Forehead / Brow Lift

About the Procedure

The face usually shows the first signs of aging. Gravity and changes in eyebrow shape and positioning result in the face looking aged. Most patients look to a forehead lift or brow lift to refresh and rejuvenate their appearance. The forehead lift or brow lift will improve the position and shape of the eyebrow and forehead areas.

Patients seek a brow lift or forehead lift when they have any of the following issues:

• Sagging or low position of the eyebrows
• Tired or sad appearance
• Deep creases across the forehead
• Frown lines, or furrows, between the eyebrows or across the top of the nose

What to Know Before the Procedure

The surgeon will perform a history and physical examination to assess the underlying skin structure, facial bone structure, skin thickness, brow position, elasticity and texture. He/she will discuss surgical plans and goals of the procedure. The forehead lift involves incisions in the scalp, and sometimes, incisions in the forehead and/or upper eyelids. The deeper layers of the forehead are lifted and the muscles that depress the eyebrows will be disrupted. The results of this plastic surgery are a tightening of soft tissues of the forehead to restore a more youthful contour to the face.

With the cosmetic surgery procedure known as a brow lift, an incision is made across the top of the scalp, within the hair and above the ears. The incision is designed to be inconspicuous, at the front of the hairline or toward the middle of the scalp. The surgeon will modify or remove parts of the muscles that result in wrinkling and frown lines and lift the eyebrows to a more pleasing level.

There are two ways to lift the forehead and eyebrow areas: a classic lift and endoscopic lift. The classic lift uses one continuous incision, starting at the ears and up around the hair line. An endoscopic lift involves a few shorter incisions in the scalp. The surgeon inserts a scope into one of the incisions to view the tissues and muscles from a screen. Another device can then make the necessary alterations.

What to Know After the Procedure

Each year, thousands of people have successful forehead lift or brow lift surgery without complications. However, potential complications include infections, hematomas and reactions to anesthesia. Injury to underlying structures under the skin may also occur, though it's usually temporary. Risks can be mitigated by heeding the advice of the plastic surgeon. Treatment effects can last 5-10 years.

Recovery time varies greatly. Elevation of the head is extremely helpful in reducing swelling. Your surgeon may advise ice packs. Avoid aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for the first few days after surgery. Smoking and second-hand smoke should also be avoided to prevent delays in healing. Most stitches are removed within a week of the surgery. Straining, bending, and lifting should also be avoided.

If you Need to Travel Outside of your Local Hospital

Generally, a forehead lift or brow lift procedure is a very versatile process with low complication rates. Different doctors will have their own methods they use to perform the procedure and costs may vary, especially depending on experience and geographic location. In cases where international travel is desired for this procedure be sure to ask your surgeon about pre and post-operative care in detail so that you are sure about what to expect. Follow-up care after the procedure may be required by a doctor back home.