin, fat, and muscle from the area of the forehead in order to raise the appearance of the brows.

During an endoscopic brow lift, the surgeon will create a number of shorter incisions in the scalp in order to insert a scope into one of the incisions. The scope has a small camera that is located on the end of a long tube. There will also be another device, inserted into another incision, which is used to make the desired changes. The surgeon will use small anchors to secure the targeted tissue. This technique is considered to be less invasive than a classic brow lift since the incisions are smaller.

The decision on which technique to undergo will be determined after a consultation appointment with a board-certified surgeon. The doctor will evaluate the forehead of the patient, and this includes the upper eyelid. The doctor will also determine the current condition of the muscles in the targeted area.

Brow Lift – “Day Of” and Recovery Information

The actual procedure can be performed in a hospital or the office of the surgeon. Patients should bring a friend or family member to the location of the procedure in order to drive them home. The surgical procedure will likely take two hours or less to perform.

The brow lift can be performed using local or general anesthesia and any incisions will be closed using stitches or staples. In addition, the doctor will cleanse the area after the procedure and place any necessary bandages on the face.

Once the brow lift is completed, the surgeon will give detailed instructions on how to care for any incisions and how to properly care for the bandages. Once the patient returns home after the surgery, they need to have a number of items on hand to care for the area of the forehead where the incisions were made. These items include medical gauze to care for the wound, enough pillows to keep the head elevated, and ice that can be applied to the wound to relieve any pain, swelling, or discomfort. The surgeon might also prescribe or recommend an ointment that can be used on the area of the incision.

The length and extent of the recovery period varies depending on the amount of work that was done on the forehead and the type of brow lift procedure performed by the surgeon. No matter the technique performed by the surgeon, the patient will have staples or stitches that will need to be removed around seven days after the brow lift.

There will also be some bruising and swelling that can be expected in areas of the face such as the eyes and cheeks. These conditions will resolve on their own as the recovery time continues after the brow lift. As mentioned above, pillows will be needed to elevate the head and ease the swelling that can appear. Sleeping on the back and elevating the head should continue for seven to ten days.

There might also be some tingling and numbness in the treated area after either brow lift method is performed. The classic brow lift might lead to greater pain since it is a more invasive procedure. The surgeon will likely prescribe a painkiller to help lessen any pain experienced after the surgery.

Both brow lift techniques can also lead to the patient experiencing some itching and the amount of itching should be less with an endoscopic brow lift.

Most patients return to work after ten days, but this also depends on the rate of recovery of the individual patient. The person should avoid any strenuous activities for a few weeks including vigorous exercise and heavy lifting.

Brow Lift – How Long Do the Results Last?

While the amount of recovery time varies by the type of brow lift that is performed, the length of the results is similar for both a classic brow lift and an endoscopic brow lift. The results from both techniques should last for an average of ten years but this depends on the patient following a healthy lifestyle, taking care of the skin, and the natural amount of elasticity of the skin.

- MA